To build a false wall in a Housing Association rental property?

We were told no room dividing of any kind. It was different though we wanted to separate the kitchen from living area as it's open plan & it was a flat no. We're not allowed to use any kind of bookshelf, temporary divider, nothing.
I know there's no way of them knowing if we put a bookshelf against the back of the kitchen unit but it's not worth the potential hassle.

@Cangar Certainly in our Housing Association it's seen as the law to not have a room within a room (bar obvious storage cupboards) so I assume it is! I don't work on property maintenance or with tenants directly so I'm not clued up on the exact laws re that but I know it's in my own tenancy that I cannot modify a room within a room or add walls even temporary ones without permission and if caught I can be evicted. And there's always stories coming in from the Housing Officers that they've had to evict tenants due to similar or because they've broken Fire Regulations by doing it.

I am a secretary to the housing officers, so I write their letters for them and send those out to tenants, so don't actually ever speak to tenants myself bar my own direct neighbours that is

@WheelbarrowKid I can only speak for our housing association, but if it's furniture screwed to the wall (like a kallax unit or similar) then that just about passes as long as it's not full enclosed, but a floor to ceiling wall would be classed as enclosed even without a door.

You're not wrong, although I can't remember the precise age either.

However, having seen a few people go through it. At that point the HA could just say the adults need to sleep in the lounge so the DC can have their own rooms. It might move them up the banding, I don't know, but maybe still not high enough.

OP. People do far worse in their homes and don't get evicted. Plus they have to go to Court to evict you. They can't just do it. That takes (a long) time. So, worst case scenario, they tell you that you shouldn't have done it. You remove it immediately, no Court will grant the eviction when the problems resolved. I can say that with certainty. Not that I believe it would ever get to that stage.

The only way I wouldn't advise you to go ahead, is if you have one of those newer shorter term tenancies that gets reviewed. If you have a secure tenancy then no problem.

Not ideal, but given you state your son cannot share, could you give the children the 2 bedrooms and you and DH sleep in a space saving wall bed in the sitting room and keep your clothes in the bigger bedroom.

You would not be allowed to build a permanent stud wall under most HA and even councils, due to fire health and safety.

In the event of a fire. would you be able to open the window and doors fully without restriction? most houses are built within fire safety regulations and you would be in breach of your tenancy agreement if you went down this route.

Yes councils and HA would go down the legal route to demolish this and all costs would be chargeable to you due to tenancy breach.

Certainly in an office you’re not allowed to have rooms within rooms due to fire safety. I assume it’s the same for domestic premises.

Isn’t there a legal age where they’re not allowed to share anymore if they’re mixed gender? I thought it was 10 so surely you would be more of a priority to be rehoused at that time?

I could be wrong!

I would just do it

There’s an account on instagram that did that, sorry I can’t recall which.
Newbuild - teen daughter and a young brother. His half doesn’t have a window but put strip light ups. Seemed to really trigger people as ‘illegal’. It was making best and not a fire risk he could still get to window. She said when they sell it would be removed easily and cheaply.

A partition wall is common even in HA properties. Many people do this and thy don't ask for permission. It's a wood frame and some boards. Easy to take down and put right IF you decide to move. Just do it. It's no one else's business. You have a room large enough. I see rooms that have been divided all the time, even when they have just one window in the middle (which doesn't look great).

Plan B could be something like this link 2 bedrooms in 1 CLICK HERE. It divides the room but making an s shape bed as a divider. This, in effect, is more or less the same as putting in a partition, it's just a different shape.

Have you enquired about having the property adapted?

Just do it. They wont be overly concerned providing you comply with the Fire Regs. So for the safety of your family do read up on those.

I'd be careful if someone has to walk through the others room.

My Housing Association (I am both a tenant and work for them) won't let you do it if you have to walk through one room to get to the other even if it's only a little walk, it's for fire safety regulations.

Also they prefer to do this type of work themselves so it meets any fire safety regulations rather than let the tenants do it.

Tenants have been evicted for doing it without permission as well.

If DS can’t share a room because of his disability, have you thought about applying for a Disabled Facilities Grant?

Yea do it, it’s not a permanent change and could be put back and made right in a day , we did that in a previous house we didn’t even take the carpet up ! You’ve got 2 windows , you can put some electrics in fairly easily if you wanted, it’s not expensive and is only a days work to make your lives easier .If the the ha get arsey you can just take it down and you’re no worse off bar a couple hundred £ . Do it!

Would one person have to go through the other’s room?

If you think your son would push out the boxes on a Kalax unit you could get some plywood and screw that to one side. Then you get storage and it isn’t a “wall” so there could be no objections? Then a barn style sliding door attached to the unit. There might be a gap at the ceiling though.

I did it when living in rented, constructed it so only needed to make one visible drilled hole in the floor. Worked a treat to give daughter privacy when brothers were walking through to get to a bathroom.

@WheelbarrowKid try this.
We used it when we rented for six months when our house was being renovated. When we took it down it didn’t leave any marks.

https://www.diy.com/ranges/building-ranges/alara

It can be painted, papered etc.

We did this, got permission from HA first.

It worked v well, it is a great idea

I'd stick a stud wall up, as long as you are happy to put the effort into taking it all back down and making everything right if you do ever leave.

People do all kinds of stuff to HA/council properties and you're probably going to be stuck there a long time, do what makes all of your lives easier.

It's really not.

There would really need to be a wall and a door separating them.

If you need to fit a separate door that sounds more difficult to remove/make good. I would switch rooms and put a removable divider between you and dd.