Landlord Consent
Our Process
All Applications are considered on their own merit and strictly in accordance with the specific requirements of the property lease.
Where Consent is granted, this will always be in writing. The form of document will be determined by the nature and extent of the Application.
Consent for complex and/or structural work may require an on-site inspection from an independent surveyor and will require our solicitor to draft a Licence.
Please note:
Landlord's Consent is not granted until the Certificate or Licence as appropriate has been signed for and on behalf of the Landlord.
Where applicable, Landlord’s Consent must be obtained before commencing any work.
How long will my application take?
The time it takes to process each type of Consent are detailed below. While we always strive to respond earlier than our published timescales, we believe in taking the necessary time to thoroughly assess each application and prepare a comprehensive, accurate response.
This ensures we uphold the highest standards of service, delivering the outcomes that accommodate you and your neighbours.
Pet Consent
Consent to house a pet at your property will be determined sensitively but the terms of the property lease must take precedent. We must protect the rights of all leaseholders when considering any application.
Any Consent granted will be subject to you taking full responsibility for ensuring that your pet does not cause a nuisance or disturbance to any common areas or neighbouring property owner.
Consent Certificate
Where Landlord’s Consent can be granted, we will send you a Pet Consent Certificate on behalf of the Landlord.
Timescale
We will seek to complete all applications within 10 working days.
Window / Door Replacement
Consent to install new windows or doors at your property will be granted strictly in accordance with the property lease.
Where the installation affects the structure of the building – for example, you wish to replace a window with a door, or create a new window or door – we are going to require expert advice from an independent Surveyor and / or Structural Engineer. Where this is the case, we will seek to contact you in this regard within 10 working days.
Installing New Windows/Doors
Any installation must be undertaken by a suitably qualified and accredited firm and must meet all relevant standards for fire safety and efficiency. The two largest independent accreditation bodies are FENSA and Certass. Any new installation should match closely with the existing style, design and colour.
Where scaffolding is required during the installation, you will be responsible for any health and safety requirements, and you will also need to ensure that all waste materials are removed from site immediately. If applicable, you should liaise directly with the Managing Agent responsible for your service charges in this regard.
Consent Certificate
Where Landlord’s Consent can be granted under the lease, we will send you a Consent Certificate on behalf of the Landlord.
Timescale
We seek to process all applications within 10 working days.
Boiler Installation
Installation of any boiler which requires a new flue exit in an external wall is unlikely to be permitted under the property lease. However, where the new flue exit is required to meet current regulatory standards, we will consider granting Landlord’s Consent outside of the terms of the lease.
No heating or hot water?
Should you find yourself in a position of having no heating and/or hot water please arrange for the necessary works to be undertaken as soon as possible. An application for Landlords consent can be made retrospectively.
All Installations must be undertaken by a suitably qualified and accredited firm, and any installation must meet all relevant gas safety standards and where applicable, building control regulations.
Boiler Licence
Where Landlord’s Consent is to be granted, our Legal Team will be required to draft a Boiler Licence. We will seek to contact you as quickly as possible to set out any further requirements in this regard.
Once the Licence has been prepared, this will be sent to you for signature electronically, via industry leading, secure, electronic signature software. Signing electronically will take just a few clicks so should be simple and straightforward for you.
Upon receipt of your signed Licence, we will sign and complete the Licence on behalf of the Landlord. You will be sent the final executed documents upon completion.
We will seek to correspond electronically wherever possible.
Timescale
Whilst every effort will be made to complete the process more quickly, you should allow 10 working days to receive Landlord’s Consent.
Property Alterations
Consent to make alterations to your property will be considered strictly in accordance with the lease.
Below is a non-exhaustive list of examples of Property Alterations:
- Conservatory / Extension
- Loft conversion
- Internal re-configuration
- Internal wall removal
- Garage conversion
- Installation of satellite dish
- Creation of new window / door
You must provide us with detailed designs, plans and specifications so that we can properly consider any application to alter the property. Where changes to the internal configuration of the property are proposed, you should provide floor plans showing the current and proposed layout.
For any alteration which is permitted under the lease with Landlord’s Consent, we will require our Legal Team to prepare a formal Licence for Alterations.
Structural alterations
Where your application involves structural alterations such as the removal of any part of a wall, ceiling or roof, or is of a complex nature, we must take all reasonable steps to protect the structural integrity of the building and the rights of all neighbouring property owners.
We may therefore request a property inspection and expert advice from an independent Surveyor and / or Structural Engineer. You will be required to pay for the cost of any survey or inspection.
If the property is a house or the structural alterations do not affect any other property, we may accept confirmation from your own appointed expert, subject to them reporting directly to the Landlord and holding appropriate RICS or other accreditations.
