HAVE you got your eye on a converted chapel? Are you hankering after a historic mill, a medieval cottage or one of Clifton’s grand town houses? If so, you might want to get in touch with the Listed Property Owners Club.
Established more than 20 years ago, it is Britain’s only advice service dedicated to helping owners of listed buildings. And its small, friendly team aims to give members the advice and reassurance they need as guardians of our architectural heritage.
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More than 4,500 properties in Bristol are listed, meaning they appear on a national register in recognition of their architectural or historical importance.
About 100, including Temple Meads station and the cathedral, are Grade I properties, which means they carry the greatest degree of protection.
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Of the rest, 500 are Grade II* and 3,900 are Grade II, four out of ten being domestic dwellings.
Owners of these buildings are obliged to keep them in good repair and maintain their character inside and out, including any previously-added extensions and garden buildings and sometimes even garden walls and courtyards.
DIY can be a daunting task as special consent must be sought before carrying out all sorts of run-of- the-mill jobs, such as painting over- exposed brickwork, replacing doors, installing double-glazing, removing internal walls or installing satellite dishes and burglar alarms. And applying for permission in no way means it will be granted.
It is enough to shatter anyone’s dream of snapping up that medieval barn or thatched cottage.
But the Listed Property Owners Club aims to help owners navigate the minefield and get the most out of their properties. Among its members is Mark Caney, who owns a 17th-century detached house – in the village of Kenn, near Clevedon – which he is just about to put on the market.
Set in an acre of land, the Grade II listed house is thought to date back to 1690. And Mr Caney felt a keen sense of responsibility for it when he moved in with his family in 2008.
He said: “There is something nice about sitting in front of a fire, knowing that generations of people have sat in that same spot, perhaps discussing the result of Waterloo or lamenting the losses of the First World War.
“But when you take possession of a home like this, although you legally own it, you are really only looking after it for future generations. It is a piece of heritage and you have to treat it with respect.”
Mr Caney wanted to make some modifications in the main house, including building a corridor on the top floor. He could also see the potential to convert a dilapidated barn on the site into an extra room.
But he knew he would have to tread carefully and asked the Listed Property Owners Club for advice.
He said: “They were really helpful, explaining what I could and could not do and putting me in touch with their legal advisor. In particular, they flagged up the fact that I could get VAT relief on much of the work.
“This nugget of information alone more than covered the cost of their annual membership fee.”
Mr Caney had his own tip for prospective owners of listed buildings.
He said: “My advice, before you buy, is to ask yourself whether or not you could live in the property just as it is, because even if the layout is not ideal you might not be able to change it.”
Jonathan Hyams, who lives in a listed, Georgian, terraced house on Brandon Hill in Bristol, agrees.
He said: “The previous owners of our house knocked down a wall without gaining permission and were forced to rebuild it.
“But even if you do not want to make changes, it can still be expensive maintaining a listed building.
“There is the cost of sourcing materials of the required quality for repairs, the cost of heating a house with single-glazed windows. and the cost of the insurance.”
Again, this was an area in which the Listed Property Owners Club could help. By inviting members to join forces to bulk buy insurance, the club was able to negotiate a 20 to 25 per cent reduction in premiums for Mr Hyams, who has lived in the property for eight years.
All buildings built before 1700 which have survived in anything like their original condition are listed.
Buildings dating from 1700 to 1840 are listed, although some selectivity is applied. And buildings from 1840 to 1914 are selected on the basis of their demonstrating technological advances, being the work of notable architects, or possessing some notable feature.
More recent buildings are now being considered for listing. And the broader definition of “building” is allowing man-made structures such as telephone boxes and gravestones to be included on the list. Clifton Suspension Bridge and the Nails of Corn Street, for example, are among the grade one listed properties in Bristol.
Your local authority will be able to tell you if a property is listed and will confirm if the building is within a conservation area.
The Listed Property Owners Club website features listed properties for sale from all over Britain, plus a free, downloadable guide with more advice and information.
Annual subscription costs £48 by £4 monthly Paypal instalments, or £55 by online debit/credit card payment. Visit www.lpoc.co.uk or telephone 01785 844939 for more details.