At Finefair Ltd we work to help our clients earn the best yields from their investment properties. There are several ways to do this, including creating HMOs, splitting large properties into flats, conversion, or extensions. However, there are rules around many of these. We can offer support here that could help to reduce the red tape. One thing we can do is provide advice about the permitted developments Greenwich allows.
What are PDRs?
The UK government grants people different rights to allow them to make certain changes to properties. What they mean is that some projects can progress without having to get planning permission. This can provide big benefits for all sides. For example it means work can start faster and reduce costs for the owner. Plus, the council won’t have the workload of looking at the plans and deciding whether to approve them.
There are lots of PDRs, covering everything from building various types of extensions to change of use. It is a good idea to consult them first before you decide to begin a project. The best thing to do is look at the specific rules for the area. For Greenwich, you can view the council’s website for lots of information.
Article 4 directions
You may find that there are PDRs for the project you have in mind for your property. Normally this would mean you can continue with the plan without having to get planning permission. However, this is not always the case. The local council may have taken action to withdraw the rights. They can do this by using an Article 4 direction.
There are a number of Article 4 directions in Greenwich at the moment. The most important one here for landlords is they need permission to change a residential dwelling house into a HMO. The rule came into force in 2018 and means it is illegal to make this kind of change without getting prior approval. There is also a licensing scheme in the borough for HMOs.
Other concerns
There are several other things that can also affect the permitted developments Greenwich will accept. For example, you will need planning permission in most cases if the property is listed. So you will need approval for any change that would alter the appearance or character of a property. This could be something simple like changing the windows or a larger project involving demolition or roof alterations.
While the property itself may not have a listing, you may have similar restrictions because it is in a conversation area. There are currently 23 of these areas in Greenwich. Many of them have article 4 directions in place too. As a result there are specific planning controls in place in each location. You need to follow them and it will be unlikely you can use PDRs.
Thirdly there may be ecological protections in place. Local authorities in the UK have a duty to protect local wildlife, especially priority species and any with special protection. There are even some locations with laws to prevent development. It is important to check locally to see if there is anything like this that could affect your project.
Talk to us about permitted developments in Greenwich
Finefair Ltd is a long standing company with a lot of experience. We work closely with landlords who have assets all over London. One thing we do is consult with you about ways you could increase the yield you get from your portfolio. There could be a number of things you could do here to dramatically increase their income, including HMOs, so it is worth looking.
We recommend that every client consider the permitted development rights Greenwich accepts. They can help make it easier to do different things to properties. Plus they can make some work more viable and profitable than others.
If you need help with anything here, please let us know. We have great resources so we can help clients to legally make changes to properties.
