A letter to City Hall:
To: City of London Planning and Environment Committee (PEC) - Councillors S. Lehman, S. Lewis, P. Cuddy, S. Stevenson, and S. Hillier.
September 22, 2026
Re: Proposed Heritage Property Tax Relief Program.
Dear Councillors:
The high costs associated with restoring or maintaining heritage properties are well known. Even the insurance premiums for such properties can be high, which is off-putting for those hoping to own or preserve an older building.
One way the city can assist property owners is by creating a permanent heritage property tax relief program to help property owners maintain and repair historic buildings. Maintenance is especially important, since it prevents costly restorations or renovations down the line.
I remind you that the City of London pilot project for heritage tax relief began in 2007 but ended in 2010. There were many applications, which suggests the program was well received by property owners facing renovation bills.
Of course, other financial support programs exist, like the London Endowment for Heritage Fund and the Heritage Community Improvement Plan, but these are modest in size and intended for small-scale projects. The former has limited funds for numerous applicants, and the latter is only for heritage property owners actively undertaking a restoration project. These grants don’t assist with ongoing maintenance.
