I have a love of heritage and historic houses;  the joy of seeing a pretty thatched cottage with lead paned windows and roses around the door – the porches always look so gorgeous and inviting.   The reality of these features though do take some living with.  Trying to keep the draughts out of ill fitting window frames and rattling back doors mean much more expense to keep the warmth in, and additional cold out.  It’s very difficult though to keep an old house running without modern units in place.    In the case of listed buildings, there are very strict rules.  If tose wndows suffere from wear and tear and a refurbishment programe can fix these minor faults then planning permission from your local council planning department is not required. This will cover things like repacing broken glass; fitting new sash window cords;  repointing and replacing putty;  lubricating stiff windows including the hinges and pulleys where fitted;  repainting surfaces is crucial to preventing further moisture ingress.     Replacing glazing in listed properties is a whole new subject.  For another time.