British people love DIY and home renovations. Whether it’s painting and decorating or adding whole new sections to our living spaces, we enjoy making our homes as comfortable and as eye-catching as possible. We’re also big fans of DIY shows such as ‘Amazing Spaces’ and ‘Homes Under the Hammer’.

TV doesn’t always paint an accurate picture of home renovations, however. Whilst giving your home a new lick of paint is fairly straightforward, other tasks like adding an extension are a bit more complex. Outside factors can slow you down considerably if you don’t plan ahead. So, what key factors do you need to take into consideration when renovating your home?

1. Make your neighbours aware of the work

The Part Wall Act of 1996 stipulates that you have to notify your neighbours of any renovation projects.  This occurs if you share a wall with another house and your work may undermine the structural integrity of the wall. Tasks such as fitting shelves and re-plastering aren’t included in this Act; however, if you were looking to undergo more extensive work it’s something to which you must adhere.

This approach may seem unnecessary in some cases, but it’s always polite to notify your neighbours of what work will be taking place. Present this to them alongside a copy of the Act two months before you intend to carry out the work. They will then have 14 days to raise any concerns they may have and provide written approval or rejection. Doing this will cover you if anything turns sour with said neighbour. If they do reject your proposal and it’s impossible to come to some form of agreement, you’ll be required to assign a surveyor who will then determine what work can be carried out.

2. Get building regulations approval for loft conversions

Converting a loft is another easy way to create more space in your home. However, make sure you get the correct building regulations approval. This is required to ensure there is sufficient structural strength to the floor, while also making sure that the existing roof and the structure’s stability isn’t jeopardised.

Many houses do not have sturdy enough flooring in their lofts to support a lot of weight. This could cause issues if you plan to turn your loft space into a spare bedroom, for example, and without official planning meeting set regulations you could run into a host of problems. Perhaps surprisingly, any work that you carry out could indeed hinder your future sale if you don’t get the appropriate permission and paperwork. In some instances, you’ll be required to revert the property back to its former state if you haven’t gone through the correct channels when carrying out the work.

3. Check your electricity

Electricity is an important part of home renovations which is often overlooked until work gets under-way. Sometimes, work you plan to carry out will mean moving your electric meter and fuse box. However, you must make sure you don’t move it yourself. Why? Yep, you guessed it; this is also illegal. Usually, if it’s a move of less than 15 centimetres, this can be carried out by your energy supplier free of charge. But for larger-scale moves of over three metres, your local distribution company would have to move your mains supply before the electricity meter can be relocated. If this is something you require, make sure you book the relevant appointments to avoid long delays.

4. Check if you need planning permission

Garage conversions generally don’t require planning permissions if you aren’t intending to increase the size of your house by making the garage larger. If your sole purpose is to use the space for personal gain, then you should be able to carry out your intended work so long as you complete the work thoroughly and to the correct standard. However, it’s important to note that planning permission must be sought if you’re looking to convert the space into a separate house.

5. Planning for an extension

Extensions are a popular way to add extra space to your home. However, not everyone understands the impact it may have on your property. For example, have you considered the impact an extension will have on your current boiler? Adding extra space will mean there’s an added demand on your hot water system and, in some cases, your boiler won’t be able to cope. Make sure you factor this in to any plan.

Even if you don’t require planning permission, due to using permitted development rights, you’ll still need building regulation approval. In some cases, you may also need to pay a Community Infrastructure Levy, so it’s important to investigate this prior to conducting any work.

6. Check if your home is a listed building

Some buildings in the UK fall under the listed building category – you should have been informed if your home was listed at the time you bought the property.  If it is, then chances are you’ll struggle to carry out any planned work without resistance. It’s actually a criminal offence to simply go ahead with any work without prior authorisation to do so. If you’re unsure whether or not your property is a listed building, you can check at British Listed Buildings.

Whilst renovating your home can be an exciting experience, you’ll have a lot of hard work to undertake before you can enjoy the finished product. For any work you may be thinking of carrying out, it’s important to carry out thorough research before you start so that hidden costs and issues don’t creep up on you.

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