There are in the region of 373,000 listed buildings in the UK and many are oozing with their own charm and quirky features. Although many people love the idea of living in a listed building, they’re sometimes put off by the thought of dealing with it (thanks to horror stories about people trying to do alterations and not being allowed to do the work) and the extra paperwork and implications involved. If you’re wondering about the reality of coping with a listed building, then here are the facts!

1. When a building is called listed it means it’s regarded as being of special historic or architectural interest and is on a national register. The listing protects the whole of the building – outside and inside, plus surrounding areas – and any owner has a duty to keep the building in good repair.

2. As an owner of a listed building, you have to contact the conservation officer at your local district council if you ever wish to alter, extend, change or demolish any part of your building in a way that might affect the character or setting. You need to gain Listed Building Consent from the council – similar to planning permission, but no fees involved – before you can start any work.

3. Alterations or changes that require Listed Building Consent include: changing the roofing material, removing internal walls, changing fireplaces or staircases, changing windows, painting over brickwork, putting up aerials or satellite dishes, and removing external surfaces.

4. It takes about eight weeks for the results of applications for Listed Building Consent to be considered and decided upon. If your proposal is turned down, you will have six months in which to make an appeal.

5. If you go ahead and alter a listed building without first gaining consent, then it is regarded as a criminal offence and you could be fined or even imprisoned. The council will also insist the property is returned to how it was.

6. If you’re buying a listed property, you need to ensure that any previous work carried out has been authorised. If it hasn’t, you could be held responsible – even though you had nothing to do with it – as you will inherit the problems.

7. In England and Wales, the authority for listing is granted by the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 and administered by English Heritage. In Wales and Scotland there are different organisations involved, namely CADW in Wales and Historic Scotland in Scotland.

8. A limited number of grants are available from local conservation officers to help with repair and upkeep on listed buildings.

9. Statistics indicate that 92% of all listed buildings are grade II listed (of special interest), 5.5% are grade II* (particularly important buildings) and 2.5% are grade I listed (exceptionally important buildings). 38% of all listed buildings are used as domestic dwellings.

10. The older and rarer a building, the more likely it is to be listed. Properties built before 1700 and which have survived well, are very likely to be listed and any properties built before 1840 may well make the listed grade. It’s not just older properties though – some exceptional modern buildings built after 1945 are known to have listed status too. In addition to age, buildings that are of particular architectural interest or associated with key events or historical figures may have a listed status too.

To find listed property for sale, head over and search on Primelocation.com (typing ‘listed’ into the keyword search field).

If you’re an owner of a listed property, or are interested in purchasing a listed property, then there’s a show taking place this weekend that could be right up your street.

The third annual Listed Property Show, which is organised by the Listed Property Owners Club (LPOC), is taking place at Olympia in London on Saturday February 21st (10am–5pm) and Sunday 22nd (10am-4pm). The show aims to offer practical advice and inspiration to homeowners who are looking to restore or refurbish their listed properties. On hand will be plenty of listed property experts and nearly 150 specialist suppliers, who will be showcasing their products and services.

Also taking place during each day of the show will be a number of informative lectures. Some of the highlights from the lecture programme on Saturday 21st February include a look at VAT and the listed building, advice about understanding dampness, a talk on energy efficiency and a look at how you can get the best out of your local council when dealing with planning issues.

On Sunday 22nd February, there’s a chance to delve into the past with a talk looking at how you can go about tracing the history of your house, plus repeats of some of the lectures from Saturday, so you don’t miss out if you’re only able to attend for one day.

Tickets to the Listed Property Show are free of charge. It’s possible to turn up and register on the day, or you can apply for a ticket in advance by registering on their website. For more ideas of what could be in store, why not browse the gallery of highlights from 2008’s show.