Leasehold - Permission For Garage Conversion

niall2009

Hoping someone can offer advice?

We have been considering a garage conversion, consisting of:

The garage is integral to the house, and within the original footprint of the property.
We want to knock a door through from our hall, then half brick plus window what is now the garage door.
All other usual internal stuff....plaster, radiator, sockets etc.

Contacted the council, no planning permission is required.
Contacted a builder, had a quote, no building plans will be issued.

Contacted my leaseholder (property management company) and they wanted £660 (!!!!!!) to issue a letter of consent.

1. Does this sound normal - I am convinced this is a rip off technique?
2. Is there anyway to reduce this?
3. What happens if I don't tell them and convert anyway?

Thanks.

HappyMJ

niall2009 wrote: »

1. Does this sound normal - I am convinced this is a rip off technique?
2. Is there anyway to reduce this?
3. What happens if I don't tell them and convert anyway?

Thanks.

1. Yes. I'm sure it is too.
2. Buy the freehold.
3. Not much. You might have to make good when you sell but there is little that they will do. Some might do a lot though so you need to weigh the risks.

niall2009

Thanks for this, buy the freehold is out though, at my last request they wanted over 5K.

HappyMJ

niall2009 wrote: »

Thanks for this, buy the freehold is out though, at my last request they wanted over 5K.

Only £5,000 are you serious. Go for it...That isn't much to never have to ask permission to do anything, to never have to pay ground rent, to never have to renew after 25 years. etc etc...

niall2009

Really? I thought this was a lot considering its only £75 per year for the rent, only in my 30's but i'll be long gone before i got a return (especially considering inflation - £75 in 10 years won't buy a mars bar, 5K is more than the conversion quote).

Thanks.

Doozergirl

You most definitely will need Building Control Approval for the garage conversion. What do you mean by 'no building plans will be issued'? Plans are optional, you can do it on Building Notice but a fee will still be payable to building control and inspections needed...

Foggster

Doozergirl wrote: »

You most definitely will need Building Control Approval for the garage conversion. What do you mean by 'no building plans will be issued'? Plans are optional, you can do it on Building Notice but a fee will still be payable to building control and inspections needed...

Agree with this.

We have done the same as what you are proposing to do and although we didnt need planning we had to have building regs. With garages the main problem will be the depth of the footings that the garage sits on and the thickness of walls and its something BRs are hot on.

niall2009

OK - thanks for the advice.
By no building plans I meant the builder has drawn up any documents, blueprints etc as no actual wall will move, it is simply half brick and window where the garage door was, and a knock through door from my hall.

I have contacted building regs, this looks no probs at a fee of £204.

Just can't believe the leasholder wants £660 for a letter.........