The architect Frank Lloyd Wright once wrote:
The mother art is architecture. Without an architecture of our own we have no soul of our own civilization.
There are thousands of historic buildings across the UK.
Categorising them as listed helps preserve our current civilisation.
Read on to learn more about different types of listed buildings and the issues around them.
What is a listed building?
A listed building is a property that’s considered to be historically or culturally significant.
Data shows that there are roughly 370,000 listed buildings throughout the UK.
Who decides what buildings get listed?
The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport decides which properties get listed.
Examples of famous listed buildings
As you can imagine, some of the UK’s listed buildings are extremely well-known. Iconic examples include:
- Battersea Power Station
- Brighton Pavilion
- Newcastle-upon-Tyne Central Railway Station
- The Grand Opera House in Belfast.
The function of listed buildings
Some famous listed buildings are now empty.
But you can often buy tickets to look around them and learn about their history.
It’s possible to live in a listed building, too. You’ll usually be told about this when viewing the house.
Different types of listed buildings
There are three grades of listed buildings.
Grade I
A Grade I listed building is described as having ‘exceptional interest and merit’. This is the highest level possible in the United Kingdom.
Only around 2.5% of listed buildings in the country have this status.
Grade II*
A Grade II* listed building is described as having ‘more than special interest’. This is the second highest level.
Around 5.5% of listed buildings in the United Kingdom have been designated this status.
Grade II
A Grade II listed building is described as having ‘special interest that warrants preservation’.
This is the third highest level of listed building in the country. Roughly 92% of listed buildings have this status.
How to find out if my building is listed?
The Historic England website holds the official National Heritage List, where you can visit this page and search for the building you’re looking for.
You can enter a keyword, postcode, or list entry number. There’s also an ‘advanced search’ feature that allows you to search using extra criteria, including:
- Street name
- Grade
- Historic period
- Date first listed.
And more.
Searching this list isn’t only limited to buildings. You can also search:
- Monuments
- Protected wrecks
- Registered parks
- Battlefields.
Are listed buildings more or less valuable than non-listed ones?
Listed buildings are more valuable than an equivalent, non-listed property in the same area.
That’s because these buildings hold enormous local or even national significance. They’re unique and irreplaceable.
Listed buildings are also less likely to decrease in value over time. Buyers value this because they consider it a safer investment.
Can I apply to get a building listed?
Yes, you can apply to get a building listed. But there’s no guarantee you will be successful.
To complete your application, you should first visit the Historic England website. You are then advised to follow these steps:
- Find out if your building is already listed or being considered for listing
- Ensure it is eligible (looking up when your house was built is helpful)
- Create an account on their website
- Gather information about your building.
Once you’ve done these things, it’s time to complete your application. You can do this online by downloading their form and filling in the relevant details.
You can do this free of charge or pay a fee to get ‘fast-tracked’.
Historic England has an official helpdesk you can contact, too.
Can I remove a building’s ‘listed’ status?
Yes. You can make an application for de-listing a building.
Just keep in mind that the process is time-consuming. And you’re not guaranteed to be successful.
Firstly, you must create an account on the Historic England website. You then must apply to de-list a building.
This should include evidence about why the building is no longer historically or architecturally significant.
Perhaps its appearance has drastically changed, or the stories surrounding it have been proven false.
De-listing is rare
Experts suggest that it’s very rare for a building to be de-listed. You must dedicate lots of time (and often money) to achieve it (including solicitor’s fees).
If de-listing is considered, this will usually be made public, so appeals can be made about why the building should stay on the list.
Am I allowed to rent out a listed building?
Yes, this is technically allowed. Just remember that as a landlord of a listed building, you must adhere to certain obligations.
All landlords should have a minimum ‘E’ rating on their Energy Performance Certificate to let it out.
This will go up to a ‘C’ in future years. Plenty of listed buildings don’t have great EPC scores, so make sure you check this beforehand.
Landlords letting out a listed building often inspect it more regularly than is ‘usual’. This ensures it’s in good condition.
To assist with this, your rent payments could be higher, and the deposit larger. You should also:
- Check the building’s structure
- Have updated documents for all appliances and fittings
- Vet tenants carefully
- Get advice from experts on renting out a listed building.
You should protect the interests of yourself, and the building, in your tenancy contract.
Ensure your renter signs it and agrees to its terms. A solicitor can help you to draft this so you aren’t at risk of any major disasters.
For example, you should be careful when placing heavy furniture, or drilling into walls. These actions can damage the property irreparably.
The same applies to almost all major renovations you make to the property’s interior.
If you’re affecting its character, permission could be needed. Speak to your local authority for guidance.
Advantages of living in a listed building
Listed buildings are often unique. You might come across features that can’t be found anywhere else.
Many of these will be older elements rarely found in modern properties.
There’s also a sense of pride that can come with living in a listed building. Your property is a part of history.
If you’re fascinated by its story, you’ll often be motivated to look after it for future generations.
You usually find that listed buildings have higher property values. This means you can sell it for more later on.
And it tends to hold its value better during economic downturns.
Disadvantages of living in a listed building
You usually can’t make major changes to the building without permission from the local authority.
This is to protect the appearance and history of the building. Otherwise, you could undo something that’s got enormous significance.
Maintenance of a listed building tends to be quite expensive. It may have outdated features that local experts haven’t seen before.
Replacing the foundations, roof, walls or doorways could cost you more.
It costs more to insure a listed building. The materials involved in constructing it tend to be unique and thus cost more if anything disastrous happens.
For example, older buildings are often made with stone rather than brick.
And stone buildings are rare and more expensive to repair than brick ones.
