Repairs permission and responsibilities

You must ask permission before doing any work repairing or altering something in a home we are responsible for.

All work must comply with building standards and regulations. If planning permission or building control approval is required, you must pay for this.

What you need permission for

• Anything that will change the appearance of your property, eg installing a satellite dish
• Repairing or altering something we're responsible for eg replacing windows or painting outside
• Any major alterations, like removing a wall

All work you do must comply with building standards. If it goes wrong, you’ll be responsible for repairing it. 

What you can’t get permission for

• Anything that risks disturbing asbestos
• Laying laminates if you live in a flat, if in doubt contact your housing officer
• Anything that requires planning permission
• Something that causes structural damage to the property

If you do repairs without permission

• You could be asked to return your home to the condition it was before - at your own expense.
• And you’ll be held responsible for any damage to other properties

How to get permission

To get permission, simply contact the Building Services team

Email buildingservices@walthamforest.gov.uk

As a council tenant, some repairs are your responsibility, while others are handled by us. To understand who is responsible for specific repairs, please refer to our Housing Repairs and Maintenance Policy, which includes a detailed breakdown in Appendix 1. This will help ensure repairs are managed quickly and correctly.