From period dramas and television advertisements to magazine shoots and feature films, characterful historic homes regularly provide the backdrop for productions across the UK.
For owners, hiring out a listed property can offer additional income and the unusual experience of seeing their home appear on screen.
However, a production can involve considerably more than a camera and a handful of actors. Film crews bring lighting equipment, temporary power supplies, set dressing, specialist vehicles and dozens of people into a building that was not designed to operate as a commercial production space.
If your home is listed, the risks can be particularly significant. Original floors, decorative plasterwork, historic staircases and other protected features may be difficult and expensive to repair.
Before agreeing to any filming, it is important to understand how the arrangement could affect your home insurance, what the production company’s insurance actually covers and whether proposed changes require additional permissions.
Yes. Listed buildings can often be used for filming, photography and television production, provided the activity is properly managed and any necessary insurance, permissions and safeguards are in place.
A property does not need to be a stately home to attract a production company. A Georgian townhouse, thatched cottage, Victorian villa or characterful period farmhouse might also suit a particular film, television series or advertising campaign.
However, listed status means the building’s historic features may need additional protection. Depending on the property, this can include:
The key question is not simply whether filming is allowed. It is whether the property, production arrangements and insurance cover are suitable for what is being proposed.
You should speak to your insurer or broker before agreeing to filming at your property.
A residential home insurance policy is normally arranged based on how the property is used, who has access to it and the risks associated with day-to-day occupation.
Using the home as a commercial filming location can change those circumstances.
Government guidance explains that home insurance may not cover business activities or visitors attending a property for business purposes. Whether filming affects cover depends on the policy wording, the nature of the production and the insurer’s underwriting requirements. See GOV.UK guidance on running a business from home.
Your insurer or broker may ask:
A one-off production does not automatically invalidate your policy. However, assuming your existing cover applies without checking could leave important gaps or create difficulties if damage occurs.
Film and television productions involve equipment, people and working practices that are very different from normal domestic use.
For a listed home, even relatively minor damage can become complicated if specialist materials, conservation advice or skilled craftspeople are needed.
| Potential risk | What could happen |
|---|---|
| Increased footfall | Repeated movement through corridors, staircases and rooms damages original flooring or fragile surfaces. |
| Equipment and furniture | Camera cases, lighting stands or moved furniture strike panelling, doors, walls or decorative plasterwork. |
| Temporary cabling | Cables create trip hazards, obstruct doorways or damage vulnerable floors and finishes. |
| Fire and electrical equipment | Lighting, generators, batteries, temporary power supplies or catering equipment increase fire risks. |
| Set dressing | Paint, fixings, adhesives or temporary installations damage historic features. |
| Security | Doors are left open, access becomes harder to control or security systems are temporarily obscured. |
| Valuable contents | Artwork, antiques or delicate furnishings are damaged, misplaced or stolen. |
| Gardens and grounds | Production vehicles, cranes, catering units or generators damage lawns, driveways, boundary walls or landscaping. |
| Special effects | Smoke, artificial rain, candles or other effects affect historic surfaces or introduce additional hazards. |
The Health and Safety Executive identifies particular concerns with historic filming locations, including older electrical systems, inadequate fire protection, restricted access, uneven staircases and poorly lit areas. See the HSE guidance on buildings used as locations or temporary studios in film and television.
Period properties can contain materials and construction features that make a fire more difficult to control.
Examples can include exposed timber, concealed roof spaces, older wiring and limited fire separation between rooms.
Filming may introduce further hazards through:
Even where modern LED lighting reduces the heat generated by some equipment, electrical safety and battery charging still need proper consideration.
Any proposal involving flames, pyrotechnics, significant electrical work or changes to fire protection arrangements should be discussed with the relevant specialists and your insurer before the production takes place.
Homeowners may focus on the day the cameras are rolling, but a production’s activities can extend well beyond the actual shoot.
Depending on its size, the process may include:
Some of the greatest risks can arise when equipment is being carried through the property, furniture is being moved or production teams are working quickly to prepare or clear a location.
Rooms that do not appear on screen may also be used as changing areas, production offices, green rooms or storage spaces.
Hallways, staircases, bathrooms, kitchens, driveways and gardens can therefore experience considerable activity, even if the filming itself takes place in only one room.
A professional production company should have appropriate insurance for its activities.
Public liability insurance can cover certain claims arising from injury to other people or damage to third-party property. Film London explains that the amount of cover required depends on factors such as the size of the production, the location and the nature of the filming. See Film London’s media insurance guidance.
However, the existence of a public liability policy does not automatically mean every type of damage to your property or belongings will be covered.
The protection available will depend on the production company’s policy wording, exclusions, limits and the circumstances of the incident.
Before agreeing to a shoot, ask the production company or location manager:
It is also important to understand that the production company’s insurance and your own buildings and contents insurance serve different purposes.
