Are you thinking about extending your home? Maybe you want to add a conservatory or extend your kitchen, dining or living room. Perhaps you’ll be increasing space on the first floor and building onto a garage to give yourself an extra bedroom.
Whatever the reason, you have to be sure in getting all the necessary permission and approval for your project. If you get this stage of the process wrong, you could be forced to pull down the extension by order of the local council, with no one to foot the bill than you.
But you know you need permission right? Most people realise the need to seek planning permission before any work is undertaken and on most occasions there’s rarely a problem with your application.
You’ll also need to be aware of Building regulations too especially if you plan to do a lot of the work yourself. A professional company will know everything there is to know, but safety, energy efficiency and soundproofing are just three of the criteria that need to be met.
What permission do I need?
There are some instances where you won’t be required to seek permission but it all depends on the extent of your plans. Typically, if your plans involve changing the outside appearance of the home then you should apply for planning permission.
Interior conversions are unlikely to need permission though, such as a loft or garage conversion. The exception to this rule would be if you live in a Conservation Area or listed building and we’d recommend you request permission from the council.
Conservatories also avoid the criteria, as long as it is no more than 30m² of floor space. However, we would always suggest speaking to the local council before undertaking any project to ensure you don’t fall foul of the law.
How do I get my plans approved?
You can get the relevant paperwork from your local council which you’ll need to complete and send back with copies of your drawings. You’ll also be charged a fee.
Your application will be placed on the local planning register, to be seen by members of the public who can raise objections. If there are any problems it could take more than two months for the plans to be approved so it’s always best to put them in well before you wish to start building work.
Also, we’d recommend speaking to your neighbours to ensure they’re happy with the plans. They could well cause a stir at a later date, potentially damaging your ideas.
Building regulations
Even though planning permission won’t apply to everyone, you’ll always need to conform to Building Regulations. For instance, if you are planning a loft conversion you’ll need ventilation, a fire escape and sound insulation for terraced or semi-detached properties. Your neighbours will also need two months’ notice.
By using a professional company for the work they’ll know all of the regulations, so you can place your faith in them and not have to worry.
Don’t’ forget…
Something a lot of homeowners forget before starting work on their property is to speak with their insurer. You’ll need to check insurance covers incidental damage and the insurer will want to make sure work is completed to a sufficient standard otherwise they may not cover you.
Remember, by extending your property you could add thousands of pounds to your home, increasing house insurance premiums. Always tell your insurer otherwise you could miss out later down the line.