Works to Your Home - Alterations & Adaptations

If you are intending to carry out major improvements or alterations to your home we would like to know about them first. We would ask that you contact us before ordering any work or beginning any jobs.

You will be required to provide our Home Ownership Team with written details of the works intended and details of who will be undertaking the work for you as we may wish to inspect the property to discuss your proposals.

The reason for this is to ensure that it does not cause any ongoing repairing obligation for us as your landlord. This is especially important if you live on a development where all residents pay a service charge that covers repairs. We also need to know whether the improvement will affect the value of your home should you wish to sell in the future or if you have an insurance claim.

We do not want to know if you are carrying out minor works such as decorating, replacing internal doors or having fitted bedroom cupboards.

However, we do want to know if you are proposing such items as:

• Building an extension to the property e.g. enlarging the kitchen, lounge etc
• Building a conservatory
• Building a garage
• Installing replacement windows and external doors e.g. UPVC double glazing
• Carrying out internal structural alterations e.g. knocking two rooms into one
• Installing a shower
• Installing a burglar alarm (flats and retirement properties only)
• Carrying out work to the gas, electricity or water supplies to your home
• Replacing a fitted kitchen or bathroom suite

Please note that we will NOT give permission for extensions, conservatories, garages, sheds etc to be built or erected where these will encroach on communal areas i.e. on land that you do not own.

Before work starts you should, where necessary, obtain and provide us with the following:

• Planning permission from your local council (if permission is required)
• Confirmation that proposed alterations and improvements conform to the current building regulations where required.

Please note you must obtain written permission from us before carrying out any major improvements or alterations to your home. This is a requirement under the lease that you have with us.

Adaptations for those with special needs

Should you or any member of your household become disabled and require your home to be adapted you should contact your GP or Social Services to arrange for an assessment of needs. You may then apply to the local authority for a Disabled Facilities Grant who may pay for all or part of the cost.