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Tenant and Leaseholder Alteration and Improvement Policy

4. Alterations and Improvements

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A tenant or leaseholder who is planning on carrying out certain types of alteration or improvement to their home must seek written approval from Great Yarmouth Borough Council (GYBC) prior to starting the works. Secure tenants can carry out improvement or alteration works to their home if appropriate permission has been requested and granted. If you have an Introductory Tenancy or Demoted Tenancy, please contact us to discuss your request as an Introductory Tenant or Demoted Tenant is not permitted to undertake alterations or improvements.

Alterations fall into two categories:

  1. alternations/Improvements that require GYBC approval
  2. alterations/Improvements that are permitted and do not need GYBC approval

The following sections set out which alterations/improvements fall into these two categories. If you have any doubts over whether approval is required or not, please speak to your Housing Officer before you make any changes to your home.

Works that will NOT be Approved or Permitted include:

  • conversion/sub-division of rooms to create additional bedrooms
  • construction of extensions to provide bedrooms / habitable spaces
  • removal of chimneys
  • loft conversions
  • conversion of stores into habitable rooms
  • installation of polystyrene coverings or tiles
  • any works which would negatively impact the fire safety of a flat*
  • replacement of boilers

* for example changing an external door to a door which is not a fire door, or works which will affect the fire compartmentalisation of the flat - for example any works which drill into walls between properties, or to the outside without appropriate fire safety measures being installed and independently checked.

4.1 Alterations/Improvements that require approval

You will need GYBC written permission before erecting, removing or altering (this list is not exhaustive):

  • walls, windows, internal / external doors
  • works to internal floors including tiling, hard and laminate flooring
  • any extensions including conservatories, lean to's, car ports, porches
  • works that penetrate property separating walls including cupboards in communal areas and party walls in houses
  • central heating works or amendments to existing heating systems
  • electrical work within the property
  • installing live fireplaces including wood/multi-fuel stoves or re-opening a closed chimney breast or flue
  • adding electrical sockets to brick outhouses
  • any work to kitchen wall / base units
  • garages, outhouses
  • fences, boundary walls
  • bathroom fixtures and showers
  • satellite dishes and TV/CB aerials (Flats only unless a house or bungalow is within a conservation area)
  • hard standings including Patios
  • fitting of loft ladders / boarding lofts
  • any disturbance works to Artex
  • installation of solar panels
  • installation of any- CCTV equipment other than to front doors
  • installation of external charging points for cars and mobility scooters
  • fitting floor covering in kitchens, bathrooms and hallways / entrances (houses and bungalows)
  • provision of electric/water or other utilities to external stores/sheds/greenhouses or pergolas

Where you have your own private enclosed garden, you can install pergolas, sheds and greenhouses. Please note sheds and greenhouses must be sited over 2.5m from your home or other property to meet building insurance and fire regulations requirements. We will not permit any garden structures in communal areas.

When consent is requested for the following alterations, a plan showing the works proposed will need to be provided as part of the application:

  • installation/replacement of windows, doors
  • erection of conservatories, extensions, car ports or lean to's

Where paving or decking is to be installed, a plan showing how surface water drainage will be dealt with must be submitted with the application for permission.

An online alterations and adaptations form is available for completion, see How do I make an improvement to my home?

All approvals are valid for a period of 12 months. If works are not started and completed within 12 months another request must be made for approval before works start.

4.2 Permitted works that do not require GYBC approval

  • changes to small fixtures and fittings for example fitting shelves, door handles
  • fitting floor coverings except in flats where flooring should not be fitted that may cause a noise nuisance to properties below, typically laminate/hard flooring/ceramic tiles, any flooring that causes a noise-nuisance residents to below will need to be removed
  • fitting floor coverings except in kitchens, bathrooms and entrance hallways
  • fitting wireless/video doorbells to front doors., Installation must be complaint with current UK GDPR legislation
  • fitting an outside tap
  • decorations to your home internally and if a house and bungalow externally
Last modified on 07 January 2025

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