[Misc] Anyone own a Grade II Listed building?

[Stat Brother]

As you have seen on here a lot are put off when a house is listed which does impact the price and also something worth considering if selling on. My advice do your background checks so you know what you are taking on and can do what you want, make sure you love the property and not the idea and you will then be in a better position to be sure it’s for you or not.

Hopefully I'll be walking away because Plan A does actually work out.
(You wouldn't have thought it was so difficult to give someone a mahoosive wod of cash for a house they no longer use)

I may have to walk away, from the fantasy, because time is the one thing I don't have.
Plan B is very much a rush job or else I'm going to find myself bored and dismantling a Corby Trouser Press at a local Travel Tavern!!!

 

[zefarelly]

My advice is that you should only own a listed building if you understand what you have, cherish it and respect it. If you don't you will find the laws restricting what you can do to it frustrating. But they are there for very good reasons as the great British public have a track record of wrecking our built heritage in the interests of fashion.

Bang on. As well as fashion, I'd add the more important issue of cost/quality . . .most of whats available for renovation/maintenance/improvement now is a downgrade on whats being torn out!

I was brought up in proper houses, and have only owned proper houses. Zef towers is the 'newest' house I've ever lived in @ a mere 73 years old. All the walls are make of bricks for example. Recent renovations have included a significant investment in windows . . . Double the price of the plastic shit I took great pleasure in seeing skipped. THey've probably increased the value of the house accordingly, and most importantly, improved the aesthetic to where it was when the house was built.

Grade 2 is a doddle anyway. Grade 1 is a little more challenging, but if you buy a house like that and want to start tearing it up, frankly you should have it reposessed.

DUring our recent renovations I couldn't get any copper pipe at one point, at least not longer than the few odd lengths 'in stock. . . . . But found several disconnected lengths under the bathroom floorboards where I was working. the central heating is mostly solid brass compression fittings, and the pipe is twice the weight of 'new' ie double the wall thickness. . . Not a whiff of plastic in sight.

 

[GrizzlingGammon]

Hence asking for good news as that's what t'internet tells me.


My gut reaction is only the front of the house is listed, the 'garden' view of the back is incredibly nondescript.

The plot of land it sits in will be part of the curtilage and covered by the listing. Outbuildings at the time of listing will also be included, even if not in the LB description.

 

[B-right-on]

It does back onto a church.

Might be worth just double checking there's no Chancel Repair Liability because the Church is so close. Was a real thing some years ago where house owners were made to pay for Church repairs. Not heard of it for a good few years tho.

 

[Moshe Gariani]

Might be worth just double checking there's no Chancel Repair Liability because the Church is so close. Was a real thing some years ago where house owners were made to pay for Church repairs. Not heard of it for a good few years tho.

Terrible scam perpetuated by insurance companies in cahoots with solicitors.

 

[Goldstone1976]

Over the years I’ve owned grade 1, 2*, & 2 listed properties. Grade 1 is a pita, 2* and 2 are normally fine, providing you don’t have a tosser of a LBC officer. If you take the piss, they’ll all make your life hell; if you don’t, the vast majority are fine. You’ve got to love the place enough to justify a bit of hassle though; we do, so all’s good.

 

[Chicken Run]

Brunswick Square is a good example, I knew a guy who bought a flat there a few years ago.

The bathroom window at the rear of the building facing Brunswick Street West was a 1970’s aluminium frame replacement window. He replaces said with a bespoke wooden sash window.

On sale some years later this replaced window causes disruption to the process with the outcome being, wait for retrospective consent from the Heritage Society (can take many months) or to re instate the manky aluminium window.

The reason, quite simply when the building was granted listed status the aluminium window was in situ at the time of listed status so therefore protected.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[South Stand Bonfire]

Thanks all.




I'll give the agent a ring about it.
I'm getting a different vibe from all of you, than I get from the house photos.

Inside it looks all very modern (enough).
As said outside from the back it looks a bit shite (not rundown old shite, just shite)

It does back onto a church.
The front of the house is flint and brick edged (tiled roof)
Which is what leads me to think it might just be the front which is listed.

