Whether you’re planning on laying a new patio or putting up a fence, many homeowners will be looking to make home improvements during the spring and summer months. But, when it comes to these, there are certain rules and regulations that need to be followed.

To help homeowners avoid potential hefty fines, the home insurance team at Compare the Market has shared some of the lesser-known projects that permission or approvals may be needed for. They have also provided some top tips on how homeowners can ensure they stay on the right side of the law with their property improvements.

Homeowners could be fined up to £20,000 for home improvements if they don’t secure planning permission

If a homeowner hasn’t sought planning permission before making changes that require it, the council will usually allow them to submit a retrospective application, which is simply a way to request planning permission after building work is complete. However, under Section 172 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, in some cases, the council can issue an enforcement notice requiring homeowners to put things back as they were.

The penalty for not complying with this can be an unlimited fine. Some of the lesser-known situations that need planning permission are detailed below:

1. Putting up decking if 30cm over ground

If a new deck is going to be more than 30cm above the ground, homeowners require planning permission. This is also the case if the decking will cover more than 50% of the garden area.

2. Gate ornaments

If a gate is over two metres high, permission will need to be gained to add any additional ornaments. However, if the property is next to a highway used by vehicles, the gate needs to be less than one metre high.

3. Paving a front garden

Homeowners will need to seek planning permission if they are laying a traditional, impermeable driveaway, such as concrete or tarmac, that is larger than five square metres and does not provide for the water to drain naturally.

Making basic changes to a property could lead to a fine of £50 a day if building regulations aren’t followed

Often, when making smaller changes to a home, there are building regulations that need to be followed. According to sections 35 and 35A of the Building Act 1984, the penalty for not following these rules can result in an unlimited fine or a fine of up to £50 per day.

Alternatively, homeowners may be issued with an enforcement notice from their local planning authority which would require them to alter or remove the work that goes against regulations. If they fail to comply, the local authority has the power to undertake the work itself, and charge the homeowner for the costs.

• Fitting a new boiler

When installing a new boiler in a home, building regulations approval is usually required because of safety issues and the need for energy efficiency. Employing an installer who is registered under an approved scheme, such as the Blue Flame Certification, should ensure all the rules and requirements are followed.

• Making doors or windows larger

When installing windows and doors in new or widened openings, they need to comply with building regulations in terms of the amount of heat that can pass through the glass and framework.

• Removing a chimney breast

Building regulations state that buildings must remain structurally sound after alterations have been carried out. Usually, an application to a building control body is required before undertaking any work on a chimney, as they are often load-bearing and may provide support to long walls.

Failing to tend to high hedges could land homeowners with a fine of up to £1,000

There are some situations where planning permission or building regulations don’t need to be followed but come with their own set of requirements. Some of these projects are outlined below:

1. High hedges

Regulation: Part 8 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003

Penalty: Fine up to £1,000

It’s a homeowners responsibility to keep their hedges maintained, and should a neighbour have an issue with their overgrown hedges, they are within their rights to make a complaint to the local authority. If the local authority finds that the complainants enjoyment of their property is negatively affected by the hedges, they could issue a formal notice.

2. Having skips without a licence or necessary lights and markings

Regulation: Skip Licence

Penalty: Fine of up to £1,000

If you are keeping your HIPPOBAG or skip entirely on your own driveway or private property, you will not need a permit. However, if your skip or HIPPOBAG is placed on a public highway (including pavements) or road, it’s likely you will need to apply for a skip permit from your local council.  If you don’t put the required safety lights and markings on these, you could be fined up to £1,000. When you hire a skip from HIPPO, you can purchase a skip permit at the point of purchase and HIPPO will liaise with your local council to obtain it.

Conclusion

Before you start any kind of work on your home, no matter how small, you should check whether you need planning permission or building regulations approval. You can find more information on government websites, and you can also contact your local planning authority

If you already have home insurance and plan on making some major changes to your home, you need to inform your insurance provider before you begin the building work. They also need to know about potential security risks such as changes to windows and doors, or the fact that a larger range of people will have access to your property while work is being done. If you’re doing the improvements yourself, you should think about getting accidental damage insurance too, which could protect you should something go wrong.

Via @PropertyWire