Consent Requests - Property - Monmouthshire Housing Association

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Making changes to your home

We appreciate you might want to make changes to your MHA home to make it just how you want it. As an MHA contract holder, you are allowed to make some alterations. This might be changing something that is already in place (light fittings) or adding something new (like putting up a garden shed).

When do I need to get consent?

Any alterations or additions that you wish to carry out requires permission from us. We advise you not to start any works until you get permission in writing, to avoid potentially being asked to reinstate the property back to its original condition (at your own cost).

For all Consent Requests, please email consent@monmouthshirehousing.co.uk with details of the work you would like to carry out.

We don't give consent for the following:

This means you cannot carry out any of the below work to your MHA home. If you are a leaseholder, please contact us for more information.

Loft conversions
Swimming pools
Ponds
Using outbuildings as bedrooms
Log burners
Painting kitchen units
Removal of established hedges
Cat flaps
Velux windows
Conservatories / porches
Permanent structure in a communal area
Changing the external appearance (e.g. painting external brick walls)
External doors and windows (we will contact you when your upgrade is due)
No planting of bamboo in the ground
No climber plants on fixed structures

We may give consent for the following:

You will still need to apply for consent before starting any work and key conditions need to be met. A summary of the conditions for each type of work is outlined below. If consent if granted, we will provide more detailed terms & conditions in writing to you. Any consent requests approved are at your own cost e.g. planning, installation etc.

Only one shed per property
Shed size will be assessed on an individual basis
Distance from any structure must be at least 2m
Distance from the boundary line must be at least 1m
Must only be in the private rear garden
Cannot be used as accommodation
To be built above ground, no digging foundation (due to risk of affecting buried services such as sewage pipes) and on a firm base
Needs to be taken down before moving to another property

Front garden fences – no higher than 1m high, unless a planning requirement for the gardens to be open plan
Rear garden fences will be assessed on request

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

Electrical safety certificate must be provided to MHA within 14 days of completed works
Asbestos survey may be required prior to any work
Qualified electrician to do any electrical works
All new circuits (e.g. showers) would require a full installation certificate and would also require notifying building control (Part P Certificate)
Any electrical work that is like-for-like replacement or an addition to an existing circuit (replacing light fittings, installing additional sockets etc) will require a minor works certificate to be provided to MHA within 14 days of completed works

Full layout plan and specification must be provided and comply with Welsh Housing Quality Standards 2023 (WHQS23)
Flooring should be slip-resistant safety flooring
Smoke alarms and heat detectors cannot be touched or moved
Asbestos survey may be required 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, or wiring touched. Certificate must be provided to MHA within 14 days of completed works
Gas certificate will be needed if any works has involved gas. Certificate to be provided to MHA within 14 days of completed works

Full layout plan and specification must be provided and comply with Welsh Housing Quality Standards 2023 (WHQS23)
Baths and shower bases must be anti-slip
Shower base must be anti-slip (shower cubicle)
Cement backing board is needed behind the tiles
Floor must be slip-resistant vinyl
Sealed light fitting must be installed
Asbestos survey may need to be carried out 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 shower added or removed. Certificate must be provided to MHA within 14 days of completed works
Bathroom will usually need to be fitted with a humidistat controlled extractor fan – essential if there is no window in the bathroom.

Full layout plan and specification must be provided and comply with Welsh Housing Quality Standards 2023 (WHQS23)
Specification to be provided to MHA to include dimensions, location and detailed drawing
MHA Maintenance Surveyor must inspect prior to work starting

Permission must be granted from the Local Authority (LA) with proof provided to MHA
The work needs to be done by a LA-approved contractor (your LA can advise)
Specification to be provided to MHA to include dimensions, location and detailed drawing
Permeable materials must be used
No water to be discharged outside of the property boundary

Specification must be provided to include dimensions, materials, who will be doing the work and where in the garden it will be
Patios should drain away from the property
MHA Maintenance Surveyor must inspect prior to work starting

Specification must be provided to include dimensions, materials, who will be doing the work and where in the garden it will be
For garden steps, retaining walls / draining / balustrade / fixed BBQ / canopy / hot tubs a full plan must be submitted in advance
Planting of trees / hedge rows will be assessed on a case by case basis

If the property has an existing communal aerial, you must connect to that rather than install your own
Cannot be attached to windows or external wall insultation

Only permitted in the back garden, not front garden
Outside tap will only be permitted where a water butt cannot be installed
Outside tap will be refused where external wall insulation has been installed

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I need an asbestos survey before starting any work?

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 are unsure. No works can begin without the asbestos checks being completed.

Will MHA need to inspect the works?

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.

What if I move out of my home?

Certain types of work will need to be reverted to their original state before you move out of your home. This will be made clear within our terms and conditions when granting consent.

I have already carried out work without getting MHA’s consent. What should I do?

Please email consent@monmouthshirehousing.co.uk clearly describing works that have been completed. We will contact you if an inspection is required, depending on the alteration carried out.