It does look like there's a 'galley' extension.
But obviously any issue with that would jump out on the searches.


The price almost suggests there's a catch but not quite.

T'is a bit of an oddity.


Edit - that's assuming they do put listings on just the front?
I think I picked that nugget from an art deco garage, in my half of Sussex, some of you may know about.

Just a thought if you do go for it, make sure that the existing owners had planning consent for any changes they undertook otherwise potentially a new owner could be liable for making retrospective planning applications or worse still, having to put the unconsented work back into its original condition. You should make this a specific point in the purchase contract. This nearly caught me out when I bought my weekend castle retreat.

 

[B-right-on]

Brunswick Square is a good example, I knew a guy who bought a flat there a few years ago.

The bathroom window at the rear of the building facing Brunswick Street West was a 1970’s aluminium frame replacement window. He replaces said with a bespoke wooden sash window.

On sale some years later this replaced window causes disruption to the process with the outcome being, wait for retrospective consent from the Heritage Society (can take many months) or to re instate the manky aluminium window.

The reason, quite simply when the building was granted listed status the aluminium window was in situ at the time of listed status so therefore protected.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Tbh he should have known and been made clearly aware of the fact that he cannot make any external changes to the property without Planning approval. Yes it was the right action but still it was 'illegal'.

 

[Stat Brother]

Phew it's under offer, so a non starter, although apparently my max bid would have got me through the door!!!

Obviously I didn't waste their time asking about the nature of the Grade II.

 

[PHCgull]

yes I do. Central B&H, within 200m of the dials. Got PP for a glass room extension on it last year, no problems at all. heating bills are astronomic unfortunately, as its solid wall bungaroosh, cant be insulated easily...

 

[zefarelly]

Over the years I’ve owned grade 1, 2*, & 2 listed properties. Grade 1 is a pita, 2* and 2 are normally fine, providing you don’t have a tosser of a LBC officer. If you take the piss, they’ll all make your life hell; if you don’t, the vast majority are fine. You’ve got to love the place enough to justify a bit of hassle though; we do, so all’s good.

I used to live in a G2 listed cottage next to the Church in Shoreham, I did try for planning permission to extend and actually got Listed buildings consent as my proposal was more in keeping and better detailed than the 60's/70's extension next door and attached garages.

Unfortunately my then next door neighbour was a member of the Shoreham society and objected. Half the planning comittee were SS members . . .

that opened up a toxic can of worms.

 

[Charlies Shinpad]

If it backs onto a church make sure the church bell doesn't ring every 30 minutes day and night

Sent from my CPH2195 using Tapatalk

 

[MJsGhost]

I'm in a grade II semi, within a conservation area of a village - there's a II* place next door and they are currently 12 months (and counting) into a 4-month project, due to uncovering all sorts of additional issues that required further consent...

The cons are pretty well covered above - it can be a pain to get anything done, but as others have said, it depends a lot on who you have to deal with in the relevant roles at the council as well as whether what you intend to do is in keeping with the building & area.. It does take more time, effort and money, that's for sure.

Some of the cons can also be pros. There is a small plot of land behind our property, where the owner has been trying on and off over the last 30 years (according to neighbours who have been here longer) to gain permission to build a house that would not only be out of place, but would also overlook several properties, disrupt sightlines, change the nature of the conservation area etc etc. Because of the listing & conservation area, it has been refused every time (why they don't apply for a single-storey house with a better design, I don't know - it would probably pass). Hang on, I do know - greed.

Anyway, my point is that the very thing that can frustrate owners trying to alter their own property will protect against major changes nearby that could affect their enjoyment of the area immediately surrounding their house - it should be insurance against some idiot doing something monstrous, even if the property concerned isn't listed.

I'm told it's not an uncommon occurrence that a member of the old boys' network gives someone in planning a funny handshake to get something sh|t passed... so choosing the right architect or listed building consent 'consultant' on the basis of who they know, or at which school they gained their soggy biscuit colours is more important than what they know!

 

[Elbow750]

I'm in a grade II semi, within a conservation area of a village - there's a II* place next door and they are currently 12 months (and counting) into a 4-month project, due to uncovering all sorts of additional issues that required further consent...

