Planning applications.

[sandyRoe]

A neighbour who owns 2 semis applied to the planning dept for permission to demolish them and build 6 apartments. She was refused. She then re-jigged the application and tried for 5. This was also refused despite her appealing to an appeals forum.
I've just heard that she has applied to extend into the roofspace. If she got this latest application approved would there be anything to stop her converting the houses into apartments? All the work necessary would then be internal and I don't think you need planning permission for that.

[boxtops]

Yes you do - you need planning permission to turn a normal dwelling into a house of multiple occupancy. This happened in my road last year - we are 4-storey terraced houses, and a neighbour wanted to make the top 2 floors self-contained for his daughter. He had to apply for planning permission in the normal way - building inspector and fire regs will be round to make sure that the division is robust, fire-safe, in accordance with regs etc. She can't just do it.

[sandyRoe]

Thank you, boxtops. That's good to know.

[jackthehat]

Planning Permission WILL be required for her to do that.
There are many implications to dividing up properties into separate units; i.e. Council Tax, Postal addresses.

If she tries to create a HMO (House of Multiple Occupancy) she will need to seek the relevant permissions for that.

If she DOES try to circumnavigate the laws, tell the planners asap. There is a permission 'Certificate of Lawful Development' which can retrospectively confer permissions..........

[buildersmate]

The main difficulty she is likely to face in gaining PP for the change to multiple occupancy will be in demonstrating enough off-road parking provision.
She would have to wait a full 10 years with the development done and no-one alarting the planning authority before the Certificate of Lawfulness could be applied for. You would have plenty of time.