Listed Property Owners Invest In England's Future

Survey reveals Listed Property owners are proud to invest in England's heritage for the future.

England and Wales boast half a million listed buildings, each one with its own story to tell, and an owner with the responsibility of conserving the history the building holds. The results of the recently published Heritage Counts survey, undertaken by Historic England, revealed that listed property owners are committed to investing in their buildings with two thirds of those surveyed performing regular maintenance. In addition to this 93% of owners see their property as important to local character and they enjoy owning a slice of England's history.

Sir Laurie Magnus, the Chairman of Historic England, said of the findings from the survey:
“Private owners of listed residential buildings care for the greatest share of our historic fabric. It is therefore particularly encouraging to see the evidence of their commitment to preserving the historic character of their properties and their readiness to cover the costs of regular maintenance”

Thinking of conserving or renovating your listed property?

35% of listed property owners surveyed had applied for listed building consent (LBC) in the past 5 years. However The LBC process can be daunting, and some owners did not go ahead with their applications due to the complexity of the planning process. John Sell, Chair of the Historic Environment Forum concluded from the survey that “the lesson to be drawn is that the more good quality advice can be given, the better old buildings will be looked after.” If you are considering conserving or renovating your listed property the Listed Property Show in 2016 is a very good place to start.

The Listed Property Show, created by The Listed Property Owners Club, brings you all the specialist information and expert help you might need in conserving, renovating or buying a listed building. Arm yourself with professional help and advice from the biggest collection of listed property suppliers and specialists during one weekend, under one roof at Olympia London and Harrogate International Centre. You can chat with independent conservation officers & architects about your plans and listen to informative lectures on a topic of your choice from tracing the history of your home to how to choose the right contractor, at one of the many show talks. You will learn more over one weekend than you can through months of personal research!

For more show information, lecture timetables and free tickets, visitwww.lpoc.co.uk/property-show

Listed Property Owners Club Top Tips for Conserving your Listed Building

Use tried and tested technology - Experience has shown that using modern technologies alongside traditional building technologies frequently create tensions which are harmful to historic buildings and have caused irreversible damage.

Avoid waterproof membranes - Methods used in modern building constructions such as damp proof membranes, vapour barriers and any impervious layers can be harmful to the building as well as its occupants.

Make sure that all the alterations to a listed building are totally reversible - In practice this means fitting the new around the old rather than altering the old to accommodate the new.

Keep as much of the historic fabric as possible - Only repair when it is necessary to do so as 'over-restoration' can result in a new looking building and a loss of historic fabric and character.

Learn about what makes your building significant - Try to understand its story and why it was listed in the first place. Read around the subject and speak to the experts.

And finally, remember that Listed Buildings are irreplaceable so we need to make sure that we look after them properly for future generations.

The Listed Property Owners Club is Britain's only advice service dedicated to helping members get the most from their homes by providing detailed advice, information and support for just about every conceivable issue associated with ownership. Members benefit from a dedicated telephone helpline where you can speak to a panel of experts on conservation, VAT, law, and listed building matters. The LPOC Suppliers Directory of professionals, builders and tradesmen is the first port of call for many listed building owners across the country. More information can be found at www.lpoc.co.uk.

Editors Notes: For further information, images and press passes please contact katie@lpoc.co.uk or call 01795 844939.