The cons are pretty well covered above - it can be a pain to get anything done, but as others have said, it depends a lot on who you have to deal with in the relevant roles at the council as well as whether what you intend to do is in keeping with the building & area.. It does take more time, effort and money, that's for sure.

Some of the cons can also be pros. There is a small plot of land behind our property, where the owner has been trying on and off over the last 30 years (according to neighbours who have been here longer) to gain permission to build a house that would not only be out of place, but would also overlook several properties, disrupt sightlines, change the nature of the conservation area etc etc. Because of the listing & conservation area, it has been refused every time (why they don't apply for a single-storey house with a better design, I don't know - it would probably pass). Hang on, I do know - greed.

Anyway, my point is that the very thing that can frustrate owners trying to alter their own property will protect against major changes nearby that could affect their enjoyment of the area immediately surrounding their house - it should be insurance against some idiot doing something monstrous, even if the property concerned isn't listed.

I'm told it's not an uncommon occurrence that a member of the old boys' network gives someone in planning a funny handshake to get something sh|t passed... so choosing the right architect or listed building consent 'consultant' on the basis of who they know, or at which school they gained their soggy biscuit colours is more important than what they know!

Being in a Conservation Area is great. I'm in one and as you say building plots are either left alone, or the developments are very high quality and in keeping. A flat roofed bungalow opposite me had a storey added on top recently and I went Ape as I hadn't a clue, hadn't seen the statutory planning notice that must go up and hadn't been informed. None of the neighbours had any idea. But it was a sensible design, not to high and now fits in nicely with the rest of the building in the Conservation Area.

I remodelled our kitchen/ dining room/ utility 5 years ago, knocking down 2 internal walls, replacing 2 old windows with a bigger single one etc. I told the Council what I was doing, sent them drawings and asked if it was ok? They acknowledged the email and sent me a complex note on planning rules but never said 'yes'. I read the rules 3 times, asked a couple of mates in the know and my builder who all said you're ok, so we went ahead.

But I always use the best possible products and always want to keep my house as nice and original looking as possible. It's a lovely Edwardian 5 bed. Drafty and cold in winter, but nice and cool (high ceilings) in summer and enough rooms to hide away in when I need space from the family. Being in a conservation area helps keep all the properties looking nice and original, which is fine for all of us.

 

[Elbow750]

yes I do. Central B&H, within 200m of the dials. Got PP for a glass room extension on it last year, no problems at all. heating bills are astronomic unfortunately, as its solid wall bungaroosh, cant be insulated easily...

Solid wall internal insulation is your friend. Not cheap, but I know a couple of people who have done it and really pleased. Not too bad if you are doing other structural work/ redoing kitchens/ bathrooms etc. Good luck with the bungaroosh. I've heard horror stories about that!

 

[WATFORD zero]

I've just had to look up bungaroosh. 'used almost exclusively in the English seaside resort of Brighton and its attached neighbour Hove between the mid-18th and late 19th centuries, and in its near neighbours Worthing and Lewes'

I'll put it down with Twittens, Stoolball and Trugs

 

[Bold Seagull]

I've just had to look up bungaroosh. 'used almost exclusively in the English seaside resort of Brighton and its attached neighbour Hove between the mid-18th and late 19th centuries, and in its near neighbours Worthing and Lewes'

I'll put it down with Twittens, Stoolball and Trugs

There is a particular type of bungaroosh called 'clunge'.

 

[Elbow750]

There is a particular type of bungaroosh called 'clunge'.

I've heard that some types of Bungaroosh are just any old bits of brick, stone, chalk and any old crap just chucked into a wall and plastered over. Outside is often covered up with tiles (Mathematical Tiles in Lewes). The Bungaroosh can fall apart when it gets very old so any disturbance of the walls and woosh you have a right old mess.

Please do correct me if I've got any of this wrong.

 

[Stat Brother]

For someone who's a lazy barsteward that isn't looking forward to indoor redevelopment of 'Plan A' house, I'm really coming round to the idea of buying Grade II Listed.