Making changes to your home

Ask for permission if you want to change something inside or outside your home. You need to get our consent before going ahead with any work.

Getting consent to make changes to your home

Whilst this is your home and we want you to make it your own, if you want to make alterations or changes, you must ask our permission.

Alterations and improvements

As a Coastline customer, you're allowed to make some alterations and improvements to your home. This may be changing something that's already in place, such as flooring, or adding something new like a shed.

You may only make amendments to your home by asking for our permission first. Please use our simple online application form to make a request. Work must not start until written permission has been granted by Coastline.

We need to ensure the safety of your property, so we only allow you to make certain types of improvements. Please see our home safety section for advice on keeping safe.


Steps to take

  • Check the list below to see the types of work we can give permission for, and any guidelines and conditions for the different types of work
  • Complete the consent form to make your request. You can't go ahead with any work unless we give permission
  • If your alterations are approved you will need to meet the conditions supplied with that approval
  • If in doubt, contact us and ask for advice
  • Please allow 10 working days for an initial response to your request. We will normally make a decision within 20 working days.

You can find out more by reading our Alterations and Improvements Policy below.


When do I need permission?

The short answer is, you always need to ask us for permission. The list below covers popular alterations or additions that you can carry out, as long as you have been granted approval from us and you meet the guidelines and conditions summarised below.

If these conditions aren’t met, we can ask you to reinstate the property back to how it was, at your cost.

For all permission requests you will need to contact us to make your request, and we will need to approve this before works begin.

We won't give permission if:

  • you owe us money (you're in arrears)
  • you don't have a valid Electrical Safety Certificate or Gas Safety check
  • you're living in a new build home where there's still a defects period


If you're a shared owner:

We would not normally grant permission for significant works such as extensions, structural works, solar panels, conservatories and the installation of multifuel stoves unless you have staircased to 100% ownership, meaning you can invest in your home.

If you are a leaseholder, please contact us for more information.


We won't give permission for the following:

This means you cannot carry out any of the work listed below to your Coastline home if you are a Coastline renting customer. This is typically because there is a risk to the structure or a health and safety risk to you and others.

  • alterations to or replacement of fire doors - refer to our fire door guidance
  • boundary changes
  • conservatories, extensions or structural work
  • decking
  • lean-tos, outbuildings or porches
  • loft conversions
  • open flue appliances or any secondary heating
  • pergolas
  • ponds larger than 6ft x 6ft
  • removal of or additional internal walls
  • solar PV panels
  • swimming pools or permanent hot tubs
  • using outbuildings as bedrooms


We may give consent for some work:

You may still need to apply for permission before starting any work and important conditions must be met. A summary of the conditions for each type of work is set out below. When we grant permission, we will provide the detailed terms and conditions that apply, along with any approval documents.

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Types of changes

  • If the building has existing communal aerial or satellite, you must connect to that rather than installing your own
  • cannot be put on a listed building
  • cannot be attached to a window or chimney
  • cannot be taller than 1m
  • If external, must be stainless steel fixings
  • As fibre broadband is rolled out, the need for satellite dishes will be reduced - this may affect our decision.

For example, installing a bath or shower, heated towel rail, additional toilet and wash hand basin.

  • Full layout plan and specification must be provided
  • We will require confirmation of colours, materials, design, where the bathroom is being sourced and confirmation that the work is being carried out by a competent contractor
  • Bathtubs and shower bases must be anti-slip
  • Water-proof tanking is needed behind the tiles
  • Floor must be a slip-resistant vinyl
  • Enclosed light fitting must be installed
  • Asbestos survey may be needed prior to any work
  • Electrical certificates will be needed should any electrics be touched including if any sockets have been added or removed, light fittings added or changed, wiring touched, or electric showers added or removed (organised by the customer and at their own cost cost)
  • this cannot be put up in communal areas and cannot film or record shared spaces such as entrances, corridors or gardens
  • must not film or record other properties (including garden)
  • must not film or record public spaces such as the pavement or the street
  • must not film or record sound on an ongoing basis
  • electrical certificates will be needed should any electrics be touched (organised by the customer and at your own expense) 
  • Ring doorbells are allowed, without permission. However, consider the impact on your neighbours, based on the positioning and zone / motion settings.

