Before carrying out any improvements to your home, you must get written approval before beginning any work. These details will be outlined in your lease or tenancy agreement.

While we aim to allow our tenants to make changes to improve their homes, we remain responsible for ensuring the safety of the property and not financially costing us or fellow residents.

Below is a list of improvements that we do not allow residents to make to their homes without prior authorisation, this list is not exhaustive:

• Layout change (movement or addition of partition walls).
• Change of use of rooms, such as relocating the kitchen or bathroom to a different room.
• Adding extensions, such as conservatories or lean-to structures.
• Installing rear access doors.
• Installing spotlights in a property which doesn’t already have them.
• Installing multiple lights (eg. chandeliers) on a single fitting.
• Replacing switches.
• Installing cat or dog flaps.
• Replacing external doors or complete window sets (frame and glazing).
• Installing security bars on windows or doors as this can restrict fire escapes.
• Removing chimney breasts and any other structural works.
• Renewing bathrooms, showers or WCs.
• Felling trees in either front or back garden.

We may need to carry out inspections or investigate further before we can make a decision and we may make a charge to recover costs incurred in handling your request.

For some work, such as extensions and alterations to the property, you may need to obtain other approval such as planning permission or building regulations approval in addition to our permission. You will need to speak to your local council for further advice.

To get in touch with us regarding making improvements, please call us on 020 8815 4200 or email us at customer.services@nlmha.com