Information for Homeowners
If you’re a Shared Owner, this section is home to useful information for you.
Garden Alterations
We recognise that some leases/transfers prohibit any external alterations and don’t give provision for the landlord to provide written consent.
However, we feel that it’s fair and reasonable for homeowners to carry out minor alterations to their gardens regarding patios and garden structures, such as a shed/summer house, therefore we consider them to fall outside of our formal consent process, provided the following guidelines are followed. If the lease/transfer prohibits alterations or additions, then we won’t be able to consent to anything that is not permittable in the lease/transfer (such as a conservatory or extension).
If you’re considering anything more, this would require you to request our formal written consent and fees apply. Please contact the Homeownership team for more information.
Paving/decking
If you wish to add additional paving or decking you must ensure that consideration is given to surface water drainage. Grass is the natural way to drain surface water in a garden so if you remove it, you need to ensure that a suitable alternative drainage system is used.
- Maximum coverage of 2/3 of the garden
- Suitable drainage system for surface water, where applicable
- No nuisance to neighbouring properties from increased surface water
- Must not be fitted above the damp proof course.
Garden structures (such as shed/ summer house/gazebo/pergola/ greenhouse)
If you wish to erect a garden structure then the following is deemed acceptable, anything else would require our formal written consent and fees apply. Please contact us for more information.
- Garden structures are only permitted in your rear garden not your front garden.
- Any structure should be non-permanent and removable.
- Laid on a non-permanent base (i.e. not a concrete base)
- The maximum acceptable size of the structure to be installed can be no larger than 10 ft x 8 ft.
- Maximum number of sheds and/or summer houses is two.
- Due consideration made as to the location, so it does not overlook or impact any neighbouring property.
- No electricity or any other services to be installed in the shed/summer house.
- Sheds to be used for storage purposes only or in the case of a summer house, for quiet enjoyment only.
- No nuisance to neighbours from noise or location of the structure.
Request an alteration using our online form
Additional information
Maintenance
The repair and maintenance responsibility are solely yours.
Defect Period
Please note that if you make any changes to your garden within the Developer’s defect period, this could affect the defects liability of the Developer.
Complaints
Should we receive any valid complaints over the alterations you have made then we reserve the right to request that they be removed, and the garden returned to its original state.
What if my proposed alteration is not covered by the guidelines?
If you are unsure if what you are considering doing is included in these guidelines, or if you have any questions about making alterations, please contact the Homeownership team for further clarification.