Carrying out alterations

This section is about alterations you may wish to carry out to your home.

Alterations to your home

Bracknell Forest Homes encourages customers to carry out improvements to their homes. It is important that you get our written permission before starting to ensure the work is safe for you, your visitors and neighbours, to maintain the structure of the property and ensure our properties continue to meet our high standards and condition.

We will not normally refuse permission for work unless it is likely to affect the safety of the building, cause a future maintenance problem, or cause a nuisance to your neighbours. Sometimes, we may attach conditions to the permission, such as insisting the work is carried out by a competent and qualified contractor and to a satisfactory standard. For example gas works must be carried out by Gas Safe registered engineers. We may also be able to suggest local contractor who could carry out the work for you.

Freshening up
You do not need our permission to decorate the inside of your home or to carry out minor improvements such as tiling. However, you must not fit polystyrene (or similar material) ceiling tiles or coving because they are a fire risk. If you do, you will need to pay for the cost of their removal.

If you move out of your home, you will be expected to return the home to its original condition or with our consent you may leave any alterations in place. If we have to do any work to put things right, you may be charged for this. Please click here for our recharges page for more information. Please check with your Housing Officer in the first instance before you move out and the Ending your tenancy leaflet.

How do I get permission to carry out an alteration to my home?
To get permission, please write to your Housing Officer giving details of the work and, if appropriate, a sketch plan of what you intend to do. You can contact your housing officer by calling freephone 0800 692 3000 or by writing to Berkshire Court, Western Road, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 1RE.

A housing officer or a surveyor may visit your home and we will write to you telling you whether you have permission and whether there are any conditions attached.  In some cases you may also need to obtain planning permission from the Council or the consent of building control before going ahead with the work. Your housing officer or surveyor will advise you if this is needed and give you details of who to contact.

If permission is refused and you feel the decision is unreasonable, you can contact the Head of Housing to appeal.
Freephone: 0800 692 3000
Write to: Berkshire Court, Western Road, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 1RE.