If you carry out development without the necessary planning permission, and it doesn’t fall within permitted development rights, you may be in breach of the planning rules. In such cases, you will usually need to submit a retrospective planning application to seek approval for the work already completed or started. However, there is no guarantee that permission will be granted.  

Learn more about planning breaches on Planning Portal  

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An improvement notice is a notice served by a local authority requiring a property owner to carry out specified works to bring a building into compliance with the legal standards. These are most commonly served to landlords to make a building safe.

The notice will specify what works should be completed and when it should begin and be completed by.

Failure to comply with an improvement notice is a criminal offence.

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Many homeowners choose to replace their traditional polycarbonate conservatory roof with a solid tiled roof for better thermal efficiency.

If the change significantly alters the structure or appearance of the roof, then planning permission may be required. Most alterations to roofs are considered permitted development, providing they meet the limits set out in legislation.

A new roof must comply with building regulations to ensure it is structurally safe, energy efficient and properly ventilated.

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Replacing existing render on the outside of your house with render of a similar appearance will not require planning permission as it is considered permitted development.

If you are changing the external appearance of the house or in a protected area such as a conservation area, then planning permission will be required. The external appearance of the house is likely to be changed when you are rending the house for a first time or changing the type or colour of the render.

 If the building is listed, then you will need listed building consent.

Work to refit a bathroom with new units and fittings does not generally require building regulations approval, although drainage or electrical works that form part of the refit may require approval under the building regulations.

If a bathroom is to be provided in a room where there wasn't one before, building regulations approval is likely to be required to ensure that the room will have adequate ventilation and drainage, and meet requirements with respect to structural stability, electrical and fire safety.