Looking after your property
If you want to carry out alterations to your leasehold property, under the terms of your lease, you will need our permission.
You must not carry out any alterations until you have all relevant permissions - if you do, you will be in breach of your lease.
In some cases, if this happens, we may have to take action to restore your property to its original state.
If your application is approved, you may also need to apply for planning or building consent from our planning team and building control.
Please contact the our planning team on 020 8314 7400 and building control on 020 8314 8233 for further information or email: planning@lewisham.gov.uk or building.control@lewisham.gov.uk.
Landlord permissions
This information is not exhaustive - you may be requested to present more documents where necessary.
If the alteration you wish to undertake is not listed below, please contact us at hos@lewisham.org.uk. Applications must be submitted in full with all documentation provided together in one email; part applications will not be accepted.
You must be the current legal owner of the property, we are unable to accept applications from potential purchasers.
Retrospective consent
If you're seeking permission for alterations you have already carried out, please contact our home ownership team to discuss breaching your lease and any applicable charges.
New kitchens and bathrooms
You need only seek landlord permission for this type of work if you are renewing or altering pipework, wiring, outlets and flue connections.
You must provide:
- a detailed written description of the proposed works, including plans and drawings of before the work and after
- confirmation about the contractor you wish to use, a copy of their insurance, company letterhead and all other relevant insurance - you must use appropriately qualified, reputable contractors to carry out the works
- a disclaimer that confirms you are responsible in the event that any damage is incurred as a result of the works
Gas and electrical work
- you must use a contractor that has the correct registration - for electrics, the contractor should be NICEIC or NAPIT registered and for gas work they must be Gas Safe registered
- please provide us with a written description of the proposed works including plans and drawings of before the work and after
- please provide us with a copy of the contractor’s insurance, company letterhead and all other relevant insurance certificates
- after completion of the work, you must also provide copies of any relevant certification - we will confirm the documents required during the application process
Windows
If you’re renewing or altering your windows, you must get our permission.
You must consult our planning and building control teams to determine whether their permission is required.
You must also provide:
- a detailed written description of the proposed works including plans and drawings of before the work and after
- confirmation that the windows to be installed are the same style and colour as the existing
- assurance that window restrictors will be installed
- confirmation the company being used is FENSA registered or an equivalent
- a copy of the contractors’ public liability insurance certificate and all other relevant insurance certificates
- a method statement detailing if scaffolding is required, and if so how it will be erected and for how long
- a copy of the handover certificate for the scaffolding must be presented before work starts
- a disclaimer that you, the leaseholder, will be responsible for any repairs and maintenance needed to the windows
- you are also responsible for rectifying any damage caused during or because of the execution of work
Important information
If your individual property is excluded from a window replacement scheme, you are still required to pay a proportion of the cost towards the renewal of other windows in the building under the terms of your lease. You may also have to contribute towards access costs and any associated works.
We cannot grant permission for work to be carried out from a balcony on the grounds of health and safety.
Structural - extensions, walls and chimney breasts
You will need to provide the following:
- detailed written description of the proposed works including plans and drawings of before the work and after
- confirmation about the contractor you wish to use, a copy of their public liability insurance certificate, company letterhead and all other relevant insurance certificates
- you must use appropriately qualified, reputable contractors to carry out the works
- a method statement and risk assessment of how the work will be carried out on your contractors’ letter headed paper
- a disclaimer confirming you are responsible in the event that any damage is incurred as a result of the works
- a structural engineers report from a qualified structural engineer detailing how the new support will be installed and confirmation that the wall is non-load bearing.
- party wall notice to the adjoining neighbours at the cost of you, the leaseholder. A party wall notice is applicable only if:
- you intend to carry out work to a wall, floor or ceiling shared with another property
- the work involves excavating within 6 meters of an adjoining property
- the work involves building on the boundary of another property
- a copy of the completion certificate from building control on completion of the works
All party wall enquiries should be forwarded to party.wall@lewisham.gov.uk.
Important information
Any work you may carry out to walls and chimney breasts is subject to a building control inspection.
A party wall notice will be subject to additional costs incurred by the applicant under the Party Wall Act 1996.
You are strongly advised to seek professional advice from an architect or building surveyor concerning obligations such as CDM regulations and Thames Water approval, amongst others.
Lofts
The Council do not sell loft space, it remains the property of the Freeholder.
Doors
You do not need to get permission for this type of work. However, you must make sure doors that lead out on to communal areas meet current fire regulations. For more information about this, please contact our home ownership team.
Landscaping and gardens
Permission is not required for new lawns or flower beds.
Work to fit paving, decking and outbuildings does require our permission.
Please submit your plans, drawings, contractors’ public liability insurance certificate and a disclaimer to our home ownership team.
Damp
Problems arising from an external source should be reported online via the housing services portal. Damp coming from an internal source should be attended to by you, the leaseholder.