If you live in, or have recently bought, a listed building and wish to renovate it, you could be entitled to some financial assistance. The Historic Buildings Repair Grant was created to provide financial assistance for those who wish to renovate a building that is recognised as being part of the regions cultural or architectural history.
The reason the grant was first made available is because the costs involved in renovating historic buildings is substantially more than it is for a normal house. This is a result of having to use certain materials and employ workers that have specific skills and adopt certain techniques.
Who is Eligible For The Grant?
Firstly, lets take a look at the eligibility criteria for the repairs grant. Buildings that are deemed to be eligible must be listed on the Register of Buildings of Historic, Architectural or Archaeological interest.
If your property is listed then you can begin the application process. The first thing to do would be to prepare a list of the work you would like to carry out. The most important thing to remember here is that the more details you give the better equipped the board are when allocating the funds. If you think it is necessary to provide estimates or quotations from professionals, then do so, and in some cases it may also be useful to provide drawings or detailed specs.
Now, alterations to the property are not eligible for this funding. However, if you are making alterations alongside repairs that fall under the repairs grant remit then you are required to provide a drawing showing how the original building change or look like.
Before being awarded the funding, it is necessary that you apply for – and receive – consent or permission from the authorities if it is required.
What Work Is Covered?
So what kind of work is eligible? Well, the scheme was introduced to help with the costs of restoring or repairing the original features that contribute to the character of the building. This might include original roofs, chimneys or dormer windows.
Work that is not eligible for financial aid include minor maintenance or decoration, alterations, plumbing or electrics, or any repairs that form a modest part of a larger conversion project.
The Final Decision
There are a number of things taken into account when the decision is being made for awarding funding to applicants. Firstly, the building will be assessed as to its prominence and its overall importance to the region along with the architectural and historical value it may have. Other things may include the urgency of the work, the availability of funds and the significance of the work.
The funds available through the Historic Buildings Repairs Grant are limited so the maximum amount that can be received by any applicant is 40 per cent of the overall cost of the work that is to be carried out – up to a total of £10,000. It is important that you apply for the grant before you undertake any work on the building, if you start before this then your application could be refused.
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