Housing association refusing to grant permission to add a conservatory

[daisybees]

 I rang my housing association a month or so ago to ask about getting permission for a conservatory to be erected in my garden,  i was told I could as it was a disability issue.  

 

All I had to do was get either my OT or my doctor to fill in the appropriate form, I forgot what the form was so rang them back this week, I was then told I was not allowed to have one and to just put up a shed.   

 

Why would I put an expensive wheelchair in a shed (£17,000), I doubt an insurance company would insure it if it was in a shed -. it would need regular charging and being close to house it would be easily accessible. I cannot use a normal self-propelling wheelchair as my arms and hands are painful and not strong enough, I am therefore stuck indoor 99% of the time. An electric wheelchair (with a hoist for the car) would give me back my freedom as the wheelchair is hands free.

 

The conservatory would be put up by a reputable company, so would not be some awful carbuncle. I would appreciate any help with what I can do.

[honeybee13]

Hello, welcome to CAG.

 

I've moved your thread to our Residential forum, people should be along to advise later.

 

Best, HB

[theberengersniper]

Hi Daisy,

 

Just so we're clear and everyone understands your position; can you confirm whether you plan to erect a conservatory in the way most people would expect, i.e., attached to and accessible from inside your home? Or is what you want to erect something more akin to a summer house, i.e., self-contained and at some distance from your home?

 

Your first course of action should be to write to your housing association and ask if they would consider allowing the work to be done. It was never going to be a good idea to embark on this course of work without their express written approval anyway, so in some respects the events that have led you here were a blessing of sorts. I would also suggest that you refer to your tenants handbook to see what it says about home improvements and alterations. If you don't have a copy of that, it should be available via your housing association website.

 

It would also do you no harm to name your proposed contractor in your letter, that they are a professional builder, and (really importantly) insured to carry out this sort of work. The more evidence you're taking this seriously, and not trying to get 'wee Davey' down the road to do the work for £100 and a case of beer, the more likely they are to agree I would have thought. 

 

Housing associations vary of course, but I note that the tenants' handbook for my own association gives examples of what alterations are likely to be approved, while also giving examples of what is likely to be denied. It's largely as you'd expect; changing flooring, painting etc is all permitted, while structural work is generally not. But that's why it's important to understand what it is you're actually asking to build, because if you mention 'conservatory' to someone, they will immediately think serious structural alterations to the house, which could incite an immediate 'no', when that's not actually what you had in mind.

 

So yeah, write to them, show them you're going about it the right way, and good luck.

[daisybees]

Hi thank for your advice.  I asked for two quotes from reputable firms and I have told my housing association that they are more than welcome to look at the plans.  Also I have put in writing asking for permission and received a big fat no. I  I have french windows so conservatory wouold be attached to the house.  I wish I knew a 'wee Davey' he could do a few jobs that I need doing around the house lol. I doubt there is anyway they will let  have one, I can put up a sunroom as long as its not attached to the house, its not ideal as if and when I need to use the wheelchair in the it house it will be differcult to go over the door steps. Nothing in life is easy, at least not for me

[stu007]

Hi

 

I am sorry for your present situation being Disabled Veteran I can understand where you are coming from.

 

Sadly the Housing Association can refuse permission as this is a change of use to the Property and not a small change and even if you want to add a sunroom or even put a Shed in the garden you would also need to get permission for this in writing from the Housing Association.

 

A conservatory to be added to that property is a major change of use and the required Planning Permission would be required and as the Property does not belong to you but the Housing Association and (please correct me if I am wrong) not actually classed as a Disabled Property with the Housing Association nor the Council.

 

As the first contact stated when you contacted the Housing Association to contact the Occupational Therapist that is exactly what I would advise is to contact them at the Council and ask them to come out to do a further assessment of your needs and explain this issue with your wheelchair and you plans that you wanted to add a conservatory but permission refused by Housing Association. They are the ones that can help change the Housing Associations mind but it will still be down to the Housing Association and how the Property is classed.

 

 

[stu007]

Hi

Any further update on this?

[daisybees]

I had to get rid of my sofa in the lounge so that I can have the wheelchair in to charge it and store it when I am not using it. I lost the will to fight the housing association as I couldn't see them backing down. I'm not happy about it but it was the only  way around it - maybe I should put tinsel all over it at Christmas and send the housing association a photo of it wishing them happy exmas   

Actually I am not surprised that the association refused planning now I think about it - it's a fight to get even a small job done. I had 14 leaks from my bathroom into my lounge, and 14 years for them to decide to change from water tank and boiler to a combi boiler.

[stu007]

Hi

Have you contacted the Council Occupational Therapy and arranged an appointment for them to come out and do an assessment on you and the property.

This is where you can put to them all the issues you are having with the property and what you need to be done or moved to a more suitable property these are the people that can put a lot of pressure on the Housing Association to get works done so the property is more suitable for you to remain living in that property or they can tell them that they need to move you to a more suitable property.