Anyone live in a Listed House?

[vicky]

We've seen one for sale (Grade 2) and have fallen a bit in love with it...

Just wondered what the reality was like - with regards to the listed buildings consent for repairs/maintenance/alterations etc?

If we bought it we'd like to change a doorway position, add a outside door and put in another bathroom (although we could live with it as it is), how strict is planning?

And it's thatched, anyone got an opinion on that as I've got no idea as far as thatch goes!
Thanks!

[Nicos]

Mine would be if it were in the UK!!

My brother used to live in a grade II listed toll house.
To install a gas pipe to a fireplace, he had to dig under the foundations and not disturb the wall...I can't imagine you could open up a doorway outside!!

Thatched?
Don't know much- but I think they need replacing about every 10 years
I've seen a local house burnt out due to a fire in a thatched roof.
I understand that the firemen ( French) have specific instructions not to attempt to put out a thatch fire- as it can fall down on them...no idea about the UK though????
The house was gutted..although I saw on ' Grand Designs' that there are new flame resistant materials you can put underneath the thatch.


Still- it wouldn't put me off buying a house I'd fallen in love with

[zazen999]

We don't - but we live in a conservation area and that's hard enough.

Are you rich and have the patience of a saint? If yes, then go for it. If no - then unless you really adore it, I'd perhaps look into what has been done so far, and requested so far - planning and maintenance-wise. Every and I mean EVERY detail will have to be passed by them....it will all depend on the people working in the dept and how strict they are but it will be pretty strict no matter what.

Thatch - you are just south of the largest number of thatchers in the country - if not the world [Suffolk]. It would be best to get a few thatchers round to see what the maintenance and repair is like on your house [prior to buying of course].

[Eco-Chic]

Check out whether house insurance will be loaded because of
a) Thatched Roof
b) Increased labour and materials costs of repairing to listed standard.

[smallblueplanet]

Why not contact the property's local council planning office? They will probably be able to tell you what may or may not be possible. I think Grade II listing relates to the exterior of a property, so you wouldn't be able to alter it - but I'm just guessing! I thought thatched roofs had about a forty year life span (not guessing totally!).

[Hilary B]

We've seen one for sale (Grade 2) and have fallen a bit in love with it...

Just wondered what the reality was like - with regards to the listed buildings consent for repairs/maintenance/alterations etc?

If we bought it we'd like to change a doorway position, add a outside door and put in another bathroom (although we could live with it as it is), how strict is planning?

And it's thatched, anyone got an opinion on that as I've got no idea as far as thatch goes!
Thanks!

I don't live in one, but I assist a surveyor who looks at a few every month for potential purchasers, and knows a fair bit about the complexities involved.
First thing that has to be said is that getting listed buildings consent is easier in some places than others.
Whereas planning consent is only required for things which change the external appearance, listed building consent is needed for ALL alterations, and if any have been done without, (whoever by, if later than the listing) the owner at date of discovery has to foot the bill for putting it back how it should be (retrospective applications are VERY rarely passed).
Installing a bathroom requires Building Regulations consent (as does almost any work) but that simply requires achieving the right technical standard.
There are 3 'types' of thatch, and most listings officers will demand that any replacement be done in the same type as previously.
Well made thatch will last 25 years if it is 'longstraw', 30 for 'combed wheat' (also known as 'wheat reed') and up to 30-50 years (depending on location) if it is 'water-reed' (also known as 'Norfolk reed', but often imported these days). If the work was less good, or the material poorly stored before use, it may wear out quicker.
It may need patching, and probably re-ridging, at 'half way'

Thatch should have wire mesh over to keep out vermin, and prevent birds nesting in it, but the mesh should be fine enough that it can readily be ripped off if a fire should start (the quickest way of getting such a fire under control). Electric cables anywhere near thatch should be a special type to protect them from the attentions of rodents (and this include squirrels) as such damage is often the cause of fires.

If you want more comments, PM me...

[tootles]

Can't tell you anything about thatch (except It's pretty), but I have owned a grade II listed building. I think as a rule, most old grade II listings are simply to keep the exterior looking the same (ie you can't have it rendered and painted purple without asking nicely first) I think the conservation area thing does the job now. The insides are not monitored in the same way as the outside. Ours was listed with a hideous 70's feature fireplace - we pulled that out first. No-one ever came to check that we hadn't painted the bathroom orange (well fuzzy peach actually) or the larder green (left over from an old nissan hut). We couldn't put in ugly pvcu windows (??!! why would anyone) but really it wasn't a problem at all.
It might be worth trying to find out why the building was listed in the first place though - just in case...........

[jackie j]

Tricky one this. You need to consult someone in your area before even thinking of buying to find out what is and what is not acceceptible by the council each one is different, its not just listed buildings that need consent for small things these days. My OH is an architectural technician and I want a new bathroom put back where it should be, pretty straightforward noooooooooooooo cos of new planning laws or whatever and my house is old but not listed.

[sesa]

What does listed grade 11 mean?

[sesa]

What does listed grade 2 mean?

[tootles]

Grade I listing means you can't even leave the back door open without permission.
Grade II means you can open the door - but not paint it.
Conservation area means that everyone has to have the same tacky plastic windows at the same time.

It is all about preserving 'features'. Our old house was listed because the village high street was a classic example of an 1860's village high street.

I suppose you have the same sort of thing in your neck of the woods - history being relative and all that!!

My cousin lives in Canada, he bought a house built in 1890 - it is a local heirloom.

(parts of my house date from the 14th century!!)

[bubblewrap]

Is the leaning tower of Pisa a listed building?

[tootles]

Nope - I think it is still listing......................

[willowstar]

we looked a buying a grade 2* recently, which is a lot scricter than a grade 2 and were told that the conservation board at the local council where we were looking would be sympathetic, but that it varied and that at grade 2* lots of decisions are made nationally. My impression was that it depends on your local planning and conservation department as to what you will be allowed to do with it and that they vary widely. sorry, that isn't much help is it!!!

[sesa]

Yeah old is a relative term when comparing our old buildings and yours. Man I would love to live in something built in the 14th century, that would really be cool.