A production’s liability insurer may consider whether the company was legally responsible for the damage. Your own insurer will separately consider whether the incident falls within the terms and conditions of your home insurance policy.
Neither policy should be assumed to replace the other.
Filming inside a listed property does not automatically require listed building consent.
However, consent may be needed if the production proposes work that affects the building’s special architectural or historic character.
Examples could include:
A proposed alteration is not necessarily exempt simply because the production intends to reverse it later.
Historic England advises owners to check with their local authority or conservation officer before carrying out work that could affect a listed building. Unauthorised works can constitute a criminal offence. See Historic England’s guidance on listed building consent.
Requirements and terminology can differ between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, so always speak to the relevant local planning authority if you are unsure.
You can find more information in our guide to what you need to know about owning a listed property.
A written location agreement helps establish what the production company is permitted to do and who is responsible if something goes wrong.
A suitable agreement may address:
For larger productions or particularly sensitive properties, the homeowner may also wish to seek professional legal advice before signing the agreement.
Avoid relying solely on informal assurances that the production will “take care of everything”.
Careful preparation can reduce the likelihood of damage and make disputes easier to resolve.
Create a dated photographic record of:
Share the record with the production company before filming begins.
Repeat the inspection after the crew has left, ideally before any agreed handover is completed.
Explain which features must not be touched, moved, covered or attached to.
Where appropriate, arrange suitable protective coverings for floors and vulnerable surfaces. Any protection should be compatible with historic materials and should not cause damage when removed.
Decide in advance how equipment will enter and leave the building.
A narrow staircase or historic doorway might not be suitable for large lighting cases, camera equipment or heavy furniture.
Where possible, keep the movement of equipment away from the most sensitive parts of the property.
Consider whether valuable or fragile items should be moved before filming.
If antiques, paintings or other belongings are transported or stored elsewhere, check whether your contents insurance applies while they are away from the property.
Specialist removal or storage arrangements may be appropriate for particularly valuable items.
The production company will generally be responsible for managing the health and safety risks created by its work.
However, homeowners should make the company aware of any known property hazards, such as uneven steps, fragile floors, restricted access or potentially unsafe areas.
The Health and Safety Executive advises productions to define responsibilities, assess risks and review safety arrangements as work progresses. See the HSE’s guidance on safety in film, TV and broadcasting.
Listed buildings can require specialist materials, traditional construction methods and skilled craftspeople following an insured loss.
Before allowing commercial activity on the premises, it may be sensible to review whether your buildings and contents cover still reflects the property and its features.
Our rebuild cost guide explains why the cost of reinstating a property can differ significantly from its market value.
It can.
A one-off photography shoot may be assessed differently from a property that is regularly marketed and hired as a filming location.
If commercial productions use your home frequently, your insurer may consider:
Some situations may require specialist insurance arrangements that go beyond a standard residential policy.
Regular filming could also raise separate questions about contracts, planning, mortgage conditions or tax. If location hire becomes a recurring business activity, seek appropriate professional advice.
Using a listed home as a filming location can be a rewarding opportunity, but the arrangement needs careful planning.
Before agreeing to a production, speak to your insurer or broker, understand the production company’s insurance, check whether any proposed work requires permission and make sure responsibilities are clearly recorded in writing.
A listed property’s historic features are often the reason it attracts filmmakers in the first place. Protecting those features should be part of the production plan from the outset.
At Intelligent Insurance, we help homeowners arrange cover for listed and other non-standard properties. If you own a listed home, speak to our team about your circumstances before allowing commercial filming to take place.
Yes, you should speak to your insurer or broker before agreeing to filming. Commercial productions can introduce additional risks, and your insurer may need details about the number of people attending, the equipment involved and how long the production will use the property.
It may cover certain claims if the production company is legally responsible for damage, but cover depends on the policy wording, exclusions and limits. It should not be treated as a replacement for your own buildings and contents insurance.
Filming itself does not automatically require listed building consent. However, consent may be necessary if the production intends to carry out work affecting the property’s historic character or protected features.
Possibly, but permission may be required depending on the room, the existing finishes and the significance of the proposed changes. Check with your local planning authority or conservation officer before agreeing to any repainting.
That depends on the relevant insurance policies and contractual arrangements. Confirm that any cover applies throughout preparation, filming, dismantling, cleaning and reinstatement.
Responsibility depends on how the damage occurred, the location agreement and the insurance policies involved. Identify valuable items before filming, check the relevant cover and consider moving fragile belongings to secure storage.
Potentially, but regular commercial use may affect your insurance requirements and could involve additional planning, contractual or business considerations. Speak to your insurer or broker before accepting repeat bookings.
Yes. Even if you do not receive a location fee, the activity may still introduce additional people, equipment and risks to your home. Your insurer or broker should assess the actual circumstances rather than the payment arrangement alone.
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