Financial
The financial side of a historic building project is more complicated than a comparable modern one, and the complications are worth understanding early. Grant schemes have eligibility rules and deadlines, VAT treatment differs between repair, alteration and approved works in listed places of worship, insurance for a listed building is not the same product as standard buildings cover, and lenders treat unusual construction differently. This category lists specialists who advise on funding, VAT, insurance and finance for historic building work. Nothing here is a substitute for advice regulated to your circumstances.
What this category covers
- Grant scheme identification, eligibility and applications
- VAT treatment of repair, alteration and approved works
- Insurance for listed and non-standard construction
- Funding strategy for repair and conservation projects
- Financial input to viability and options appraisals
Arts Council of England
Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture ...
Arts Council of Northern Ireland
The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is the government agency and development ...
Arts Council of Wales
The Arts Council of Wales is the government agency responsible for funding ...
The Architectural Heritage Fund
The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) exists to help communities find enterprising ways ...
The Association for Industrial Archaeology
The Association for Industrial Archaeology, established in 1973, is the national champion ...
Getting the money side right early
Check grant rules before you start work. Most schemes will not fund work already begun or completed, and many require competitive quotations, specified professional involvement and agreed conditions before an offer is made. Starting first is the most common way to lose eligibility.
Get the VAT position confirmed in advance. VAT treatment of work to historic buildings depends on what is being done and to what kind of building, and the rules have changed over time. Confirm the position with a suitably qualified adviser or with HMRC before pricing the job, not afterwards.
Insure for what the building is. Rebuilding a listed building means matching materials and methods, which costs considerably more than standard construction, and standard indexed cover often falls short. A reinstatement cost assessment appropriate to the building is the usual starting point.
Phase to the funding, not the other way round. Where money arrives in stages, plan the work so each phase leaves the building weathertight and stable, rather than opening up more than the current funding can close.
Questions to ask
Are grants available for repairing a listed building?
Schemes exist, run by national heritage bodies, local authorities, charitable trusts and, for places of worship, dedicated funds. Eligibility, deadlines and conditions vary considerably and most exclude work already started, so check before committing.
Is VAT payable on repairs to a listed building?
Treatment depends on the nature of the work and the type of building, and the rules have changed over the years, including for approved alterations to listed places of worship. Confirm the current position with a qualified adviser or HMRC before pricing.
Does a listed building need special insurance?
Usually. Reinstatement has to match original materials and methods, which costs more than standard rebuilding, and the sum insured needs to reflect that. Insurers experienced in listed property also understand phased repair and unoccupied periods during works.
All 6 businesses listed under Financial
- Arts Council of England Greater London
- Arts Council of Northern Ireland
- Arts Council of Wales Cardiff
- Eco Tiffin Limited Hertfordshire
- The Architectural Heritage Fund Greater London
- The Association for Industrial Archaeology Shropshire
Directory information is provided to help visitors identify potentially relevant specialists and suppliers. Inclusion does not constitute a recommendation, approval or guarantee by Tuscan Foundry Products. Please check current services, credentials, availability and suitability directly with each business.