Compare House Insurance Policies for Heritage Listed Properties

From Westminster Palace on the River Thames to the thatched cottages that dot the countryside, our architectural heritage is one of the many things that make England unique. Heritage buildings have helped preserve our national identity, and have served as icons for tourists from both the UK and abroad. While most people would applaud the efforts made by governments and historians to preserve England’s architectural legacy, for those who live in a heritage listed building, such properties present unique challenges to their owners. One challenge is finding the appropriate home insurance for such a property. If you live in a listed building, when you compare house insurance policies, you will have to factor in various laws and regulations that go far beyond what homeowners of non-listed properties have to consider. We will look at some of these regulations, and how you can find the home insurance that is right for your listed property.

Heritage Grades

All heritage listed buildings are divided into three grades: Grade I, Grade II*, and Grade II. Grade I buildings are usually buildings considered to be of outstanding national and international important to the history of England. These buildings would include some of the most iconic landmarks in England, such as the Tower of London or Windsor Castle. It is a fairly safe bet that, unless you are an earl or lord, you do not live in a Grade I building. Most heritage buildings in England are listed at Grade II* or II, meaning they may not be internationally renowned, but they are still important to preserve in order to understand English history better. Most heritage homes are listed as Grade II, and if you live in a home that was built before 1840, it is very likely that it is a Grade II listed building.

Laws and Regulations

Because of their unique and national importance, heritage buildings are protected by a number of laws and regulations that their homeowners must be aware of. If you want to do any renovation or repair work on a listed building, you must get approval from your local authority first. Going ahead with any sort of alteration to a listed property without this consent is illegal and could result in a fine or prison sentence. Furthermore, you will be held responsible for restoring the property to its original state, even if it was the previous homeowner who illegally altered the property. Also, any damage caused to a property, whether by natural or manmade forces, must be repaired by the homeowner if possible.

Listed Home Insurance

These laws and regulations can make getting home insurance for a listed property difficult. You will most likely have to look for home insurance companies that deal exclusively with specialized types of insurance. Invariably, these policies are going to be more expensive than standard home insurance policies, especially since the rebuild cost of such a property tends to be very high, but it is still worth comparing all offers from different companies. Remember to read the fine print of such policies. Carrying out repairs on a listed property entails more than just calling up the local handyman. Such properties often require the services of specialized craftsmen, period tools, and materials that are no longer common in construction projects. All of these elements make repairs on listed properties much more expensive and time consuming. Make sure you have a policy that covers all of these areas, and also, because listed property repairs often take longer to complete, your insurance policy should include a safety margin in case costs are higher than originally estimated. Finally, because those repairs are so time consuming, many insurance policies will also cover the cost of accommodation in case your listed property becomes uninhabitable during the course of repairs and renovations.

Living in a heritage building offers a unique and enchanting way of constantly being surrounded by history in your daily life. These properties, though beautiful, are protected by strict laws and regulations, almost all of which hold the property owner liable for unauthorized repairs and alterations. If you own, or are planning to own, a listed property, you need to understand not only how these laws apply to you, but how they apply to your home insurance policy, as well. When you compare house insurance policies for a listed property, it is vital that you take into account the unique aspects repairing and renovating such a property will entail. By doing so, you’ll be able to enjoy your historic home to its fullest.

Sam Jones the author, suggests to readers looking to compare house insurance, that they can find more info on uSwitch.com a price comparison website.