HOME IMPROVEMENTS – Helpful tips from your Conveyancer 

 

Before you embark on any major alterations or additions to your property you should not only consider obtaining the necessary planning permission from the Local Authority but you should also review your title to see if there are any restrictive covenants affecting the property.  The most common being the written consent of the original developer to any additions or external alterations to the property.  By obtaining consent prior to carrying out the work it may only cost you an admin fee of as little as £50.  Applying for retrospective consent may be risky and the simplest after the event solution would be a Restrictive Covenant Indemnity Policy which depending on the value of your property could be costly.

                               

For small extensions or loft conversions that may not require planning permission you should be aware that they may still require building regulation consent.  You should check with the Local Authority before commencing any work.

 

For more minor improvements you must make sure the person carrying out the work is suitably qualified.  For replacement windows they must be FENSA registered, for new boilers and heating systems check the Gas Safe Register.  Electrical work will also require compliance certificates.

 

When selling your property please pass all guarantees, certificates, planning documents etc to your Conveyancer at the beginning of the transaction to ensure the conveyancing process runs smoothly.