About us
The objectives of the UEHHA are:
- to ensure the continuity, as living entities, of private historic houses, their contents, gardens, parklands and estates;
- to promote European cooperation in the conservation of historic houses and gardens;
- to provide a forum and support for national historic house associations;
- to promote interest in the historical, aesthetic, educational and environmental aspects of historic houses and gardens;
- to promote, where practicable, the extension and improvement of current historic houses, parks, gardens and estates to enable society as a whole to enjoy their attractions and beauty.
- to encourage national governments to provide support in achieving these objectives e.g.. through public and private partnerships.
In order to achieve its objectives, the UEHHA:
- collects, collates and disseminates information and data to members on financial, taxation and legal aspects of historic houses and their estates;
- assists the European Union and the Council of Europe in their development of policy and practice concerning architectural and environmental private heritage e.g. through projects subsidized from European sources;
- provides member associations with comparative information to enable them to persuade national governments to adopt constructive approaches in the light of conditions and regulations existing elsewhere;
- acts as an advocate of conservation;
- provides sources of information on aesthetic and technical aspects of conservation of historic houses;
- assists member associations in their research projects;
- provides information and advice on tourism relating to historic houses;
- co-operates with other international organisations, for instance the European Landowners Organisation (E.L.O) and Europa Nostra, on common issues.
The UEHHA is recognised by the European Commission and Council of Europe as a consultee. It takes part in international conferences and forums, bringing to them its extensive, multi-national knowledge. At national level, the UEHHA has achieved substantial success in attaining its objectives. In particular, the Board’s persuasiveness has resulted in progress towards the comprehensive revision of fiscal laws affecting heritage property. However, the need to maintain these efforts continues.
Increasingly the European Commission has demonstrated its willingness to support initiatives launched by the UEHHA relating to the transfer of the special high-tech knowledge and expertise of member associations on art loss/recovery and building, garden and park maintenance, such as:
- the Dutch ‘Fines Garden Programme’,
- the Danish ‘Building Care Programme’
- the fight against theft, handling and trafficking of cultural goods “AGIS Programme” (under approval)
These new developments have given the UEHHA its first executive tasks.
Thanks to a group of Italian patrons the UEHHA has developed its own website to promote the interests of heritage house owners and to disseminate general information.