Making alterations & improvements - Adur & Worthing Councils

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If you're an Adur Homes tenant and wish to make any alterations or improvements to your property you will need written permission from the landlord, Adur District Council, before any work is carried out.

Before making any alterations to your property please also ensure you read the guidance regarding dealing with asbestos (below).

Apply for permission to make alterations to your Adur Homes property

If you wish to make an application for landlord's permission for tenant's alterations you will need to complete the online form below:

Apply for landlord's permission for tenant's alterations (online eform)

Please include digital copies of a sketch plan or diagrams (photos, etc) showing existing and proposed layouts with your completed application form, if applicable.

If you require any further information or wish to discuss your plans, then please contact Adur Homes.

If you would like to make improvements to the communal gardens within a block of flats then you will need to complete this form:

Dealing with asbestos

Asbestos can be found in any house or building which was built before the year 2000. It was widely used in a variety of building materials.

As a tenant you should be aware that there may be asbestos in your home. However, it's only dangerous when it is disturbed and fibres are released into the air.

This can happen when it is cut, sanded, or drilled, which is why it is important that you contact us for permission before starting any improvements. If the asbestos in your home isn't likely to be disturbed, we may decide not to remove it.

A list of potential asbestos containing materials can be found on the Health & Safety Executive website, linked below. This list doesn't contain all possible materials containing asbestos and the only way to know for sure is to test it. If your home does have any of the items listed, it doesn't mean they will contain asbestos. See:

Asbestos guide - on the Health & Safety Executive website

Following approval from the council, any work carried out is also subject to the following conditions:

the work will be carried out by a competent tradesperson to the complete satisfaction of the council
the work will be carried out at no cost to the council
if the improvement/alteration falls into the category of a qualifying repair under the 1994 Regulations for Compensation for Tenants Improvements, then:
- you understand that you must obtain a Certificate of Satisfactory Completion from the council as soon as practical after the works have been completed
- you can only claim for compensation, if applicable, using the required form up to 28 days before and 14 days after the termination of the tenancy and vacation of the property
- you can only receive compensation at the end of your tenancy if you can produce invoices/receipts for the work (covering both parts and labour) and you have been issued with a Landlord's permission letter and Certificate of Satisfactory Completion. Invoices/receipts will be photocopied by the council and kept on file. Compensation can only apply to improvements costing between £50 and £3,000 and will only be paid according to the set formula under normal conditions. You understand that before any compensation due to you under this scheme is paid to you, any debts owed to the council will be deducted first
- any appropriate appliances have at least one year's warranty, including parts and labour, and a copy of this warranty is supplied to the council
- the council will maintain the improvement/alteration for the notional life of the item(s)
in all cases, upon termination of the tenancy, the improvement/alteration is to remain - unless the written agreement of the council has been obtained for its removal