Buying a tudor property

Page 1: What is a tudor property?
Page 2: Buying a tudor property
Andrew Eadie - Writer

Buying a Tudor property

If you buy a Tudor house you may be buying a listed building. The notion of listing buildings began in Britain in 1947 as a response to the loss of many important buildings during the aerial bombardments of World War Two. These days the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport is in charge of compiling a list of some five hundred thousand buildings thought to be of special value or interest. Meanwhile, English Heritage takes care of the daily administration of this list and provides guidance to the public and the government. The regulations governing the listing process are in the stages of review and have been since 2005 to which end English Heritage want to make the listing process more user-friendly and visible to the public - as it is mostly the public that highlight buildings for inclusion. In order to be listed, a building has to be somehow unique - in architectural terms or via its previous inhabitants and Tudor properties from various eras may qualify.

Therefore you need to know that if you live in a listed building, it is illegal to change, extend or alter the character of it unless you obtain listed building consent. You must apply for this from the local planning authority and failure to do so can result in a heavy fine - it is even an imprisonable offence.

In the England listed buildings are divided into three main categories as follows:

  • Grade I listed buildings - are considered to be of exceptional interest.
  • Grade II listed buildings - are considered to be of special interest and this the most common categorisation.
  • Grade III listed buildings - refers to other buildings of special interest.
  • In Northern Ireland and Scotland categories of grade, roman numerals are substituted with the letters A, B and C.

For information about buying a listed building read our article 'Do listed properties make the grade? article here.


For more information on listed buildings and how the regulations affect you at the UK Government website here. They also provide a handy tool for finding out about listed buildings in any particular area, access this tool here.

In addition to listed buildings your local council may also have a list of local buildings of importance and character. While this does not allow these buildings special legal protection it is a public record of their special status and this may be taken into account when an application for planning permission is made.

Buying a listed Tudor home requires homeowners to understand and adapt to a variety of strange construction techniques and materials so that you can preserve your home in its original style - without compromising important pieces of national heritage.

There are special insurance policies on offer for listed buildings and there are even grants available to help homeowners preserve their homes' historical features. You can find out more about insurance for listed properties here.

Advantages and disadvantages of buying a Tudor property

Buying a listed Tudor property is not cheap nor will it be the easiest type of home to maintain. If you are really considering this option then first of all you need to consider the many advantages and the disadvantages.

Advantages

  • Buying a listed Tudor property means that you are living in, and by taking good care of it - preserving a piece of our national heritage.
  • By its very definition as listed, it will be a home of rare beauty and original character.
  • Unlike the prefabricated constructions of modern days this construction has stood the test of time already.
  • These days land is at a premium and cramped conditions inside reflect this, Tudor homes on the other hand include expansive rooms made to accommodate large families and in many cases servants too.
  • Modern construction methods simply don't reflect the attention to detail and craftsmanship that went into producing ornate features typical of the Tudor style.

Disadvantages

  • Buying a listed Tudor home means a big financial outlay. Make sure that you can really afford not only the asking price of the house but the further renovation work and upkeep that will certainly be required.
  • Old building materials used in the original construction of your Tudor home may not be readily available or cheap. Additionally you will need workmen specialised in the care of Tudor properties.
  • Due to the general increase in building and changes in our daily lifestyle (increased water consumption for example) Tudor buildings of the older variety may suffer from insufficient drainage.
  • Timber framing used in the construction of old Tudor homes pre-dates modern treatment techniques and so is vulnerable to warping and infestations. From time to time this may need to be assessed and treated.
  • Thatched roofs - a classic feature of Tudor houses which require extra special care and attention. Straw thatching may need to be completely renewed every 25 years while a combed wheat thatch can last up to 50. Thatching must be done by an expert to minimise the chance of infestation by birds and insects.
  • Thatching and timber frames means a greatly increased risk of fire - there are measures you can take to protect against this however such as a fireboard underneath the roof which will delay the spread of fire by around 30 minutes.
  • Tudor homes of the older variety were not built with electricity, shower rooms and multiple bathrooms in mind. To make the house more comfortable for modern living may require planning permission that is hard to come by - make sure that you are willing to endure without all the luxuries to live in a listed property.
  • If you suffer from severe allergic reactions, consider the fact that old houses harbour more spores, mould and pollen in their aged timbers - this could make life unbearable for the sensitive.

Luckily for you there is lots of help available on-line for those living in and caring for historic properties such as Tudor style houses. Here are a few websites that you will find useful:

You can find Tudor homes for sale on Period Property.co.uk and Country Homes

 
 


Property pros