DIY and making improvements to your home
DIY and making improvements to your home
If you own your home, please go here.
If you rent your home from us, we’re happy for you to decorate the inside of your home, hang pictures and other minor improvements. If you’re planning to do any DIY please check out our asbestos page first.
You can also change things at your home that are your responsibility, but for larger changes you’ll need our written permission (see below).
Click here if you want to fit disabled and mobility facilities to your home.
| Installing a shower | Submit a request |
| Removing a wet room (also called a level access shower) | Submit a request |
| Fitting a new kitchen or bathroom | Submit a request |
| Remove a kitchen cupboard to fit an appliance such as a washing machine | Submit a request |
| Change kitchen cupboard doors | Submit a request |
| Paint kitchen cupboard doors | No, we won’t give permission for this |
| Installation of a water meter | Submit a request |
| Removing or replacing any gas pipework | No, we won’t give permission for this |
| Remove or replace any pipes (apart from gas pipes)
eg toilet, sink drainage, |
Submit a request |
| Fit handrails inside or outside | Submit a request |
| Remove or replace radiators | Submit a request |
| Installation of wood/log burning stoves and gas fires | No, we won’t give permission for this |
| Removing or replacing any gas pipework | No, we won’t give permission for this |
| Fitting new light switches, light fittings and addition power sockets | Submit a request |
| Installing an EV (electric vehicle) charging point | Submit a request |
| Installing an outside charging point for a mobility scooter | Submit a request |
| Fitting window restrictors or window locks | No, we won’t give permission for this |
| Fitting new window frames | No, we won’t give permission for this |
| Fitting new front or back doors | No, we won’t give permission for this; |
| Painting UPVC front and rear doors | No, we won’t give permission for this |
| Painting front doors which are fire doors (usually in blocks of flats) | No, we won’t give permission for this |
| Painting composite front and rear doors (these are plastic doors with woodgrain effect) |
Submit a request |
| Painting wooden front and rear doors (other than in blocks of flats) | Submit a request |
| Install a cat flap | Submit a request |
| Conservatory | Submit a request |
| Extending the property | No, we won’t give permission for this |
| Removing internal walls | No, we won’t give permission for this |
| Fitting or removing staircases, bannisters and bannister rails | No, we won’t give permission for this |
| Installing laminate flooring in flats above ground floor | No, we won’t give permission for this |
| Installing laminate flooring in ground floor flats and houses | Submit a request |
| Stair lift | Submit a request |
| Sheds and summer houses | Submit a request Please note that it will depend on the size (dimensions) of the shed or structure being requested |
| Fencing | Submit a request Rear fences can be no more than 1,800mm (6ft) high Front fences must be no more than 900mm (3ft) high |
| Converting out buildings into habitable rooms such as offices | No, we won’t give permission for this |
| Constructing or installing ponds, hot tubs, saunas and swimming pools | No, we won’t give permission for this |
| Fixing aerials, satellite dishes or other items to outside walls or chimneys (houses only) | Submit a request Please note any external fixing is subject to building type, age and whether there is cladding on the outside of the building |
| Fixing aerials, satellite dishes or other items to blocks of flats | No, we won’t give permission for this |
| Removing any outside walls | No, we won’t give permission for this |
| Painting and decorating outside walls of the property that are bare brick | No, we won’t give permission for this |
| Painting and decorating outside walls of the property that have external wall insulation | Submit a request Please note some types cannot be painted |
| Painting and decorating outside walls that are rendered | Submit a request Please note that we will need to agree the colour |
| Loft conversions | No, we won’t give permission for this |
| Fitting solar panels (also known as photovoltaic cells) | Submit a request |
| Adding cladding to external walls | No, we won’t give permission for this |
| Decking, patios and paving | Submit a request |
| Driveways | Submit a request Please note we will only allow 50% of the front garden area to be converted into a driveway. We do not permit driveways where there is no dropped kerb. You can contact your local council or the highways agency to request a dropped kerb. |
If you live in Letchworth
Your change might require approval by the Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation (LGCHF).
Please download and complete an External Alterations – Application Form from the LGCHF website and attach this to your application.
Reasons we might not give permission
We may refuse permission if the alteration will:
- Cost us money to maintain now or in the future
- Reduce the value of the property
- Make the property less safe
- Alter the structure or layout of the property
Make sure you get the certificate
We’ll need to see the relevant certification that works have been carried out safely by an qualified individual. For example, if you had a new electric socket fitted we would need to see the Part P certificate for the installation signed by the qualified electrician who carried out the work.