Should I have gotten planning permission? the job is complete!!

pinkpinkfizz

Ok, I am posting this as I am starting to worry about some work we had carried out on our property. I was speaking to a mortgage proffessional and he asked had we done any structural work, when i explained what we had done, he made a funny face and said let's discuss that a little later ??

Ok, its one of those stories where you are most likely going to shake your head and tutt alot, however please bear with me until the end...

We had a huge livingroom/dining area and we wanted to have a huge kitchen/dining room with smaller, cosier livingroom. My DH was in the pub discussing what we would like to have done and a bloke he didn't know said he was a joiner (own business he claimed!) and could come and give us a very reasonable quote, which he did.... it suited our budget and we agreed. Ok, the builder said we don't need planning permission as the wall we were moving was NOT a loadbearing wall (really its not!!). As part of the renovations it then seemed natural to put external frenchdoors, leading out to the garden(previously only a window) and we did get CR Smith glazing company to do the work and they also said we dont need any planning permission, another job completed.

So we currently have a lovely cosy livingroom, gorgeous kitchen/dining room with french doors leading to back garden. and I am losing sleep worrying about the lack of certificates, permissions etc....Please can someone advise!

The work was carried out in april last year, if that makes any difference?!

Avoriaz

Stop worrying.

Unless you live in a listed building, you don’t normally need planning permission for internal modifications and I very much doubt that you need pp for French windows. You can normally build extensions without formal pp if you are within the limits of the maximum increase in sq footage etc.

It is possible that you should have involved the buildings inspector to certify the work.

If you are certain that the work has been done properly and you are happy with the result just stop worrying about it.

You could apply for retrospective permission but you are wasting your time and money if don’t need it.

seven-day-weekend

You don't need planning permission for internal works , or for installing windows/doors providing they come no further forward than the original house (unless your house is a listed building).

You may have needed Building Regulations Approval, but I'm pretty sure that even if you did you can get a Completion Certificate retrospectively if it is worrying you. Try Building Control at your local Council.

The only time it may be a problem is if you come to sell your house and the Mortgage Company want sight of the B.Regs Approval, so if you're considering selling it's best imho to see if you need it now and if so, get it.

seven-day-weekend

Sorry, hadn't read Avoriaz' post!

Still, it's good that we've given the OP similar advice.

HugoSP

My guess is that Planning Permission would not normally be needed, unless:

1) The house is a listed building, or
2) You are in a Conservation Area, not an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

If 1) applies then you would need it for internals and externals. In the case of 2) only the french doors would need planning permission.

Let me know where you live and I'll check out your area. if either of the above apply, I'll grass you up - sounds fair??

lillyboo

We've just had a large extension to the house and wanted to change some interior walls drawn on the plans - when we contacted the planning dept he basically said he wasn't bothered what we did inside the house as long as it wasnt a load bearing wall we were moving - so please don't worry it should be absolutely fine.

Nobleck

Just check your Councils policy for planning permission and building regulations definitions (I'm sure you don't need it for internal non load bearing walls though)

arnie&caseysma!

Internal modifications should have a building warrant - my dad found this out after he had put up a wall to separate a room and my sisters house which has had the living/diningroom split to make a smaller living room, and a larger dining kitchen, has a building warrant and completion certificate.

Recently in attempting to sell my house I found out that a set of French doors (put in before I bought!) was not covered by any permissions in respect of alterations and I contacted the local council. Basically it would cost nearly £150 for them to come out and have a look at the work and if satisfactory they would then issue a Property Inspection Report and that would be the end of it. If they recommended any work it had to be carried out within 28 days and then they would re-inspect.

The best course of action would be to contact your local planning department for advice, they are only a phone call away.

Woby_Tide

doesn't the replacement of the window with french doors require FENSA certification as they are replacements, other than that it doesn't need planning permisison certainly

pinkpinkfizz

HugoSP wrote:

My guess is that Planning Permission would not normally be needed, unless:

1) The house is a listed building, or
2) You are in a Conservation Area, not an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

If 1) applies then you would need it for internals and externals. In the case of 2) only the french doors would need planning permission.

Let me know where you live and I'll check out your area. if either of the above apply, I'll grass you up - sounds fair??

Well I think I can safely say that I do NOT live in any conservation area or a Listed building, it's an ex-council house in the middle of a housing estate... The work standard is superb and I have no concerns what so ever that it would stand up to any inspection.

Looks like I've been worrying about nothing... Thanks for you help, i will sleep better now