The following conditions will need to be met:

  • Planning Permission being granted from Cornwall Council with proof provided to Coastline
  • The work needs to be done by a council-approved contractor (Cornwall Council can advise)
  • any permissions granted for underground services, such as water, drainage, gas etc.
  • Specification to be provided to Coastline
  • Permeable materials must be used  

Main conditions - required in every case. See examples below for additional conditions

  • full specification, including drawings, to be provided
  • qualified and competent contractor to complete works
  • asbestos survey may be required
  • any new circuits (eg showers, electricity to sheds) would require a full installation certificate (electrical safety certificate) and also would require notifying building control (Part P certificate - for list of work needing Part P certificate click here)
  • any work that is a like-for-like replacement or an addition to an existing circuit (replacing light fittings, installing additional sockets etc) will require a minor works certificate
  • customers will be responsible for the cost of the additional periodic electrical installation condition report (EICR) every 5 years, or more frequently as necessary

Hard wired alarm system

  • main conditions only

Electricity to sheds

  • main conditions only

Electrical vehicle (EV) charging point

  • you must have in curtilage parking (eg within the boundary of the property)
  • full specification required, including location of charge point

External wiring

  • main conditions only

Security lighting

  • consider any impact on neighbours

Internal sockets

  • main conditions only

Permission requests for existing fencing and gate alterations:

  • Subject to local planning restrictions or local customer - for example, if all the other houses in the road have picket fences then a fence would not be permitted
  • the fencing must be independent and not fixed to any current structures (such as block wall)
  • Front garden fences: no higher than 1m high
  • Rear garden fences: no higher than 2m high
  • Fences and gates must be within the existing boundary structure
  • No additional enclosures or access points (eg gates) should be created
  • Flats with more than four dwellings and a communal area require a wayleave and will applied for by your fibre broadband provider
  • for all other property types, please ask your broadband provider to supply Coastline with a 'permission to works' certificate - this should be emailed to customer service. They should be familiar with this process.
  • Carpets - no permission required
  • No noisy hard flooring to be used in a flat - must be acoustic flooring (no tiles, no laminate, no wood)
  • Asbestos survey may be needed prior to any work
  • Kitchen flooring must be slip-resistant safety flooring
  • Bathroom flooring must be slip-resistant vinyl only

Grass, Astroturf, bark, gravel

  • Specification must be provided to Coastline, including dimensions, materials, who will be doing the work and where in the garden will it be
  • Artificial grass (eg AstroTurf) is permitted if laid professionally

Pathways & patios

  • Specification must be provided to Coastline, including dimensions, materials, who will be doing the work and where in the garden will it be
  • No decking is permitted

Water butts

  • no permission is required for a water butt. However, you should consider the guidance around managing risks relating to Legionella.
  • South West Water offer a range of water saving products, which may include water butts

Temporary wooden structures

  • decorative arches, whether metal or wood, may be permitted
  • these cannot be fixed to the structure of the property

Main conditions required for all requests

  • Competent contractors for all relevant trades
  • full specification
  • asbestos survey (if required)
  • Electrical and/or gas safety certification upon completion

Removal or installation of additional units

  • plan to show the location of additional units
  • plan to show which units are being removed

Cooker hood

  • Building Regulations (external extraction type only)

Dishwasher

  • plan to show which units are being removed and to include water source and drainage

Kitchen replacement

  • no integrated appliances
  • smoke and heat detectors must not be touched or moved
  • confirmation of colours, materials, full layout plan and where the kitchen is being sourced from, and who will be completing the work
  • Flooring should be slip-resistant safety flooring

Worktop

  • detail of full or partial replacement (eg the measurements)
  • hobs may be permitted, as long as an inset filler worktop is used, so can be removed easily

Gas bottles/LPG

  • must be serviced annually. Coastline will include these in our annual gas safety inspection. The cost of this will be recharged each year.

