Improvements to your Home
![]()
Tenants and leaseholders
We will let you improve your home if you wish to do so, but you must get our permission first. (See the exceptions below)
You will be responsible for all future repairs and maintenance to the improvement.
If improvement work causes any damage, you must pay the cost of putting it right.
If you carry out improvements without our permission, we may ask you to remove them and put the property back to its original condition.
When you leave the property, if we have to remove an improvement to re-let the property, you will be charged for putting it right.
Improvements that will not be granted permission:
- Installation of a Wood burning stove
- Caravan Storage
- Laminate flooring of any type in flats above ground floor or glued laminate flooring in any property
- Any other improvement prohibited by planning or building regulations or the terms of you tenancy agreement
- Garden Pond.
Improvements you must have written permission for:
- Any addition or alterations to the internal or external structure of your property and garden. Including new windows and external doors, erecting sheds or other structures
- Alterations relating to
- the plumbing,
- gas, including fitting gas fires,
- electrics and circuits.
If your improvement does not fall into these criterions you will normally get permission for it, either verbally or in writing. However some permissions will be granted with conditions attached that you must comply with. Just phone 01952 217100 or email enquiries@wrekin.com
Do not attempt to fit, fix or move gas appliances including a boiler or cooker yourself. Badly fitted appliances can cause gas leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning.
Never block or cover air vents and flues, they might be essential for your gas appliances to work safely.
Check where your gas pipes are so you don’t accidentally hammer or drill them.
*If you are in rent arrears we may withhold permission until your account is clear.
Improvements you can do with or without permission and the conditions you will be asked to stick to are set out in the table below:
Type of Alteration | Do you need written consent? | Guidelines |
Carpets and floor coverings | No | |
CCTV / Ring Doorbell / Smart Doorbell | Yes | See criteria PDF - Permission to install CCTV / Smart doorbells |
Laminate flooring | No | Laminate flooring is not permitted in flats.
In houses only the click sort can be used, not glued.
We must be able to remove the laminate flooring without having to remove the skirting boards as well.
You will be required to move the laminate flooring so we can access the repair.
We will not relay your flooring after carrying out a repair.
Any damage caused during a repair is your responsibility. |
Bathroom alteration/replacement | Yes | See criteria PDF - Permission to Alter Bathrooms or Toilets |
Kitchen alteration/replacement | Yes | See criteria PDF - Permission to alter kitchen |
Doors (internal) | Yes if replacing internal doors in all cases. See criteria PDF - Permission to Install or Change internal doors If you are unsure of whether it is a fire door, please contact your local shop. | Glazed doors need to be safety glazing that is toughened, laminated or plastic. They will have the BSI Kitemark or the British /European Standard. You cannot remove the kitchen door, these help with fire safety. Should you vacate the property in the future, the completed works should be left in good condition or replaced with original materials otherwise you will be recharged. |
Type of alteration | Do you need written consent? | Guidelines |
Internal redecoration | No | Not permitted within the first 12 months of a new build property. |
Walls – any changes to position or structure of internal walls | Yes | See criteria PDF - Permission to Install or remove internal walls |
Built-in wardrobe / cupboards | No | You should avoid locating the wardrobe on an external wall as this may result in mould. |
Water meter | Yes | Your Supplier will need the Groups’s consent. |
Install a stair lift | Yes | You must produce an Electrical Installation Certificate on completion of the installation. The installation must be carried out by a reputable company. |
Electrics - new fittings | Yes | NICEIC certificate is required. See criteria PDF - Permission to carry out Electrical |
Exterior – security cameras, burglar alarm boxes, key safes, external signage and lighting | Yes | If an external light causes a neighbour nuisance, then we will ask you to adjust it, move it or remove it. See criteria PDF - Permission to carry out Electrical for electrical works. |
Change light fittings | Yes | See criteria PDF - Permission to carry out Electrical |
Fit electric sockets | Yes | See criteria PDF - Permission to carry out Electrical |
Install a shower | Yes | See criteria PDF - Permission to Install a Shower |
Pipework (including waste pipes) | Yes | If re-routing. See criteria PDF - Permission to carry out plumbing work |
Fit an outside tap | Yes | See criteria PDF - Permission to carry out plumbing work |
Boiler (gas) – new, change or replace | Yes | We require a copy of the gas safety check. See criteria PDF - Permission to carry out gas works |
Move gas pipe for cooker | Yes | See criteria PDF - Permission to carry out gas works |
Remove gas fire | Yes | See criteria PDF - Permission to carry out gas works Contact the Gas team on 01952 217 259 for a quote to carryout this work. |
Type of alteration | Do you need written consent? | Guidelines |
Doors – external (new or replace) | Yes | See criteria PDF - Permission to install external doors, windows |
Paint external doors | No | Only timber doors. Fire rated front doors to flats need to be painted with fire retardant paint. |
Windows - new or replacement | Yes | See criteria PDF - Permission to install external doors, windows |
Install an over door canopy | Yes | Please submit your application form with the clear sizes and materials that will be used. You will need to check if asbestos is present. |
