Poltimore House Trust was set up in early 2000, and in May of that year acquired Poltimore House from the Buildings at Risk Trust with grants from East Devon District Council, Devon County Council and English Heritage.

The Trust is committed to the conservation of the house in such a way as to enable the widest possible public access to this important and historic building and its immediate surroundings.

Much was done in the early years of the Trust ownership to clean up the interior of the building and to secure it from further damage, whether from the elements or through vandalism. This clean up work, and the installation of a limited electricity supply, enabled the Trust to open the building at certain limited times for guided tours of the ground floor only. In addition, a considerable amount of work has been undertaken in the gardens by the Friends to ensure that visitors can have an opportunity to walk the paths in safety.

Two years later than anticipated, in autumn 2005, the house has been enveloped in protective scaffolding and semi-permanent roofing, under which repair work can take place and the entire structure can dry out slowly and naturally. The major part of the cost will be borne by grants from English Heritage based on the tenders received, while the rest will be made up with help from East Devon District Council and Devon County Council together with a contribution from the Poltimore House Trust and the Friends of Poltimore House.

In spite of its ruined state many visitors, including Joan Bakewell, Poltimore's champion on the BBC's RESTORATION series, have expressed their view that the building retains a great 'feel' of permanency in the landscape. It has seen four centuries of Devonshire history and survived a myriad of changes. The Trust hopes that increasing interest and public awareness of the present plight of the property will enable a start to be made on its restoration and use as a thriving centre that visitors and the local community alike can share and enjoy.