Listed Building Insurance

This specialised coverage is designed to meet the unique needs of listed buildings, ensuring that your home is safeguarded against unforeseen events. With tailored policies and comprehensive protection, enjoy peace of mind knowing your heritage property is covered.

What is a listed building?

A listed building is a specially protected building or structure due to its architectural or historic interest. Typically, older buildings are more likely to be listed, but modern buildings can be listed if they meet specific criteria or are under threat.

Historic England are responsible for listing buildings. They either choose to designate listed status to a building, or the public can nominate buildings. Listed buildings fall into one of three categories:

Grade I: Buildings of exceptional interest. These are the rarest listed buildings in the UK – only 2.5% of listed buildings are Grade I.
Grade II*: Buildings of particular interest and more than special interest. Around 5.8% of listed buildings in the UK fall into this category.
Grade II: Buildings of special interest. These are the most common listed buildings in the UK, accounting for around 90%.

*As a homeowner, you’re most likely to own a Grade II listed building.

Do I need listed building insurance?

If the building you own is listed, it’s best to get specialised listed building insurance rather than general home insurance. This is because the cost of repairing a listed building can be more than that of a standard home, and this coverage offers the right level of protection.

Additionally, their age may make them more vulnerable to things like damp, fires or bad drainage.

As an owner of a listed building, there may be times when you’re responsible for making repairs. Failure to do so could result in local authorities carrying out the work on your behalf before claiming the costs from you. By having specialised listed building insurance, you’re covered against these costs.

What types of policies are available for listed buildings?

Similar to standard home insurance, there are a couple of options available for listed buildings insurance:

Building insurance

Building insurance pays for approved tradespeople to repair the physical structure of your listed building, including permanent fixtures and fittings.

For example, if your walls or roof are damaged, the insurance covers the tradesperson's work and the cost of materials needed for the repair.

Contents insurance

Contents insurance protects your personal belongings at home if they get damaged or stolen. This includes things like furniture, clothes and electronics such as TVs, tablets, and laptops.

Some companies, including Saga, offer a combined policy that covers both your building and your belongings. Be sure to read your documents carefully so you know exactly what is covered.

Are there any add-ons that provide extra cover?

Most insurance providers offer a range of add-ons for your listed building insurance, giving you extra cover. These add-ons include:

Accidental Damage

This additional coverage ensures that you’re protected if there is any accidental damage to your property, such as spilling a drink on your carpet, putting your foot through the ceiling or breaking a window.

Legal Expenses

You can get coverage for any legal expenses if you require legal assistance for a property dispute or if someone has made a claim against you.

Home Emergencies

Home emergency cover means you’re able to call out approved tradespeople for repairs, and your insurance covers the costs. For example, this could be if you have a blocked sink that you can’t unblock by yourself or if your boiler breaks down.

Personal Possessions

This covers any personal belongings that you might carry around with you, such as your mobile phone or jewellery.

Do I need home insurance for a listed building?

Listed building insurance is a specialised form of home insurance. If you have this coverage for your listed property, you won't need additional standard home insurance.

How can I reduce the cost of my listed building insurance?

There are a few ways you can try and lower the cost of your listed building insurance:

Pay annually: Paying once a year is cheaper than paying monthly because monthly payments include interest.
Select only necessary add-ons: Only choose the extra features you really need to save money on your premium.
Improve home security: Adding security features like CCTV, burglar alarms and smoke detectors can reduce your premium since they lower the risk of damage or theft.

What do I need to get a quote for listed building insurance?

To get a quote for listed building insurance, make sure you have:

Your home insurance policy documents
Your personal and job details
Your claims history
Information about your property, such as the type of building, its structure and whether it’s Grade I or Grade II listed

A date for when you bought the property
An estimate of the year the property was built
The rebuild value of your listed home

Is it more expensive to insure a listed building?

Listed buildings can be more expensive to insure because they often need special skills and materials for repairs. Each property is different, so insurance costs can vary. For instance, insuring a Tudor building made of timber, wattle and daub might cost more than insuring a modern brick and mortar house.

What happens if you damage a listed building?

If you don’t get proper consent and damage or alter a listed building, you could face criminal prosecution. According to Section 9 of the Planning (Listed Buildings & Conservation Areas) Act 1990, “executing or causing the execution of unauthorised works to a listed building in a manner which affects its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest is an offence”.

If found guilty, you could face a fine of up to £20,000 and/or up to six months in prison.

Can I make alterations to my listed building?

You can make changes to your listed building, but you need to get approval from your local planning authority first. This includes any work that involves changes, extensions or demolitions – basically, anything that affects the building's character and historical importance.

Who are Saga's home insurance policies underwritten by?

Saga Home Insurance policies, exclusively for people over 50, are unique products designed specifically for our customers. They are underwritten by a number of carefully selected insurers that provide our high standards of quality and service.