Cavity wall insulation and loft insulation | Yes | See criteria PDF - Permission to Install cavity wall and loft insulation |
TV aerial or satellite dish | No – If a house Yes – If a flat | See criteria PDF - Request Permission to Erect a Satellite dish |
Fence removal | No | You must ensure that boundary lines are not lost. |
Fencing | Yes | Front boundary fencing should be no more than 1 meter in height See ‘Fencing’ in Tenants’ handbook for more information. See criteria PDF - Permission to Install a fencing |
Fitting external gates | No | They must match the fencing they are next to. Gates must open inwards, onto the property. |
Garden patio or decking | No | You must ensure all drains; manholes and stop taps are accessible. The finished level must be a minimum of 150mm below damp-proof course. Must not interrupt the path between the back door and gate. |
Type of alteration | Do you need written consent? | Guidelines |
Paint external render to the property | Yes | Loose render will need to be repaired first Ensure you purchase the correct type of paint Ensure the colour you use is like-for-like to the existing colour. (Note: the Group carries out an external painting programme on a seven year cyclical basis). |
| | |
Remove garden shed | No | Do not proceed with removal until you have checked your asbestos survey. If asbestos is present please contact the Building Services team on 01952 217100. |
Erect a greenhouse | Yes | |
Conservatory | Yes | See criteria PDF - Permission to install a conservatory or lean to Also require Planning Permission and building regulations consent |
Erect a lean-to | Yes | Please submit your application form with the clear sizes and materials that will be used See criteria PDF - Permission to install a conservatory or lean to |
Erect a garage | Yes | See criteria PDF - Permission to Install a Driveway |
Installing a driveway | Yes | See criteria PDF - Permission to Install a Driveway |
If our future repairs affect your improvements, for example removing laminate flooring to access wiring, we will not pay for repairing your improvements.
What other permissions do I need?
You may need to get building regulations approval or planning permission and, if so, give us a copy.
If your contractor requires access across a neighbour’s property, you must get your neighbours written permission and give us a copy.
Who do I need to contact for Building Control or Planning Permission?
You will need to contact your local authority. Permission may be required for a dropped kerb, a satellite dish to be fitted to a block of flats etc.
What costs do I need to pay?
You must pay the full cost of the improvement work.
You will have to pay for any building regulations approval or planning permission.
Conditions required for any improvement works
A gas safe registered engineer must do any gas work. When the work is done, you must get a gas safety registration certificate from the engineer and give us a copy.
A qualified electrical installer, whose work is self-certified under a registration scheme, such as NICEIC or ECA, or an equivalent scheme, must do any electrical work. You must give us a copy of any regulation and electrical tests and inspection certificate that is needed when the work is finished.
You must keep to any special conditions we ask you to, for example, any health-and-safety regulations.
If there is asbestos in your home, we will tell you about it, along with any health-and-safety regulations you must keep to when doing the work. For example, asbestos may be present in boarding, sheeting, floor tiles, Artex or other textured coatings on walls or ceilings. The removal of asbestos is at your own cost and you will need to use our licenced contractor. For more information please contact the Building services Team on 01952 217100.
We may need to visit your home during the work to inspect the improvements.
How do I apply for Landlords Permission?
The application form is available to print off here. Alternatively please contact 01952 217100: email enquiries@wrekin.com or contact your local Group shop to request an application, complete and return the form to the address on the form. We will aim to give you our written decision within 14 days.
When should I apply?
Apply to us when you know what you want to do and are ready to do it – but before you have purchased anything.
Once you have read the guidance on that type of improvement, you know which products you are going to use, who will carry out the work, and if structural alterations within the property or outside in the garden, you have drawn a plan that shows what will happen, have any building regulation consents – and your about ready to do it, then apply for permission.
We may be able to agree permission straight away, or we may need to talk to you further about it. In any case we will aim to confirm whether you have permission with 14 days of applying.
You must not start any work until you have received our permission to go ahead.
Standard conditions for the granting of permission to carry out improvements to the home
- You have an up to date rent account – permission may be withheld until you do.
- You have no other breaches of tenancy conditions – permission may be withheld until they are resolved.
- You have been given our expressed permission either verbally or in writing.
- You are ready to make the improvement.
- You do them at your own cost.
- You will be responsible for all future repairs and maintenance to any improvements you make to your home.
- If you cause damage to the property as a result of the improvement, you put it right. If you don’t, and the Group has to put it right, you will be recharged the cost.
- If you leave, if we ask you to, to remove the improvement and return the property to its original condition at your cost.
- Comply with any conditions attached to our permission to carry out the improvement.