how do you research a listed building?

[Jane754]

We are in love with a grade two listed terraced house and want to make an offer. Only ever owned straight forward properties before - can anyone suggest what we need to research before making the offer, and how? Thank you!

If it's in England, English Heritage maintain a register of listed buildings and also have guidance on their website for those thinking of buying a listed building and a guide for those living in a listed building. If in Scotland look at Historic Environment Scotland or in Wales Cadw / Historic Wales.

I've recently sold my listed grade II, and wish my viewers had done their research like you.

The main thing is that they are normally very old, do have a lot of quirks, and anything you want to do normally needs listed building consent including window refurb/replacement, damp proof work etc. Considering how many listed buildings there are, the trades that understand heritage buildings are few and far between. Good luck!

Your local conservation in local council. I went and had a chat with them before I purchased the house. Different levels. Our is Grade Two but the main concern was to keep the facade of the row. The council had spent money giving grants to re roof etc seven years before. The windows and doors were supposed to be like for like if needed changing. No one keeping an eye on this as lots of them now have plastic windows and some have those composite doors. I had a joiner make new windows so it makes me made that they haven’t been checked over this. They will not let it through if a house is sold.Get the details and see what the restrictions are and then decide. I bought it because I liked the building so I am happy to conform.

thank you so much for the advice. this one is just on a small row of 3. it doesn't seem to need anything material in terms of works or upgrades, and we have no qualms about maintaining it. I suppose it will depend on what the survey says ultimately. I will investigate further as per the tips, thank you

You need a survey done by a surveyor who is experienced in surveying listed buildings. Anything else is worthless.

Researching your listed building otherwise is a fun hobby which is entirely different

Council may or may not be helpful - with austerity conservation has had massive cuts and you can no longer ring our conservation officers up 'for a chat'. They only respond to formal applications now

thank you if I will make sure we get a specialist surveyor we get our offer accepted! wouldn't have even thought of that so thank you

We own a grade II building with thatched roof in a conservation area.

Our council won't give any advice now unless you pay them or tell you what the rules are.

Pretty much everything external needs permission - listed buildings consent and anything involving any change often goes through planning - this can be very slow. Like for like has taken about a month, changing chimney to restore it to how it should be took 8 months. Even need permission to trim trees here as conservation area. On the plus side it means everywhere looks beautiful. You need specialists for work on the whole and for the survey.

There's LPOC:

www.lpoc.co.uk/

Worth checking out insurance as well, may well but no issue for you but we had to get a broker to get insurance for ours - probably more as thatched than as listed. Historic England has basic details of our listing - just putting address into Google brings it up.

I forgot that the Listed Property Owners Club are v helpful. You will also need specialist insurance - I use the LPOC for that, service is great.

For a Grade II I have found less needs permission than I had thought as a lot is covered by general maintenaince - however you do need to use tradesmen who know the proper techniques where necessary and aren't going to be frightened of wonky walls and floors. I've had people just walk out at the sight of mine.

You may have the double whammy of being in a Conservation Area - but although it may feel tedious to get permission to replace your garden fence, you also get the pleasure of living in an attractive Conservation Area.