Informing lender of building works

[RexManning]

When informing a lender about our planned building works, does one phrase the letter as a) 'here are our plans for your information' or b) 'here are our plans, please can we have your permission to carry them out'?

I phoned the lender and they said that unless the work was going to be changing the LTV for the mortgage, they didn't care - but the insurance team (via the same organisation) did need to know. I expect it varies from lender to lender so best to phone them.

I guess "these are our plans, please could you explain if there is anything we need to do from your point of view?"

Our lender knew because we borrowed an extra 50k to do it. They asked for confirmation that buildings insurance was in place, and then asked for an update a year later which went 'is the back of the house secure now?' 'Yes' 'Excellent, bye.'

I've phoned, and had a very frustrating time trying to make them understand that I wanted to discuss an extension to the house, not to the mortgage. They've confirmed that they want us to write, enclosing our proposed plans. It's Barclays, if anyone has any direct experience of them.