How do I get an annex to be considered as part of the main home?

ibayntun

Hello,

Several years ago, I purchased a bungalow which had an annex built on to the rear.  It had planning permission, It doesn't have it's own designated enterance, but shares the back door with the main dwelling.  It does not have it's own electricity or gas supply, but uses the main house's.  It doesn't have it's own title deeds or land register entry.....  It does have its own council tax though, furthermore when we found out about this we were told that we could not rent it out as there was a covenant(?) on the planning permission prohibiting it. 

The Valuation Office came out to look but rejected out application for it to be considered as one dwelling, as there had been no significant alterations to the structure of the building.

Can anyone tell me what "Significant" changes means?

I have this very rough sketch of the layout of the property, it is very rough though.


Anyone any ideas?

marcia_

 I think its because it has its own kitchen and possibly bathroom makes it a separate dwelling. 

jennifernil

I don't think the bathroom is a problem, but the "kitchen" may well be.   As I understand it, if you remove any cooking facilities and have it , and use it, purely  as a utility room ,that should be OK.  That will incur some costs, but should not be prohibitive.

How do you use the living room and the bedroom?  Having the living room as a bedroom, and the bedroom as a walk in wardrobe/storage area would work.   Or even a study.

Also you could close off the rest of the "annex" from the new utility room with a wall and door, and create a "master suite".

I presume they would then re band the house and it would likely move to a higher band, would the new CT be less that the total of the 2 existing ones?