Some years ago I had an extension built onto my garage without planning permission. Please advise what I should do if I want to sell my house.

 Published on 23.10.07

There are three possible scenarios regarding your situation:

1. The extension may in fact not have needed Planning Permission in the first place and could have been built under "Permitted Development Right".

You can find out about what can and can not be built under these rights at your local council's Planning Office. They should have free guidance notes that you can just help yourself to. They may even have the information on their website.

You could also ring the duty planning officer anonymously, describe your extension and ask hypothetically whether or not the structure would require formal planning permission.

Be careful doing this as planners will most likely insist that you provide an address and this is something you definitely do not want to do. I'll leave it up to your creative mind as how to handle this.


2. The extension was built more than 4 years ago. In this case the planners can not come after you and you are free and clear.

To be "belt and braces" though in the eyes of a buyer's solicitor, you could apply to your planning department for a "Certificate of Lawful Development".

This will make every thing "kosher" so to speak and again, the information can be found on your Council's website or for free at the Planning Department.

You will also need to prove that the structure was completed more than 4 years ago. This can easily be done if you have retained any of the invoices for the work carried out.


3. The extension was built less than 4 years ago, required planning permission and is currently an unlawful structure.

In this instance I'm afraid you have no option but to go to the planners and apply for Planning Permission retrospectively.

Simply fill in the form below and wait for the answer to be posted on this site.

Please remember: Gavin Brazg is not a Mortage Advisor and as such cannot answer your mortgage based questions. Instead please speak with an  unbiased mortgage advisor.