Trying to get permission from the council for a home improvement

LukeMo_2

Hi, thanks for taking the time to read. I'm hoping someone can help.

2 years ago I mortaged my council house, right to buy through Norwich City Council. I have a garden and really want to install doors in the back room that would give me direct access to my own private garden. Rather than having to go out the front door and the long way round.

Here's the issue, the council won't respond to my letters. Part of the contract through buying through the council is that I need permission from them to make these types of alterations to the property. Regardless of whether I need planning permission or not. (An architect has informed me that along as the doors don't exceed the lintel of existing windows I do not need planning permission)

I've rang to be told I need to send a letter. I've emailed to be told I need to send a letter. I have so far sent 4 letters and tried to chase them up with phone calls to be told to wait or sorry we may have a backlog. No letter response. First letter was sent over a year and a half ago.

If anyone has any advice it would be greatly recieved.

Thank you 

Ms_Chocaholic

Contact your local Councillor

grumpy_codger

https://www.google.com/search?q=Norwich+City+Council+complaints

singhini

i agree, send a letter to your local MP and also get the MP to highlight the issue with the Secretary of State for Housing. Perhaps something like this (starter for 10 as they say):

Dear [MP’s Name],

Re: Lack of response from Norwich City Council regarding alteration consent for ex-council property

I am writing to you as a constituent to request your assistance with an issue I have been unable to resolve with Norwich City Council for more than eighteen months.

In 2023 I purchased my former council property under the Right to Buy scheme. Under the terms of the transfer, I am required to obtain written permission from Norwich City Council for certain structural alterations, regardless of whether planning permission is required.

I have been attempting to obtain consent for a simple alteration: replacing a rear window with doors to provide direct access to my private garden. An architect has confirmed that planning permission is not required for this work, provided the doors do not exceed the existing window lintel. However, I am still required to obtain written approval from the Council before proceeding.

Despite sending four letters, and attempting to follow up through emails and telephone calls, I have not received any written response. Each time I contact the Council, I am told only that there is a backlog or that I must continue to wait. My first letter was sent over eighteen months ago.

This ongoing uncertainty and lack of progress has begun to affect my wellbeing. The stress of repeatedly trying to obtain a required consent, without any acknowledgement or communication from the Council, has impacted my mental health and my ability to maintain a normal daily routine. I simply wish to comply with the terms of my Right to Buy agreement and make reasonable improvements to my home, but the prolonged silence from the Council has made this extremely difficult.

I would be very grateful if you could:

1 - Write to Norwich City Council on my behalf to request that my application for consent be reviewed and responded to; and

2 - Raise this matter with the Minister for Housing to highlight the difficulties faced by Right to Buy homeowners when councils fail to meet their obligations to provide timely responses.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my situation. I would be happy to supply copies of my correspondence with the Council if this would be helpful.

Yours sincerely,

Section62

LukeMo_2 said:

...
Here's the issue, the council won't respond to my letters. Part of the contract through buying through the council is that I need permission from them to make these types of alterations to the property. Regardless of whether I need planning permission or not. (An architect has informed me that along as the doors don't exceed the lintel of existing windows I do not need planning permission)
...

Hopefully you aren't using this architect as they don't know what they are talking about.  Lintel width has nothing to do with planning consent - perhaps they are getting confused with building regulation signoff?

You don't need to write to your MP, and there's no need to involve the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.  Contacting your local councillor is a reasonable option, but probably best to start with the council's own internal complaints process.

Which department at the council have you been sending the letters to?

silvercar

Was the garden always the private garden of this house? It seems an odd design that wouldn’t have doors installed when originally built.