Planning permission on ex local authority

[Yakoto]

Hello,

I purchased an ex council flat 3 years ago. Last year i got a new bathroom done from a registred plumber but i haven’t sent any documentation or requested permission to the freeholder (council). I am now selling my flat and I am wondering whether this could cause issues. Should i tell the council now?

I havent made any structural work just replaced sanitaries and a very old bath with a shower moving some pipies around.

Yes it probably will and no you should not contact them.
You will need an indemnity insurance which will be cheaper and quicker to obtain than landlords consent. Unless you have a very clever conveyancer!

You don't need planning permission for internal work unless it's a listed building.

How will they verify that I did the work? Will the indemnity insurance solve this?

Yakoto you want need planning permission if you do work to the inside of the flat. Anything external like new windows, doors, decking or even adding a patio would need permission.

If it's ex council you technically need freeholder (not planning) permission just to change like for like. If you've moved pipes about you'd need permission from the freeholder in any sensible block- rogue plumbing is the bane of big blocks of flats.
Whether your buyers will care or not is the question. Most likely not, but you never know...

Do you know what happens if you do it without asking freeholder permission? Can you send documentation to then after the work was carried?

It'll depend on the freeholder. You could ask round your neighbours to see. But generally yes, you can apply for retrospective permission. Although if you've really gone rogue they may want you to put it right first (doesn't sound like you have though). There will be costs and delays. As with anything to do with houses...

I just used all the guidance and safety requested but at the time i didn’t have a lot of time to wait for the freeholder to do his checks which take long as the old bathroom had issues and i had to make repairs and it was more sensible to do the full work.

You need to check your lease.

Usually the lease states that you are responsible for everything within and including the internal finish of the walls, so you don’t need permission to change bathroom/kitchen fittings etc.

They are responsible for the roof/external of the building etc (billing costs back to you of course, but that’s another thread).

In my experience ex council are slightly more confusing- technically the boiler and the sanityware are council property, so you should get permission to change them. But every lease has its own unique features...

I have an ex-LA flat and have replaced the bathroom and kitchen which involved moving water and gas pipes internally. Previous owners had done various work including constructing new internal walls. My understanding is you don't need permission for anything internal unless it affects the structure - eg. In my flat a thick central structural wall goes up through the multi-storey building so I couldn't alter that without planning perm and building inspections.
You'd be liable if your work caused issues/damage for other flats in the building (if any), but in my building it's generally those above who cause the most problems with leaks and floor/ceiling noise.

I've also paved the garden area and put a shed in - didn't seek permission for that. I would have to seek permission for adding onto the building - eg. a conservatory or extension.

We completely renovated an ex council flat - new kitchen and bathroom, etc. Knew we weren't allowed to replace windows (council was going to do them all at some point) so didn't touch those.
Didn't apply for PP since not moving walls, etc. and there was ultimately no problem when we sold it.

Did of course have certification for electrical works, which the buyer did ask for.

Thank you all for your suggestion help. Let’s see how it goes. Thanks again