What classifies as Minor Alterations?

Antithermal1723

Hello,

I am living in a leasehold ground floor flat that I have purchased for a few months now and would like it to be more homely. My lease has some missing pages so I can’t see what restrictions I have in terms of alterations. What forms of alterations am I allowed without arranging a license to alter? 

My future alterations I would like to do is change the internal doors as the previous owner left them with marks and it doesn’t look great. I am also wanting to replace the appliances that they have left behind as they could be updated.

Many thanks for reading. Any advice is greatly appreciated. 

JGB1955

My suggestion is that you get hold of the missing pages of the lease......

user1977

What was your solicitor's advice about the missing pages? How do you know they say something about minor alterations?

anselld

What you are proposing does not sound like “alteration” it sounds like routine maintenance.  Personally I would be inclined to proceed.

Herzlos

I suspect, and you'd need to get the lease to confirm, that the leaseholder is only going to be concerned about something which might impact the structure of the property; changing the floor plan, moving walls, etc. 

Replacing doors or even a kitchen is not going to be something they need to know about. 

Emmia

Are the current internal doors (some of or all of) fire rated with intumescent strips and closers? You should be replacing those on a like for like basis. The freeholder / management company is likely to care about this type of alteration.

However I agree that you do need a copy of your entire lease - I personally wouldn't have bought a property without reading the whole lease just in case of a bear trap of a clause or requirement.

eddddy

Antithermal1723 said:

I am living in a leasehold ground floor flat that I have purchased for a few months now and would like it to be more homely. My lease has some missing pages so I can’t see what restrictions I have in terms of alterations. What forms of alterations am I allowed without arranging a license to alter? 

What did your solicitor advise about the missing pages when you bought?

Does the freeholder have a copy of your lease or the counterpart lease - which they can give you a copy of?

Typically, all the leases in the building will have the same structure and same covenants (i.e. rules about alterations). Have you looked at copies of leases for the other flats, to see if they are the same as yours - but including the missing pages?

gwynlas

Minor alterations would be internal changes such as new kitchens and bathrooms without  changing plumbing. New internal doors would be cosmetic providing the met fire regulations.
Major works would be replacement windows, changing drain runs, removal of internal walls etc but you should certainly seek full copy of lease

eddddy

Antithermal1723 said:

What classifies as Minor Alterations?

Are you sure that your lease refers to "Minor Alterations"?  That would be a very vague term, and it would be unusual for it to be used in a lease.

Leases sometimes talk about "structural alterations" and/or "non-structural alterations".

And typically leases will either say something like:

• No alterations

or

• No alterations without the consent of the freeholder (which the law says cannot be unreasonably refused)

But it sounds like you want to make "replacements" rather than "alterations" anyway.