Making changes to your home

Alterations or improvements you need permission for includes, but is not limited to:

• Alterations to fixtures and fittings, such as replacing kitchen units, internal doors or baths, sinks and toilets
• The erection of any radio or television aerial or satellite dish(Houses only - flats have a communal TV aerial so individual ones are not allowed)
• External decoration, fencing or removal of any established hedge
• Construction of a vehicle hard standing or car port
• Putting up a greenhouse or shed
• Major garden features such as ponds, decking or patios

For safety reasons, we do not allow any works to electrical or gas systems or fixtures. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Replacement heating systems, including; boilers, radiators, electric storage heaters and fires
• Additional electric sockets or light fittings
• Wired door bells or security lights
• Electric vehicle or mobility scooter charging points
• Solar panel installation

Other alterations or installations we will not allow include, but is not limited to:

• Replacement external doors or windows
• Aerials or satellite dishes on blocks of flats, or houses where there is a digital supply in place
• Any alterations or attempted use of the loft space
• Permanent extensions to the property
• Putting up Garages or conservatories
• Structural alterations such as removal of an internal wall or putting up a dividing wall in any room

Alterations or improvements you do not need permission for include, but is not limited to:

• Internal decoration, such as walls and paintwork: Your tenancy agreement states that you must keep internal decoration to a good standard
• Replacement toilet seats or sink plugs
• Fixing frames or mirrors to walls
• Fitting bolts or door chains
• Putting up shelving
• Putting up curtain poles
• Carpets, floor tiles and lino

Building regulations are minimum technical standards set by the Government which cover the construction, extension and alteration of most buildings. They are to protect people's safety, health and welfare in and around buildings.

Planning permission ensures that the right thing is built in the right place.

If BCH provides permission for an alteration or improvement, it is your responsibility to establish if planning and/or building permission is required and make the necessary applications to Blackpool Council before starting work and pay them the necessary fees. 

To find out more about Building Regulations and Planning Permission and/or to make an application, visit www.blackpool.gov.uk

You must not park any vehicle on your property unless you have a properly constructed hard-standing, driveway or paved area with access via a dropped kerb.

You must get written permission from BCH for a hard-standing or driveway and permission will only be granted if a dropped kerb application has been submitted and approved by Blackpool Council’s Highways Department. 

Some things to consider

• BCH does not allow garages to be built and permission will not be given. 
• Hard-standing carports must be used for parking only and not vehicle repair work.
• You must not park, or keep a caravan, motorhome, boat, trailer or commercial vehicle on the property without getting written permission from BCH.

A dropped kerb allows a vehicle to cross the pavement legally from the road to your driveway.

You will need approval from Blackpool Council and will be responsible for the necessary fees. 

Contact Blackpool Council for information and costs: 

Telephone: 01253 477477

Email: customer.first@bch.co.uk

Website: www.blackpool.gov.uk

If you wish to put up a shed or greenhouse you will need permission from BCH. Sheds or greenhouses must not be used as a utility room for electrical appliances such as freezers or tumble dryers.

You will need permission from BCH before putting up fences or walls and these should be constructed using a suitable material for the purpose.

The fence must be positioned along the established boundary line and be within the required Building Regulation height. 

Permission will not be granted to build conservatories or permanent extensions.

You will require BCH's written permission before you carry out any work in your kitchen or bathroom.

This includes the replacement of kitchen units, cupboard doors, worktops, sinks, taps, baths and toilets. 

You must not undertake anything which is likely to damage the structure of the building or cause damage to shared services, such as plumbing, water supply pipes, electricity, gas supplies, or sewerage.

We will also need to know about any alterations which affect walls, windows or doorframes.

You will require permission from us to erect a satellite dish or an aerial on a house.

Requests for satellite dishes on blocks of flats will not be granted as there is a communal source already in place. Any houses which also benefit from an existing digital provision will not be given permission to put up satellite dishes. 

BCH will not grant permission to erect radio aerials in or on any properties.

