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Responsibilities of owning a Listed Building

If you are the owner of a Listed Building or come into possession of one, you are tasked with ensuing that the property is maintained in a reasonable state of repair. Although there is no statutory duty to effect improvements, you must not cause the building to fall into any worse state than it was in when you became its' owner. This may necessitate some works, even if they are just to keep the building wind and watertight. You should note however that although you must undertake this work you must also obtain Listed Building Consent in order to carry these works out.

Your Local Authority may take legal action against you if it has cause to believe that you are deliberately neglecting the property, or have carried out works without consent.

For this reason alone it is recommended that a photographic record of the property is kept in order to show what the property was like at an earlier date. You should also be aware that if you inherited incomplete or unimplemented works from your predecessor when you acquired the property you will become liable for those works.

Likewise, if you are selling a Listed Building you may wish to indemnify yourself against future claims: speak to your Solicitor.

Should you receive any formal notice from the Council you should take professional advice immediately, as time limits for remedial actions will have been established. Failure to act could result in the Council taking action through the courts.