Sheffield planning permission: these home improvements are forbidden in former council flats and maisonettes

People living in flats and maisonettes previously owned by the council need to apply for permission to make certain changes in case they impact on the rest of the block or communal areas.

Most flats sold under Right to Buy have repairs and maintenance restrictions in a lease. And one clause requires leaseholders to obtain permission for any alterations.

Over the last 12 months, the council has received 137 applications requesting permission to carry out work within a leasehold flat or maisonette.

During that time, 36 leaseholders finished the work while another 33 applications were withdrawn because the process wasn’t completed.

Eighteen leaseholders received permission but didn’t begin the work. And 42 applications are currently ongoing with work yet to be completed.

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What kind of home renovations were refused?

Eight applications were refused because the work was a breach of the lease, was outside their premises or would affect the exterior structure of the block.

Two people were refused permission to install patio doors as they would open out onto communal land owned by the council.

Two were refused permission to board out the loft area as the space was owned by the council and wasn’t part of their home.

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One person wasn’t allowed to install a wood burner stove, while another person couldn’t build a porch area on the front of their property.

One person was refused permission to enclose their balcony and another was stopped from installing damp proofing because the exterior of the block is owned by the council.

Coun Paul Wood, Executive member for housing, said requests weren’t routinely refused but there were restrictions: “These include building a ground floor extension or erecting a conservatory or porch; installing patio doors; installing metal gates across a property entrance door; converting a loft or attic for living or storage space; creating a vehicle hard standing or building a garage/shed on the communal areas; fencing off or building a patio or decking on open plan or communal land.”