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When buying a property, many are looking for their perfect fixer-upper, but there are some things to consider if you’re looking to do any renovations to a house you do not own yet.
Planning permission is top of the list and involves requesting consent from your local authority to make significant changes to an existing building, including everything from an extension to a loft conversion.
So, can you apply for planning permission for a property you don’t own yet?
Yes, you can! You don’t need to be the owner of the property before you submit your application, you should however inform the current owners and neighbours that you are applying.
Applying for planning permission is not free, in fact it can set you back a couple hundred pounds. Householder applications, needed for extensions and garden buildings cost £206 (subject to conditions), and a full application for single dwelling or outline planning permission per 0.1 hectare is £462 in England.
The average prices associated with planning permission applications are as follows (subject to conditions):
- £462 for a full application for a new single dwelling or outline planning permission per 0.1 hectare in England
- £206 for a householder application in England
- £460 for a full application for a new single dwelling or outline planning permission per 0.1 hectare in Wales
- £230 for a householder application in Wales
- £401 for a full application for a new single dwelling or outline planning permission per 0.1 hectare in Scotland
- £202 for a householder application in England
Once submitted planning permission usually takes 8 weeks to come back. To help the application process remain as smooth as possible, we recommend speaking to your local planning authority for some pre-application advice to receive feedback on your plans!
TOP TIP: If planning permission has been successfully granted, it will usually expire after three years.
Understanding the potential of a property
When on the hunt for your dream renovation project, there are of course some things to look out for. Understanding the potential of a property is key, location, available space, and structural work. You should also consider the overall aesthetic of the property; does it blend in seamlessly with the neighbouring houses?
Some considerations to make before submitting a planning application:
- Are you serious about the purchase of the property?
- Are you set on the plans in which you’ll be submitting?
- Have you communicated with your potential new neighbours about the work you plan to carry out on the property?
- Have you calculated the associated costs of both the application and the work you are proposing to complete?
Thinking about a renovation? Bringing almost 20 years of professional experience to the table, we are confident in our ability to deliver high-quality, bespoke designs that are carefully considered to make your dream home a reality.
Whether it’s a renovation to your home or an investment property, we will work closely with you to provide exciting and meticulously designed modifications that enhance the original beauty of your building, while upholding the traditional skills, methods, and techniques to upgrade, repurpose and renovate historic or period properties.
Get in touch today to find out more about how we can help you create your dream property!