Honest opinion about this grade II listed, and what questions to ask

[Disneyblueeyes]

This house came up today and we absolutely love it. It ticks so many boxes for us.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/133337237

However are we mad to even consider it as it's grade II listed? We can afford it, and also new carpets and a new kitchen (which it desperately needs). Am a bit concerned at the size of the kitchen and probably wouldn't be able to knock through, but could work around it as house is big enough otherwise and there's plenty of other rooms for socialising.
Currently have an open plan kitchen/snug which we designed ourselves so it's a far cry from that.

No urge to extend or change the exterior in any way. It's stunning as it is.
Main concerns are the windows (I don't think they're double glazed) and general upkeep/maintenance costs as it's an old house.

Am wondering whether to phone the estate agents ...what sorts of questions to ask with a house like this?

Thanks.

My parents live in a stone cottage. It is beautifully cool in the summer and gets very warm if they light the fire.

Yy to the poster who said the pipes are likely to be tiny and have crap water pressure. None of the walls and ceilings will have any right angles. And there's a good chance your DH will have to stoop at all times!

Just to say that it’s Historic England (not English Heritage) that deals with listed buildings. I’m involved with a Grade I / SM and everything takes a lot of time - I do think HE have a huge workload and limited staff.

My PiLs owned a Grade 2 cottage. The water pressure was excellent. However getting approval for proper double glazing was a nightmare, ultimately successful.

Elderly G2 house resident popping back to comment that Listed Buildings Approval (unless you want to do something really odd) is dealt with a County/Unitary council level.

I am surprised that it was once a school, but that might make me more concerned about what somebody did to pop in an upper floor. I am guessing that it would have been 2 high ceilinged classrooms before.

The extension around the back is interesting. I see that they played safe by retaining what are now internal windows in the "U shape". Again, I would be suspicious of that extension.

I find it odd that the estate agent took so many photos of what is a lovely front garden in a quiet hamlet, but few of the upper floors. Presumably that means that the aspirational bedrooms are currently storage or even loft space.

I grew up in a similar house and my folks still live there. Their house isn’t extended and doesn’t have the two stairs.
Mum hates it. It’s so long. It’s a pain to get anywhere. She loves my 3 bed semi as it’s ‘square’. It’s impossible to heat.
Hers is grade 2 listed too. They have changed stuff inside and changed the windows at the back. I don’t recall them having to ask about making changes inside. But, the house was listed after them buying it and no one thought to tell them!

Roof looks a bit saggy
Looks in need of a full rewire and probably a replumb

It's a dogs dinner. That roof is modern roman clay tiles. It should be slate. The flat roof extension and side extension is an eyesore.
Inside every room looks like it needs £20k spending on it. I wouldn't touch it. It's vastly overpriced.

I am so glad I posted this.

Thank you all very much. Lots of food for thought!!

I'm starting to conclude it probably isn't the property for us.
It's also in the middle of nowhere I will add. Nearest school is 2 miles away.
We have a 3 year old which could be unsettling with all the work that would need doing.

I also agree it's overpriced. I thought that before I posted this.

Where are you looking, OP? Do you have a fairly broad search area or are you keen on Tadcaster?

@Leftoverssandwich quite broad. Anywhere between York and Leeds, stretching up to places like Boroughbridge, tockwith. We want somewhere a bit more picturesque. We're over near Goole/Howden at the minute.

At least the kitchen will be bright enough with its 10 fluorescent tubes.

We live in a listed house and don’t mind that it doesn’t have an EPC. Thick walls are good insulation. Get the roof insulated if not done already. Take your time with projects - we did at first, than one a year as finances and energy allow. I think old houses are very healthy to live in! Also good for the soul 😀

The windows are out of character. It’s hard to believe it’s listed. Looks like a money pit. The stone fireplaces are hideous.

Your solicitor can ask for an EPC, the EA can provide one as a matter of course. But the EPC rating isn’t geared to old buildings. It will come out terrible, which may or may not mean it is expensive to heat.