London is one of busiest and most exciting cities in the world. People from all over the world come here to live, work, and invest. The real estate market in London is always active. Countless homes and buildings are bought, sold, and rented every day.
Renovation is one of the smartest ways to boost the resale value of your property in London. Even small upgrades can make big difference. Renovation helps improve aesthetics or functionality of your home.
However, before you start breaking walls or adding new rooms, there are a few rules you need to follow. You often need some permissions before you begin house renovation in Fulham, Kensington, Wallington, or any other part of London. In article, we will tell you what permissions need.
Key Permissions You May Need Before Renovating Your London Home
Planning Permission
You may need it if you want to make big changes to your home. You often need them when adding an extension, building a loft room, or changing the outside look of the house. The main idea behind planning permission is to check if your work will fit well with the neighbourhood.
It also checks if your renovation will cause problems for other people, such as blocking their sunlight or making the area too crowded. You should always check if your plan needs this kind of permission before starting the work. Otherwise, you may have to undo the renovation later.
You can consult with professionals to learn about these permissions. Your local council can also help with this. Make sure the company you choose to handle the renovation takes care of submitting plans and obtaining permissions. Otherwise, you have to spend a considerable amount of time and money to obtain them.
Building Regulations Approval
Even if your renovation looks simple, it may still need building regulations approval. These rules ensure that your home is safe and strong after the changes. They cover different things, such as the strength of new walls, the safety of stairs, proper insulation, and safe wiring.
Getting this approval means someone will check your plans and visit your site while the work is being done. It ensures that the work is done the right way. If you skip this step, your home may not be safe, and you will have problems when selling it.
Party Wall Agreement
If your home shares wall or boundary with someone else property, you will need party wall agreement. This is especially important if you plan to dig, build on, or knock down anything near that shared wall. The reason behind this agreement is to avoid damage or conflicts with neighbours.
You should tell them what you plan to do or give them time to respond. If they’re not happy, you have to change your plan or adopt a different process. Make sure you do this before starting the renovation. Otherwise, you may have to pay fines and face legal troubles.
Landlord Permission
If you live in a flat or leasehold property, you’ll have to ask your freeholder or landlord before starting any work. Even if the changes are inside your home, they may still affect shared areas like pipes, wires, or walls.
Some lease agreements also have rules about what you can and can’t do. If you proceed without asking, the landlord can stop the work or charge you money to fix it. Therefore, you should always read your agreement carefully and get permission. It saves time, money, and stress.
Listed Building Consent
If your property is listed, it means it’s considered special because of its age or design. In this case, you need special permission before making changes. This applies even for small updates, such as changing a window or a door.
The primary reason to get this permission is to protect the building’s history and look. Without this consent, you can get fined or asked to undo the work. Even if you think your change is helpful, it must follow the rules.
Skip Parking Permit
House renovation in Kensington or any other part of London creates a lot of waste, including old bricks, tiles, wood, and broken appliances. You have to place a skip outside your home to remove this waste. However, you may need a permit to park it because the skip can block the roads or sidewalks.
You can opt for skip hire only when the local authority approves its use. There are also rules about how long a skip can stay there. If you don’t follow the rules, you could get fined. So, before hiring one, make sure you or your builder has permission to place it outside.
You often need all the aforementioned permissions before renovating your home in London. You can consult with the local council to know more about these permits and obtain them. This ensures that you stay compliant throughout the project.