You should provide us with a copy of any such confirmations with your Application.
Removal of non-structural wall
Where an internal partition wall is to be removed, we require expert confirmation from an independent Surveyor or Structural Engineer that the wall to be removed is of a non-structural nature.
We may accept such confirmation from your own appointed expert, subject to them reporting directly to the Landlord and holding appropriate RICS or other suitable accreditations.
You should provide us with a copy of any such confirmations with your Application.
Alterations outside of the Lease
Where an application is not permitted under the lease or seeks to extend the area “demised” under the lease, we will contact you directly to set out our further requirements.
Such applications will be considered by us on behalf of the Landlord at our absolute discretion and may be rejected. Alternatively, they could be subject to a premium payable to the Landlord, as well as the Landlord’s reasonable legal, administration and professional costs.
Legal Documentation
Where Consent can be granted and subject to the advice and recommendations of any independent surveyors and / or structural engineers, our Legal Team will need to prepare a formal Licence for Alterations. We will seek to contact you as quickly as possible to set out any specific requirements in this regard.
Once the Licence has been prepared, this will be sent to you for signature. We will inform you where your signature needs to be independently witnessed, and you should return the signed Licence back to us as quickly as possible.
Upon receipt of your signed Licence, we will sign and complete the Licence on behalf of the Landlord as quickly as possible. You will be sent the final executed documents upon completion.
We will seek to correspond electronically wherever possible.
Timescale
For all Applications, we will make initial contact with you within 20 working days to explain the next steps and our specific requirements, and every effort will be made to complete our process as quickly as possible.
Whilst we have no control over availability of any independent Surveyor and / or Structural Engineer, we hope to complete all applications within a maximum of 90 days. Complex applications or those which are not permitted under the lease can take significantly longer.
To avoid unnecessary delays, you should therefore provide us with as much detail and all relevant confirmations when you submit your application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your lease will almost certainly contain restrictions on what can and cannot be done at the property. Where Landlord's consent is required, you must ensure that you comply with the lease at all times and obtain Consent prior to undertaking any works. This helps ensure you remain fully compliant with the terms of your lease and avoid any potential issues that could arise from carrying out works without approval.
As our application fee covers the initial cost of administering and considering your application, we are not able to offer refunds in the event that either an application was not required or where we have been unable to grant consent.
To ensure you have a full understanding of the lease requirements, we strongly advise that you consult the lease, or seek independent advice, prior to submitting any application for Landlord Consent.
In general, any alterations that will change the appearance, layout or structure of the property will require consent. Below is a non-exhaustive list of some examples of works that may require consent:
- Extensions, porches, conservatories
- Replacing doors and windows (includes double glazing)
- Changing the external appearance (e.g. cladding, colour)
- Additional external walls
- Removal/modification of internal walls
- Laying of wooden flooring
It is essential that you consult your lease to determine if consent is required and from whom consent needs to be obtained.
Log in to your online account and complete our Application Form if you wish to apply for Landlord's Consent.
You must refer to your lease to determine whether Landlord's Consent is required for any work you wish to carry out.
You can apply and make payment for Landlord's Consent by completing the relevant consents form on the Online Services Portal. Each form is specific to the type of consent you are seeking, but they are accompanied by full instructions.
Where documentation is requested, please ensure this is supplied so as not to unnecessarily delay your application.
On completion, a file will be opened and we would expect our Consents Team to be able to provide a response within the published timescale.
If consent from the Landlord is required under your lease, it's important to ensure this is obtained prior to undertaking any works. Not having the required consent could be considered a breach of lease and may lead to serious consequences, including legal action to reinstate the property, seek damages, and recover related costs.
If works have been undertaken without landlords consent please make an application as soon as possible.
To make the process as smooth and efficient as possible, please include detailed and accurate information when submitting your application. This helps us assist you efficiently and avoids delays.
When buying a leasehold property, it's crucial to check that all required consents for any works carried out have been properly obtained. The previous owner should have passed any consent document over when the property was sold.
If you're concerned that any works have been undertaken without consent being obtained we would advise that you revert to the solicitors who acted for you in the purchase of the property.
If Landlords consent is required, this can be dealt with retrospectively. For retrospective consent applications, please complete the relevant application form.
To make the process quicker and smoother, please include as much detail and accurate information as possible when submitting your application. This helps us assist you efficiently and avoids delays.
You must refer to your lease to determine whether Landlord's Consent is required to keep a pet at the property however, it is certainly not uncommon for Consent to be required.
The quickest, cheapest and easiest way to submit an application for Landlord's consent is to log in to your online account and fill out one of our online 'Landlord's Consent' forms.
If however, you would prefer to send your application in the post, a printable version of our form is available here. You will need to complete and return the form with our fee and any relevant supporting documentation.
