Listed Buildings Insurance Common FAQs

If you're a homeowner, you know that insuring your property is essential. But what if your home is a listed building? How does that change things? What level of cover do you require? And how is your policy different in both the protection it needs to provide and the legal requirements of such?

According to Historic England, there are over 375,000 listed buildings in the country, of various ‘grades’. Here we answer the most common frequently asked questions about listed building insurance to help you understand if you need listed building insurance for your property.

Listed buildings come in all shapes and sizes - from castles and cathedrals to cottages and windmills. If your home is a listed building, it's likely that it's of great importance to both your local community and the nation as a whole.

What are the 3 main categories of listed buildings?
Listed buildings are those that have been judged to be of national architectural or historic interest and are, as a result, included on a register compiled by Historic England. Inclusion on the register provides statutory protection against demolition or alteration without listed building consent. Listed buildings come in three main categories.

Category I: Buildings of outstanding architectural or historic interest
Buildings in this category are internationally important, or they are of exceptional interest and are relatively rare. Just 2.5% of all listed buildings are in Category I. Examples include Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s Cathedral in London, York Minster in York, and Studley Royal Park in North Yorkshire.

Category II*: Particularly important buildings of more than special interest
These buildings make a major contribution to the appreciation of an area, or they are very good examples of a particular period, style or type of construction, or they contain significant groups of features of outstanding quality and interest. 14.5% of all listed buildings fall into this category. Examples include Buckingham Palace and Downing Street in London, Leeds Castle in Kent, and Durham Cathedral in Durham.

Category II: Other buildings that are of special interest
The great majority (83%) of all listed buildings fall into this category; most listed buildings will be found here. They may be locally important for the study of a particular period, style or building type but do not necessarily make a major contribution to the appreciation of an area. Examples include many houses, farm buildings, shops, schools, chapels, public houses and offices.

How do I know if my property is a listed building?
If you own a property that you believe may be of architectural or historic interest, you can apply to have it listed by contacting your local conservation officer. Listing provides important legal protection against demolition or alteration without listed building consent but it does not automatically mean that a building is well-preserved; it is possible for a listed building to become dilapidated or even derelict. If you think your local authority isn’t doing enough to protect a listed building that is at risk, you can contact Historic England directly.

Is a listed building more expensive to insure?
Listed grades with a higher level of architectural interest will typically drive higher average claims costs, and therefore your premiums will need to cover this extra level of risk. So, it depends on the property and your cover requirements, however it does tend to cost more to insure a listed building. This is because listed buildings are considered to be at greater risk of damage, both from natural causes (such as severe weather) and man-made causes (such as fires and vandalism). As such, insurers perceive them as being higher-risk than non-listed properties and typically charge higher premiums accordingly.

However, it is important to remember that not all listed buildings are the same, far from it. The level of protection afforded to a given building depends on its listing status; for instance, Grade I and Grade II* buildings are deemed to be of exceptional national importance and therefore receive the highest level of protection, while Grade II buildings are of national importance but not considered to be quite as exceptional.

If you're thinking about insuring a listed building, it's important to keep in mind that listed buildings may cost slightly more info more to insure than non-listed properties. However, the level of protection afforded to such a home will depend on its listing status, so be sure to do your research before you commit to a policy agreement.

Do I need special insurance for my listed building?
Because listed buildings are usually made of rarer materials or require a specialist level of skill to repair the costs for a claim can far exceed those of a standard property, usually purchasing a specialist insurance policy will make sure you are protected.

If your property is Grade I or II* listed, or is on the statutory list drawn up by English Heritage, then yes - you will need to take out specialist insurance. This is because listed buildings are considered to be of national importance in terms of their architectural or historic interest, and as such require higher levels of protection.

What does listed building insurance cover?
Frontiers listed building insurance offers bespoke protection for your home, taking into account the unique risks associated with owning a historic property. As well as offering extensive cover for the building itself, your policy can also be extended to include contents cover, as well as protection for any outbuildings on your property.

Listed building insurance
Owning a listed building comes with certain responsibilities - one of which is ensuring that you have adequate insurance in place. By familiarising yourself with the basics of listed building insurance, you can ensure that your home and contents are properly protected against a range of risks, especially the shortfall of under insurance.

The information provided on this blog is for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide legal, financial or professional advice. The views expressed on this blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the insurance company.

How can Frontier help?
Listed building insurance is intended to protect the things you value most, whether it’s a Grade I, Grade II* and Grade II n England and Wales or Category A, Category B or Category C in Scotland, we are able to provide specialist cover. Frontier offers you protection and peace of mind – keeping things simple and clear – no hidden fixed limits or exclusions. What is you see, is what you get.

Instant online quote
With 24-hour access, you can quote online, for an instant price based on your need and circumstance. Our policies can cover buildings, contents and personal possessions and a variety of exceptional items.

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