Where an owner has claimed, or is considering claiming conditional exemption on heritage property, they may also wish to consider whether or not to establish a heritage maintenance fund; the income and capital of which may be used to support the conditionally exempt heritage property.

Where, on the other hand, the owner and their descendants no longer wish, or are unable, to maintain the heritage property, the available disposal routes will depend on the nature of the property and the owner’s tax and financial objectives. They may consider a gift or private treaty sale to a charity or a body listed in IHTA 1984, Sch 3, an offer in satisfaction of IHT under the Acceptance in Lieu scheme or, in the case of a pre-eminent object or collection of objects, a qualifying lifetime gift under the Cultural Gifts Scheme. The Cultural Gifts Scheme does not apply to land or buildings.