Home improvement and decorating

Making alterations and improvements to your home

Are you planning on making alterations to your home? If so please let us know about it by applying for permission.

You must get our permission before you make any alterations to your home, so we can ensure our properties remain safe and habitable for current and future residents. We will consider all requests to make alterations and will not unreasonably withhold our consent. A surveyor may need to visit you to inspect your property before we grant consent.

Depending on the scale of the works you may also need to get planning permission or building control approval from the council. Please send copies of these approvals before you start work. If you are a leaseholder you may also need to seek approval from your mortgage lender.

What things need permission?

• Replacement of windows/doors internal or external.
• Replacement kitchen/bathrooms.
• Putting up aerials/satellite dishes.
• Alterations to the layout of a property, for example, removing walls (a structural surveyor report would be required before approval would be given to remove a wall).
• New electrical installations.
• Installation of a gas cooking appliance, such as cooker, range, or hob.
• Loft conversions.
• Building porches.
• Laying driveways.
• Changes to the layout of your garden.
• Alterations or replacement of existing boundary fences/walls.
• Any alterations to any of the properties outside areas.
• Installation of CCTV.

This list is not exhaustive. If in doubt please send us some details and we will let you know whether or not permission is needed. If any work is carried out without permission you may need to return the property to its original condition, or we will carry out the work and have to charge you.

You have six months following the granting of permission to complete the work. Once the work is complete, we ask that you provide us with copies of any other permissions you have received, for example, planning and building control. We would also like to see copies of any certificates for electrical, gas and window installation work.

Changes that don’t require approval

Some things won’t require our permission. These include:

• Fitting a water meter.
• Small scale garden work, as long as there is no electrical work, structural changes or the use of water.
• Decoration or soft furnishings such as curtains or blinds.

You are welcome to make your home your own by painting, wallpapering or adding soft furnishings. Some of our older properties may contain asbestos, which is harmless if it isn’t disturbed.

If you decide to decorate

If you are decorating your home please make sure you:

• Soak any wallpaper before removing it. If possible, use a steam stripper and then gently peel away the paper before redecorating
• Don’t drill, sand, saw or disturb any asbestos-containing materials which are in good condition.
• Don’t carry out any DIY work on any part of your home which you think may contain asbestos. Seek advice from us first.
• Don’t try to remove textured coatings (Artex) from ceilings or walls. Wash any areas of flaking paint before repainting.
  
• Carpeting, vinyl or laminate flooring. Please do not try to remove old floor tiles or linoleum. Leave them in place and lay new floor coverings over them.
  (Please remember you will need to arrange for doors to be eased if they won’t close as we don’t provide this service.)
  
• Changing light bulbs, bath plugs, shower curtains or toilet seats.
• Fitting white goods, such as a tumble dryer, as long as connections to services are already available.
  
• Installation of a BT telephone line or cable TV.