Cultural heritage
How listing affects you
Is your house heritage-listed and are you unsure about how listing affects you
Being in the Queensland Heritage Register does not necessarily impinge upon your lifestyle. It's a way of protecting your property and acknowledging its cultural heritage value.
If your property is listed, you don't have to open it to the public. And listing doesn't mean you can't make changes to your property. You can undertake work providing it's sympathetic to the house's original fabric.
Owning a heritage-listed property is rewarding. Direct and indirect benefits could be available to you.
Public access and ownership
Unless otherwise stated by
the owner, places entered in the Queensland Heritage Register are not
open to the public.
A place entered in the Register remains the sole property of the owner.
Making changes
If your house is entered in the
Queensland Heritage Register and you want to change it, you must
apply to the Queensland Heritage Council.
You don't have to apply to carry out maintenance, minor repairs, or
emergency repairs. There's more to learn about changing your property.
Direct economic
benefits
If you own a heritage-listed property, you
might be able to reduce your maintenance and repair bills. Work on your
heritage property can reduce your tax bill in a number of ways.
Tax deductions
You can claim for maintenance work to any
part of a heritage building or premises that is used to produce an
assessable income. This includes restoring a building without changing
its character.
Depreciation
If you're making improvements to a
heritage property that produces income, you might be eligible to claim
for depreciation. To qualify, improvements must directly relate to your
income-producing activities.
Rates and land tax relief
If you own a heritage
property that is entered on the Queensland Heritage Register, you
should enquire if your local government offers reduced rates.
Indirect economic
benefits
The Environmental Protection Agency offers
advice that can help you save money. The Agency's Cultural Heritage
Unit offers heritage place owners the following free services:
- technical advice from conservation professionals
- assistance with planning and building applications
- information on the history of heritage properties, including historical photos
- help in applying for funding and tax incentive programs
- a Heritage Information Kit
- information on building conservation and renovation
Your property might increase in value if it's placed on the Heritage Register. Heritage listings are a way of confirming a place's heritage value and community status.
Last updated: 03 April 2006
