The Right Window SOLUTION
Finding The Right Window Solution For Your Listed Property
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If you’ve been struggling with finding the right window solution for your listed property, then this article is for you. We’ve got a few tips that we’d like to share on how to find the right window, and what some of the windows out on the market entail.
The difference between a listed and unlisted property is relatively simple. A listed building is one that has been officially recognized as notable by the UK government and as such, its details are published on the country’s national listing database. An unlisted building, by contrast, is not included in this list.
If you’re thinking about buying a listed property then it may be worth considering whether you’ll need to make any changes to it or not before you do so and if doing so will jeopardize your current mortgage agreement.
Listed buildings are generally protected by law and often can’t be demolished without permission from the relevant authority. Your house may not be listed, for instance, but your loft or roof space could be – in which case you could face prosecution if you mistakenly demolish the building without permission.
Some buildings do require consent in order to alter them: this is called a Section 106 agreement and it can be quite complicated and time-consuming to get one.
Listed properties have been inspected by the government and are subject to taxes, whereas unlisted properties are not subject to taxes.
Listed properties have been inspected by the government and deemed safe to live in, whilst unlisted properties are not inspected by the government. Therefore you can buy an unlisted property with no guarantee that it’s safe to live in. However, you can get a warranty if you buy one.
A grade listed building is one that is designated as being under the protection of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, which means you must get planning permission if you want to make any alterations or change its use. DCLG (Department for Communities and Local Government) states that to get the grade listed building class 1 or 2 listing certain criteria must be met to prove it is of special architectural or historic interest. See DCLG for more information.
Grade 1 listed buildings are often referred to as being of ‘exceptional’ importance, while grade 2 buildings are ‘particularly important’ and warrant every effort being made to preserve them.
In order to change the windows in of your listed building, you will need to get listed building consent which is a special type of planning permission that can be granted by your local council. You’ll also need this permission if you plan to do any:
- Demolition work.
- Make changes to the structure of permanent features.
- Extend the main structure.
Your Council is likely to grant you listed building consent as long as they can ensure that the work carried out is done with respect to the property’s period and style. And is completed sensitively, with the use of details and materials typical of the period. The council doesn’t charge a fee for listed building consent, unlike normal planning permission.
So in order to find a window which the council will approve you will have to keep a few things in mind. You need to ensure that the window obviously fits the style and period of the building it will be added to. With most listed buildings being of age, it is good practice to choose a window with an old-fashioned aura.
Take a look at what other materials have been used in the building, think about the previous windows and how they could be improved. Finding out what they were made from will offer you a good insight into which materials are acceptable in your unique situation.
Make sure that the work can be completed safely and sensitively to the building, your council isn’t likely to accept any requests if it involves too much hassle or can potentially cause any damage to the building itself.
And finally, seek advice from your local council themselves. They’ll have a good idea of what is allowed and what isn’t as they are the ones who process the request.
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