If you wish to carry out alterations to your leasehold property, under the terms of your lease you must seek permission from Lewisham Homes. We act on behalf of your landlord, Lewisham Council.
You must not carry out any alterations until you have all relevant permissions because otherwise 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.
Please contact Lewisham Homes first for Landlord’s permission. If your application is approved, you may need to apply for planning or building consent from Lewisham Council Planning and Building Control teams too.
You should always check with Lewisham Council if your property is in a conservation area as special limitations may apply.
Landlord permission guide
We’ve put together a guide to help you through the process. This guide is not exhaustive and you may be requested to present more documents where necessary.
Your application must be submitted in full with all of the documents provided together. We cannot accept part applications. Please also ensure that you complete a disclaimer form.
Please provide us with a detailed written description of any proposed works including plans and drawings of before the work and after.
You must be the current legal owner of the property. We’re unable to accept applications from potential purchasers.
Retrospective consent
If you are seeking permission for alterations you have already had carried out, please contact our Home Ownership team for details of applicable charges and documentation required. This is because carrying out alterations without permission is a breach of your lease.
New kitchens and bathrooms
You need only seek landlord permission for this type of work if you are renewing or altering pipe work, wiring, outlets and flue connections.
In these instances 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 which 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
- After completion of the work, you must also provide copies of any relevant certification. We will confirm the documents required during the application process
Requests for turning off the water supply to flats
The risks in turning off the water to the block are:
- Other residents turning their taps on and then going out whilst the water is off, causing floods.
- Elderly residents or vulnerable residents relying on their central heating to be on, where they have individual boilers.
- Potential airlocks to properties once water is turned back on.
There are also significant costs involved in sending out letters to residents by hand and providing a fair notice period to every resident in the block.
Over the past 30 years, pipe freezing (cryogenics) for temporary pipe isolation has become the safest, cheapest and most effective method for allowing valve replacement and general pipework modifications. Most plumbers should be able to perform pipe freezing, ensure you tell them how the job needs to be approached when discussing your requirements.
Windows
If you’re renewing or altering your windows, you must seek permission from Lewisham Homes.
You must consult Lewisham Council’s Planning and Building Control teams to determine whether their permission is required.
You must also provide:
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- Confirmation that the windows to be installed are the same style and colour as existing
- Assurance that window restrictors will be installed
- A detailed written description of the proposed works, including plans and drawings of before the work and after
- Confirmation the company being used is FENSA registered or an equivalent
- A copy of the contractor’s insurance and all other relevant insurance
- 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
- We cannot grant permission for works to be carried out from a balcony on the grounds of health and safety
- 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 carrying out the work
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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.
Doors
The front entrance door to your individual flat is your responsibility to maintain. Please contact us if you are planning to change your front entrance door. We will provide you with written confirmation, free of charge and give you some useful information about the type of door you should buy in order to keep your property fire safe and secure.
You must make sure doors which lead out on to communal areas meet current fire regulations. For more information about this, please contact our Home Ownership team.
homeownershipservices@lewishamhomes.org.uk
You do not need permission for doors inside you flat.
Walls and chimney breasts
Please provide us with:
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- 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 insurances
- 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 contractor’s 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 engineer’s 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 copy of the completion certificate from Building Control on completion of the works
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A Party Wall Notice is applicable only if:
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- 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
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Important information
Any work you may carry out to walls & chimney breasts is subject to a Lewisham Council’s Building Control inspection.
A Party Wall Notice will be subject to additional costs incurred by the applicant under the Party Wall Act 1996.
Landscaping and gardens
Permission is not required for new lawns or flower beds.
Work to fit paving, decking and out buildings do require our permission.
Please submit your plans, drawings, contractors insurance and disclaimer to our Home Ownership team.
Damp
Problems arising from an external source should be reported to us online via My Lewisham Homes.
Damp coming from an internal source should be attended to by you, the leaseholder.