As a homeowner, you may want to carry out improvements or alterations to your home. If you are a shared owner or leaseholder, you will usually need our permission to make these. Some improvements might be subject to certain conditions such as planning permission and other regulations. Customers should also consider that improvements or alterations to your home may affect the buildings insurance or the value of your property if you choose to sell it.
Please note that if your property is a new build within the initial defects period, you must not undertake any improvements during this time. If your property is outside the initial defects period, you can check what kind of work you do or don’t need permission for by reviewing our alternations and improvements policy for homeowners.
If you would like to make minor or major alterations or improvements to your home, you'll need to complete our homeowner alterations form.
Before you submit the form, please make sure you check your lease or transfer document as some home improvements are strictly prohibited. If you have any queries or concerns, please contact your Housing Officer in the first instance. If you are not sure who your housing officer is, you can find out using our 'Find my housing officer' tool.
To prevent any delays with your application assessment, please be as detailed as possible about the works you intend to carry out.
If all relevant information has been supplied within your application form, we will let you know if your request has been accepted or declined and if any administration fees apply. Unlike most Registered Providers, we do not charge a fee for the majority of permissions. However, if you are seeking permission to carry out major or structural works, you will be charged a fee of £60. Please see our administration fees for more information. If you are seeking permission for major or structural alterations/improvements, our admin fee is not limited to one permission at a time so customers should include all the planned works and permissions sought in their application to avoid incurring additional fees.
Depending on the works, a LiveWest surveyors report may be required. We will be in touch with you if this is the case. We will review the report, along with your lease or transfer documents and advise you of the outcome.
If you are a freeholder, you do not usually need our permission to make improvements or alterations to your home, but you should check your transfer first to make sure and you may need planning or building regulations permission from your local council.
If you have any queries, please contact us: homeowner@livewest.co.uk.