Heritage & Our Criteria

Heritage Homes is committed to working with like minded homeowners who want to preserve and protect their old buildings. Our community aims to showcase and champion the unique character, style and potential that historic buildings offer. To that end not just any property is eligible to list on our website. Once a homeowner has filled in a listing it is assessed by our team before being made available. Premium Members of Heritage Homes receive guidance and support in this process, both in the practical listing of a property as well as support in how to improve a property and a listing. Once listed, Premium Members’ properties will be vetted by Heritage Homes providing more information on why this property is valued by our team.

Criteria

 

To be eligible for a property to be listed there are some simple criteria that Heritage Homes has established. As outlined below these criteria are slightly different depending as to whether you are listing a property to rent, to sell, or for potential restoration investment.

To list for short stays or long term rentals:
-The property must be privately owned
– Owners must be able to demonstrate ownership
– The property must be older than 1950 (exceptions can be made for cases of unique architectural significance)
– The property must show no signs of structural damage or vulnerability
– There must be at least one bedroom (it can be studio, as long as has space for separate sitting / eating / working area) and one bathroom and kitchen
– The apartment or property must be in working condition
– Renovation must be respectful and sensitive to the heritage fabric of the building
– The space should not be smaller than 450 sq ft
– The ceiling height should not be lower than 2.3m
– All legal requirements and local regulations must be fulfilled, these are the responsibility of the property owner to ensure compliance
– Small family-run boutique hotels are allowed on our platform, however these are limited to properties with less than 30 bedrooms 

To list for sale:
– The property must be privately owned
– Owners must be able to demonstrate ownership
– The property must be older than 1950

To list for potential restoration investment for renovation:
– The property must be privately owned
– Owners must be able to demonstrate ownership
– The property must be older than 1950
– The property must have some areas of structural integrity (though some damage does not exclude the property from listing)
– There are no known physical challenges to adaptation, nor objections to renovation
– There are no sitting tenants, or other claims to occupancy, that would make renovation impossible
– There are no other known legal obstacles to renovation

Heritage Homes reserves the right to refuse a listing within the website.

Vetting 

 

Heritage Homes appraises the stay and rental properties of Premium Members to provide an assessment of the building against five categories: Significance, Heritage Conservation, Style & Delight, Comfort & Facilities, and Environmental Sustainability. Within this process Heritage Homes also provides guidance and advice as to where improvements can be made – simple changes or wholescale transformations – in order to get the best out of the property and protect and preserve the unique features of the heritage home. Properties which achieve the highest mark against the five categories are awarded a badge to highlight their excellence, and provide guests with assurance as to the interest and uniqueness of the building, and of the quality to expect from their stay. 

Significance Heritage properties are deemed ‘significant’ if they are considered to have social value, architectural and historic qualities, or have particular interest in their fabric, furnishings, composition, spatial arrangement or setting. To achieve the highest mark from Heritage Homes, the building, story or interest would be unique, at risk of extinction, or of particular cultural value. All properties which are assessed by Heritage Homes will be given a Statement of Significance, this will describe the building, its elements, and what contributes to the character of the building.

Heritage Conservation Heritage Homes vets the property’s approach to renovation and design. We are looking at the alterations that have already been made and whether they are sensitive and appropriate. This includes factors such as protecting the existing fabric, preserving original details and materials, whether new additions are done sensitively and can be reversed, and whether the right materials are being used in the renovation. This assessment is done in consideration of the significance of the building, and in light of the condition and the need. As part of our assessment we provide advice on the ongoing conservation and opportunities for further improvement, to this end a Statement of Need is produced, setting out the reasons for changing the building, and fabric, and the impact those changes will have.

Style & Delight Heritage Homes works with homeowners to provide the best environment for their guests. We vet the property as to the setting and style of the property, assessing the quality of the space, the aesthetics and features. This category interrogates the attention to detail in the design and the quality of implementation. We are able to support homeowners with tips and tricks to further improve the space to get the most out of the light, arrangement and furnishings to improve guests’ experience.

Comfort & Facilities Ensuring guests have all they need to have a positive experience is an important part of the homeowners responsibility. Considering the different people who may wish to stay in their home and providing those simple facilities which make the stay a contented one forms a part of our vetting and homeowner support. This assesses the practical facilities, but also the luxury provided, for that little bit more. With our experience we are able to identify those simple changes and provisions which add so much to the experience. 

Environmental Sustainability At Heritage Homes we not only value the heritage conservation and protection of historic buildings, but also how these buildings can be adapted to have a long term positive impact on the environment. Old buildings may often require energy sources to provide adequate comfort, particularly with regards to heating and cooling. However, there are additional measures that can be taken in the renovation to ensure that these buildings remain some of the most efficient and energy-lean buildings. In our Heritage Homes vetting we are looking for what consideration to sustainability has been made, and also how these adaptations are being implemented alongside respecting the heritage property. We also value innovative and community based approaches to sustainability.

When vetting unrenovated properties our team is assessing the potential against these categories. We aim to support investors, or buyers, in making the right choice for themselves, and with quality information to unlock the potential of the heritage home.