10 Things You Should Know Before Making Major Improvements to your Home

Are you planning a home improvement project that will require demolition and/or construction? If so, there is a vast network of laws and requirements that you should be familiar with. Start by reading these ten tips for major home improvements.

Do I need a Permit?

You may live in an area with extensive permitted development rights, meaning that you can make minor home improvements without having to submit the paperwork for a permit.

Are you eligible for permitted development.

Any home that is attached to another, such as an apartment or duplex, as well as homes located in conservation areas and listed buildings, face stricter permit requirements.

Building regulation approval is separate from planning permission.

It’s easy to get the two confused, but you’ll still need to seek regulation approval, even if you have already received a permit or don’t need one.

The area you live in will affect the council’s decision to give you a permit.

If you do find that you need a permit for your home improvement project, some of the factors that affect whether you will get it include the municipal infrastructure in your area, such as water availability and ease of transportation.

You should consider how your building will affect your neighbours.

According to UK law, your neighbours have a “right to light”, meaning that your home improvement project may be denied a permit if it greatly obstructs your neighbour’s access to sunlight.

Plan for a two- to three-month wait for your permit.

The local planning authority in your area will likely take up to eight weeks to respond to your application. However, if your home improvement project is larger in scale, it could take more than several months to get an approval or denial.

Don’t forget to contact Building Control.

After getting a planning permit and regulation approval, you’ll need to submit a building notice, but you can start your project just 48 hours after this reaches Building Control.

You should get an inspection for asbestos before starting any demolition.

This is both a matter of safety for you and your family and a likely legal concern if you ever decide to sell your house. To avoid potential claims for mesothelioma compensation down the road, only licensed contractors with training in how to deal with asbestos should be hired to do demolition on a home that could potentially contain the insulation material.

Rooms should meet a size requirement depending on function.

There are minimum room sizes for bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens and hallways. However, there are no longer regulations for where bathrooms and WCs can be located within your property.

Building statutes affect every homeowner differently.

It is important to keep in mind that, although there are myriad laws on the books that outline what you can and can’t do to your home, your home’s structure, location and age will greatly affect your process.