Examples of works considered to be 'minor structural' include:

Fitting or removal of built-in wardrobes

  • full plans required, to include dimensions, materials and competent contractor to complete the works

Changes to internal bannisters

  • for any changes in level over 600mm, all bannisters will need to meet Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) legislation
  • balustrades (vertical spindles) must be 900mm in height and ensure that 100mm sphere cannot pass through any of the gaps

Tumble dryer vent

  • full details to be provided
  • you are not permitted to disturb an external wall
  • condenser dryers are recommended, as these do not require external ventilation

Internal doors

  • it is our responsibility to repair internal doors, or replace if they are beyond repair
  • however, if you would like to replace these, you will need to ask permission
  • you are not permitted to remove internal doors without replacing them
  • only permitted in houses and bungalows (eg not in flats)
  • must be located in the back garden, not front garden
  • non-return valve must be fitted
  • qualified contractor to do the works
  • must comply with The Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999
  • see also the information on Legionella risk in our home safety section
  • You are responsible for the internal decoration of your home. You can find out more information about your rights and responsibilities in our Customer Handbook.
  • We do not allow customers to paint or change the external decoration or finishes of the property, external doors and/or windows.
  • in the first instance, please refer to the major adaptations section within our aids and adaptations page as the works you require may be eligible for funding via the Home Solutions Team at Cornwall Council

If you wish to proceed with self-funding your own adaptations, you will need to:

  • provide a recent report from an Occupational Therapist detailing the required works
  • provide a full layout plan and specification must be provided
  • confirm that the work is being carried out by a competent contractor
  • check if an asbestos survey is needed prior to any work - you will be responsible for obtaining this
  • supply electrical certificates should any electrics be touched including if any sockets have been added or removed, light fittings added or changed, wiring touched, or electric showers added or removed (organised by the customer and at their own cost cost)
  • Plan to be provided to show location of any proposed structure, and to include locations of any inspection chambers, services and utilities
  • Only one shed per property
  • Shed size will be assessed on an individual basis, but should not exceed 50% of the garden
  • Distance from any property must be at least 2m
  • Distance from the boundary line must be at least 1m
  • Must only be in the rear garden
  • No electricity to be fitted or used
  • Cannot be used as accommodation
  • To be built above ground, no digging of foundations (due to risk of affecting buried services, such as electrical cabling or sewage pipes)
  • If a listed building, consent is needed from Cornwall Council
  • To be taken down before moving to another property 

Child's playhouse

  • Permission is not normally required
  • carpets
  • dog or cat flaps in uPVC door only - you must check our fire safety section
  • getting a pet - refer to our Pet Policy
  • internal decorations, including minor plastering and 'DIY'
  • key safes - this must not be fixed to any external wall cladding
  • Ring doorbells - however, you must consider the impact on your neighbours, based on positioning and zone/motion settings
  • running a business - however, you must check the impact on your neighbours and refer to your tenancy conditions
  • signs - this must be within the curtilage of the property and must be polite
  • solar lights
  • water butts - check our water safety

Keeping pets

You may keep pets in your home, as long as this meets the requirements explained in our Pet Policy which can be found lower down this page,

A table within the Pet Policy sets out whether you need to ask for specific permission for new and additional animals. If you need to ask for permission please do this in writing or by email.

We can revoke any permission you have to keep pets and ask for them to be removed from your your home if they cause any nuisance or contribute to a poorer property condition.

Rehoming centres sometimes ask for a letter from us to confirm you are allowed to keep pets in your home. If this is the case, please contact us and we will send a letter to you.

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FAQs

If your home was built before 2000 you may require an asbestos survey and safe removal of any asbestos before works begin. Please ask if you’re unsure. No works can begin without the asbestos checks being completed.

We may need to come out to your home for major consent requests to complete pre-inspections, mid-inspections and post-inspections. Some inspections can be completed without a visit, others may require one of our surveyors to visit to help progress the permission request forward. We will make you aware of visits when considering or granting consent.

Yes. All requests will need to be made in writing; without this we are unable to process any requests. The request must include as much information as possible . If you need help or guidance please contact us. Please allow up to 10 days to respond to your consent request.

Please let us know, in writing, clearly describing the works that have been completed and request permission retrospectively. We will consider the application and contact you with the next steps.

Featured documents

Alterations and Improvements Policy
Pet Policy

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