Listed Buildings

In Scotland buildings are classified as Listed Buildings when considered to be of special architectural or historic interest. Listed Buildings are protected by law in Scotland which demonstrates their importance with there being over 47,000 Listed Buildings throughout the country. Listed Buildings are categorised according to their relative significance from Category A to Category C.

Why is this relevant if you are buying a property? Well, many residential properties are in fact Listed Buildings which means it is something many buyers encounter as part of their conveyancing experience. Your solicitor will advise you if the property you are buying is listed. As a result, you may have some questions. What does this mean for me from a practical perspective? Will this cause delays? Will my purchase transaction be more complex?

All transactions are very different and the same can be said for transactions involving Listed Buildings which means there will be different answers to the above questions depending upon the specifics of your transaction.

If you are buying a property that is listed, arguably this comes with an added degree of responsibility. You will be responsible for the same things as any other buyer but you will also be responsible for ensuring the property’s character and any special features are preserved. This may be quite costly in the long run but it is essential you carry out regular maintenance. In terms of delays, provided the property you are buying has not been altered in any way, it is unlikely your transaction will be delayed simply due to the listing.

However, where problems can arise is when Listed Buildings have been altered and no Listed Building Consent has been obtained. Listed Buildings and the issue of Listed Building Consent will be explored in more detail in Part 2.