You will need permission from us to carry out certain works to your home.

We will need to know:

• the type of improvement or alteration you want to make
• the name of the person or company doing the work
• a full specification of the materials that will be used
• when the work will be carried out

We will aim to give you a decision within 30 days from when we receive your application. This may take longer if we need to ask you for more information or carry out a surveyor visit.

A lack of information is the biggest cause of delay in approving an application, as a tenant you have a responsibility to provide all necessary details about the alteration with your application. This helps us make an informed decision and speeds up your application.

You must not start any work until you have been given our written permission and received building regulation approval or planning permission. Once you have all relevant permissions in writing, the work must be completed within 3 months. You will need to provide confirmation of the completed works.

How to request permission

To apply for permission to carry out alterations to your home, complete the application form and email it to bcphomes.repairs@bcpcouncil.gov.uk.

Retrospective alteration

If you have already carried out an alteration but did not make an alteration application, complete the retrospective application form and email it to bcphomes.repairs@bcpcouncil.gov.uk.

You must provide as much detail as possible about the works you have carried out, with supporting photographs and documents.

Your application is likely to be granted in cases where work is of a high standard and does not cause any issues to neighbours, mains services such as drainage, water supply or electrics and where it does not contravene any legal, structural or health and safety restrictions or regulations.

In some cases where a major issue has been identified, you may be required to fully remove the alteration at your own cost. If you are required to remove your alteration, you will be given a reasonable timescale to carry out remedial works. Failure to comply with any such requirement would constitute a tenancy breach and therefore action will be taken against your tenancy to enforce the removal.

Alternatively, call us on 0800 028 1870 to ask for an application or retrospective application form to be posted to you.

If you need assistance to make it easier for you to live independently, we may be able to support you by making changes to your home depending on your needs.