Leasehold alterations

Any work in relation to installing a new flue or changing an old one must be agreed beforehand by the Council. Any damage caused to the outside of the building will be repaired by the Council at full cost to you.

Landlord’s consent will not be given for a leaseholder to be disconnected from the communal heating system.

Supporting documentation for boiler alterations:

• Installation of a carbon monoxide detector certificate

Gas safety certificate 

The Council will only consider this type of proposal if there is no impact on other flats in the building:

• It should not cause additional noise or disturbance on account of changes in the habitation or the use of the premises.
• It cannot reduce the possibility of escape from the flat in the event of a fire nor should it increase the likelihood of the onset or spread of fire and smoke.
• A bedroom must not be situated above or below a living room or kitchen of another flat.
• Subdividing the property into more than one dwelling unit will generally not be allowed.
• The proposed size of a bedroom must not fall below the minimum reasonable and acceptable standard (minimum single bedroom size is 7.5m2 and double 11.5m2) and any alterations must not make the property overcrowded.

Supporting documentation for changing the structure or position of Walls:

• Structural engineers report
• Building Control Completion Certificate
• Planning Permission

Any proposals that might affect access to or the use of a communal area including corridors, stairs, entrances, basement areas, gardens and lofts will not be permitted. The Council also will not generally allow any development that will significantly reduce the light and air for other residents.

A conservatory or extension will not normally be permitted where the flat is situated in a block of flats and will have a negative impact on the design consistency of the building and the maintenance obligations of the landlord. Permission for these applications can usually only be considered where the garden belongs to a maisonette, a house or flat (not on a block or estate) and where it’s for the sole use of the residents who live in it.

Consent for satellite dishes will not normally be granted and can only be considered if there is no TV communal reception system for the building.

Consent will only be given for a new door alteration if the proposed new door meets current fire safety regulations.

Supporting documentation for door alterations:

• Evidence of Fire Door Certificate
• Evidence of Fire door specification that meets current fire safety regulations.
• Minimum FD30S required for external door.
• Minimum FD30 required for internal doors.

All alterations and improvements connected to the provision of electrical services to the property requires permission.

Documentation requirements for electric alterations:

• Electrician name, registration number with certificates.
• NICEIEC Certificate required.
• Domestic Electrical Installation Certificate.

The Council will make every effort to ensure that consent is not unreasonably withheld but are highly unlikely to agree permission for exterior work.

When considering requests for external works the Council has set the following principles:

• Consent will always be withheld if the Council considers that an alteration may contravene health and safety or make the property structurally dangerous or unstable (i.e. such as removing a supporting wall or weakening foundations).
• The proposed work must not cause or be likely to cause any maintenance or structural problems. It must not encroach onto or affect any land which is not part of the flat or contravene local bye-laws, tenancy conditions or conservation areas.
• Permission will not be granted where there is the possibility that other residents may be caused nuisance or inconvenience. Where other residents are required to be consulted, the Council may withhold consent if there are objections.
• The Council has the right to withhold consent if it is considered that the proposals are not aesthetically in keeping with the building or surrounding area.
• The applicant must have the consent of the landlord before starting any works and planning or building control agreement alone is not sufficient.

• Exterior brickwork: Any changes to the exterior requires landlord permission but will not normally be granted.
• Exterior fixtures and fittings: The attachment of anything outside the property requires permission from the Council.

When requesting structural alterations, you will be expected to pay for and provide the Council with a full structural survey to validate your application.

Supporting documentation for Fire Alarms or Smoke Detectors:

• Electrician name, registration number with certificates.
• NICEIEC Certificate
• Domestic Electrical Installation Certificate.
• Installation of a carbon monoxide detector certificate
• Additional Fire Safety Documentation that matches current safety regulation.

The Council will not agree to requests to fit laminate flooring as per the terms of the lease. The property must be covered with carpet and underlay other than in kitchen and bathrooms.

The Council will generally agree proposed alterations to the inside of the property subject to a number of important qualifications.

Unless it is clearly included as part of the property under the terms of your lease, leaseholders have no right to make any alterations to this area.

If the loft is within the demise of the property and included in the lease floor plan, permission will still be required.

Any planned alterations connected to the provision of services to the property (gas, water, electricity, and drainage) will require landlord consent for alterations.

Leaseholders should inform the Alterations team of any alterations to the council’s fixtures and fittings, such as replacing kitchen units, landlord consent is not required for these alterations. If moving the sink or altering the plumbing, then Landlord consent is required.

Grilles over windows and security doors constitute a possible hazard in the event of fire and so can only be permitted where it is evidenced that they conform to the most up to date Tower Hamlets Council fire safety policy. Generally, landlord consent will not be granted to fix the grilles to the landlord’s exterior wall.

Security gates across communal walkways are not permitted.

Structural alterations must not be such that they could affect the stability of the building:

• The creation of a new window or doorway to the outside wall will not be allowed, except for windows or doors in approved extensions.
• Building a new fireplace or the opening of one that has been sealed will not normally be permitted in view of the burden of the additional maintenance for the landlord in relation to the flue and chimney in the building.
• You will need to seek permission for any removal of internal walls, sub-dividing of any bedroom or other room in the demised premises.
• Replacement or removal of a water tank is generally not permitted if part of the lease.

If an alteration is agreed which significantly affects the exterior or the structure of the building, this would be on the condition that the current and future leaseholders accept all liability for any maintenance work relating to this. This will require a Deed of Variation of your lease with all legal cost’s payable by you.

Additional documentation requirements for all structural alterations:

• Structural engineers report.
• Building Control Completion Certificate.
• Planning Permission.

Windows are deemed to be part of the building’s structure and so are the responsibility of the Council to maintain or replace. As such there is no obligation to accept any request for a window renewal.

Requests to replace windows by leaseholders will be refused as they form part of the building’s structure and therefore are not within the lessee’s demise (the part of the flat you have purchased).

In exceptional circumstances where consent is granted; the leaseholder will still have to contribute their share of any future window repairs or replacement.

Documentation requirements for window alterations:

• Fensa (or Certass) window certificate.