Carrying out your own home improvements/alterations

You have the right to carry out improvements to your property, such as fitting a new bathroom suite or replacing kitchen units.

However, you must first seek permission/approval from the TMO to carry out any improvement works. Permission will not be unreasonably refused but may be given subject to certain conditions/guidelines being met. Permission will be refused if the work would cause the TMO expense, be difficult to maintain, make it difficult to let the property in the future or give rise to complaints from other residents.

Alterations that require TMO consent

Please let us know if you wish to:

• Make any structural alterations or additions to the property
• Remove or alter the landlord’s fixed units, doors, fixtures or fittings
• Change or decorate the exterior of the property
• Erect a garden shed, greenhouse, conservatory or lean-to or other buildings or structures in or on the property
• Affix or hang any TV aerial, satellite dish or advertisement, or any other thing to or from the exterior of the building which compromises the property, part of it, or on which the property is situated.

Please use the form below to tell us about any alteration work you want to carry out on your home. We will confirm in writing whether you can go ahead. Please wait for our agreement before carrying out any work or purchasing materials.

Download Property Alteration form [PDF] (341 kb)

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Information you need to provide

When seeking permission to make alterations to your property, we ask that you do the following:

• Write to us giving full details of what you plan to do. This includes laying floor tiles, wood or laminate flooring.
• Give us full details of the work and who will carry it out.
• Confirmation that you have consulted the Council’s Planning Services to see if planning permission is required.

Your responsibilities

• Any repairs required as a result of the works carried out will be your responsibility and you may be recharged for any repairs to your or neighbouring flats that occur as a result of the alterations. This means to say any future maintenance will be your responsibility
• Your property must be reinstated to its original condition should you vacate the property.
• You may need to allow access for the work to be inspected at any stage.
• A charge of £25 per letter/visit will be made if more than 2 letters and 1 visit are required to assess the request.
• A gas and electrical certificate must be provided on completion if relevant.
• If alterations require repositioning of central plant pipe work or radiators, you must hire the TMO contractor. Please contact us to arrange this.
• Any work undertaken on gas or electrics must be carried out by a CORGI or NICEIC registered contractor. You will need to supply the registration details before any work is undertaken, if relevant.
• You are responsible for checking if planning permission is required and should check with the Council’s Planning Services. You will be responsible for any charges.

Please note that the TMO does not grant permission for tenants to lay laminate or wooden flooring due to access difficulties and noise nuisance. The TMO advises that extra materials are kept for future maintenance (e.g. paint, floor and ceramic tiles, fittings etc.).

Finding your own contractor

Below are details of websites which may help you find your own contractors:

TrustMark

TrustMark is a new initiative to help you find reliable and trustworthy tradespeople who can help with improvements and repairs to your home. This is a government endorsed scheme. Follow this link for further information: www.TrustMark.org.uk.

Finding your own contractors

The TMO is unable to endorse or recommend contractors to carry out work directly for you. If you are looking for a contractor, a good starting place is: follow this link for further information: www.yell.com.

Our Responsibilities

• On receipt of the written request to carry out alterations, a standard acknowledgment letter will be sent by the TMO and your request will be considered.
• A response will be made in writing with either a decision or a request for more information. You will be required to provide access for a TMO surveyor to pre and post inspect the work.
• We may need to inspect the work taking place at any time.