3 Reasons to Protect Your Historic Property Through an Easement

Posted: October 12, 2017

One of the many reasons Charleston thrives is our collective care for preserving our vibrant history in an ever-changing world. Despite a steady stream of development over the past several years, Charleston has managed to maintain its quaint charm. However, as private residences are routinely bought and sold, it is easier for a property’s historic character and cultural significance to disappear.  

Historic Charleston Foundation has partnered with over 400 property owners throughout the lowcountry to prevent inappropriate changes from being made to their historic properties by giving Historic Charleston Foundation the ability to work with current and future owners to safeguard its historic character, materials and significance by donating an easement.

An easement is a legal agreement between the owner of a historic property and Historic Charleston Foundation that establishes perpetual protection for the property. If you are a historic house or property owner, there are three primary reasons to protect your property through an easement:

Protection: Easements enable homeowners to protect the historical integrity of their properties in a changing world. There are varying types of easements that allow donors flexibility in selecting historically inappropriate alterations to the property.

Tax deductions: When an easement donor makes a “qualified contribution” of an easement, the donor is entitled to an income tax deduction. Depending on the property, donors also may be entitled to federal income tax and estate tax deductions.

Preservation: Easement donors make a gift to current and future generations when they voluntarily place perpetual restrictions on their historic properties allowing for education and a greater understanding of the past. As one of HCF’s Founding Trustees, Henry Philip Staats once said, “Men write history in wood, bricks and stone far more graphically and effectively than they write it in books…The house reveals the man as the city reveals the society.”   

For more information on how to donate an easement, click here.