Non-wired CCTV cameras that are fixed to the property either internally or externally will require permission

BCH does not allow any electrical alterations, improvements or installations. 

If you require electrical improvements such as additional sockets or lighting, electric vehicle or mobility scooter charging points, solar panels or any electrical hard wired security equipment then you should contact our Assets Team to discuss. 

BCH will consider if this work is necessary and arrange for the works to be done by our contractor. This is to ensure that the work is completed within the required safety, regulation and compliance standards. 

In some cases there may be a charge for this work and you will be advised about this upon enquiry. 

Contact our Assets Team on;

Telephone: 07483 172446

Email: assets@bch.co.uk

BCH will not give permission to install or replace a boiler, radiators, electrical storage heaters or gas/electric fires.

BCH will not give permission to replace or alter external doors or windows. 

If you have a problem with your external doors or windows then please contact our Repairs Team and we will arrange for an assessment.

Telephone: 01253 477900 (Select option 2)

Email: repairs@bch.co.uk

 Via the Customer Self Service Portal: my.bch.co.uk

BCH will not give permission to make any changes or alterations to the loft space, in either houses or flats. The loft space must not be used at all. 

When you apply for permission, you should provide full details of the work you would like to complete. BCH will respond to you in writing. We may need to visit your home to inspect the potential works and make sure it won’t damage yours or neighbouring properties.

If permission is granted then the letter will contain any specific conditions that must be followed. 

These conditions may include, but are not limited to: 

• You must meet the full cost of the proposed work.  
• Any work you undertake is done so at your own risk.
• You must make sure a competent person carries out the work.
• The work must comply with all relevant Building Regulations and planning consent and any national standards or regulations. 
• You will be responsible for any damage to your property or neighbouring property as a result of the work.
• BCH will not take on any responsibility for any maintenance implications that might arise as a result of the works.
• At the end of the tenancy you must leave the installation in place, or remove the installation, in which case you must restore the property to its original condition before the work was done, at your own expense.

Once the work is completed a final inspection will be carried out by BCH to check this and to ensure it complies with the conditions given. 

A post inspection form will be completed and signed to confirm that:

• The works have been completed to the required standard.
• You have complied with all conditions set out by BCH and have all the approvals required.
• You have handed over all the required certificates/warranties.

If unauthorised alterations or improvements take place then the following may apply:

• You will be instructed to remove the alteration and make good within a set timescale and at your own cost. If the alteration causes or is likely to cause damage to the property or is dangerous, BCH may enter the property immediately to carry out any necessary repairs or remove the improvement. We will charge you for any reasonable costs incurred in doing so.
• BCH will carry out the necessary works to remove the alteration and make good and you will be charged the cost of this work if you do not remove the alteration within any timescale given then
• Enforcement action may be taken against the tenancy and legal action may be taken against the you as making alterations without written permission from BCH is a breach of your Tenancy Agreement

Your right to compensation:

If you have carried out improvements or alterations to your home after 1 April 1994 and have a secure tenancy agreement you may be entitled to claim compensation for some improvements you have made at your own expense.

Compensation is payable only when you end your tenancy. If you wish to claim compensation, you must claim no more than 28 days before or 14 days after your tenancy ends.

To qualify, you must be able to show:

• That you got permission from BCH to carry out the work before it began
• How much each improvement cost, together with all relevant bills / receipts
• Dates the improvement works started and finished

BCH will work out the amount based on factors such as the cost of the work, how long ago it was done, and the condition of the improvement when the tenancy ends.

The improvement will devaluate as it gets older, as a result of normal ‘wear and tear’. Compensation will be based on this and the condition when you make your claim.

To avoid disproportionate administrative costs there will be a lower threshold of £50 per improvement to avoid minor claims whilst the upper limit will be £3,000 per item. Both limits may be revised from time to time and any outstanding debts will be deducted from the compensation payable

If we decline your request, we will write to you to provide a full explanation on the reason for this.

If you continue with the work without our permission you will be in breach of your tenancy agreement/lease and you will be required to restore the property to its original condition at your own expense.