Housing - Alterations by Tenants

If you are interested in making your own improvements to your home, please read the following information.

Do I need permission to make improvements to my property?

Yes, you will need to fill in a form requesting permission for improvements. These can be obtained from the Housing Office by post or in person, or by downloading from the Council's website.
Please tell us, even if you think the work is insignificant. For example, we really do need to know if you are thinking of removing your bannister or fitting a satellite dish, just as much as we need to know when you want to fit a new kitchen or gas fire.

What happens next?

A surveyor from the Council's Repairs Service will contact you, normally within five working days, and may make an arrangement to visit you. They will assess the improvement and tell you, in writing, what you need to do next.
It is your responsibility to ensure you have obtained the relevant consents for planning and building regulation approval, which can do by contacting Building Control.

Once you have received the Repairs Service's written consent and,if applicable, you have received the relevant consents from Building Control, we will inspect the work on completion.

Providing you have followed the procedure above, if the alteration or improvement has cost you money and it has increased the value of the property, the Council may offer compension to you if you leave. Please see the separate leaflet entitled 'Compensation for Improvements' for more information.

Please note that any work must be carried out by a competent tradesperson.
A qualified and competent contractor must carry out all gas and electrical work. This must be a CORGI registered gas engineer or a NICEIC approved electrical contractor.

If you plan to leave your home, you can remove fixtures and fittings that you installed yourself, such as fireplaces and internal doors, but the property must be put back to it's original condition or left in a satisfactory condition.

Refer to related documents below for more information on this subject.