Building permissions - Dulwich

[soundevenfruity]

We've been looking for houses in Dulwich and just realised that a lot of them are under Dulwich estate which means that any changes are subject to approval by their estate board (not sure about the name). Having read their website it does sound quite off-putting - they seem to have a policy about everything but permissions are mostly granted. In reality it might be not that regimented though. Does anybody have a direct experience or have heard anything about how difficult it makes your life? Many thanks in advance.

Try asking on the East Dulwich Forum.

EDforum

Thank you, rhubarbgarden. It's more West Dulwich but hopefully they would know.

My parents own a couple of flats of which the Dulwich Estate owns the freehold - they are extremely keen on charging money for everything, being bureaucratic, obstructive etc. I wouldn't say don't buy a DE leasehold property, just be warned that it won't be the cheapest option. On the other hand, they do seem to maintain their properties (although, of course, you ultimately pay for this).

The place is a freehold but we've been told that any external and internal changes need to be agreed with DE. DH is very keen but I am not so sure.

My BIL and SIL live in a Dulwich estate house. They've been getting a new kitchen put in and wanted to put in new windows, but exactly the same as the old ones. Still needed permission from Dulwich Estate, and have ended up waiting so long for an answer, the whole project has ground to a halt- with a half built kitchen. They are very frustrated. Builders now gone on hols so going to be ages til finished.Having said that it wouldn't be enough to put them off buying there if they had their time again, I don't think.

I used to live there and did the replace a window (old box sash) with a new one (box sash). Never thought to ask. And knocked through the front room to the kitchen. I'd always thought it was about stuff like cutting down trees or putting in dormer windows for attic conversions.

Should say for every tree 1 living, 3 dead, we cut down, we planted a new one which was more wildlife friendly.

It's a lovely area, and if I was to go back to live in England, I'd be there in heartbeat. Not that I'd be able to afford it now.

Part of its charm is that you're protected from the likes of those who made DeVere's life such hell.

I wouldn't have guts to do anything if a permission is required. It would be good to avoid living on a building site which seems to be a norm in many London streets but I just don't like an idea of asking permissions for supposedly my own house.