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Springfield Homes / New Build Clauses / Covenants

10 replies

BeatrixPottery24 · 25/11/2024 15:25

Bought one of these at the start of the year, not new to us but it's only a couple of years old.

When we were going through the sale we specifically asked the about extensions etc. and changes and were told we couldn't change the external house paint colour but there were no other covenants regarding extensions etc. and that we were just to just to refer to local planning.

We want to to make some internal and external changes, not an extension but changing two of the windows at the back in kitchen / dinner (existing French doors and then main window to aluminium sliders) there is a horrible balcony/platform type thing with what looks like prison railings round the top at the back out from the french doors, we would like to remove these and put in a raised deck. We have a building warrant in place for this work now.

But having checked through the sales info and title deeds (we did at time obviously and saw the things about tree heights, house paint and not keeping chickens or caravans etc.) but missed a point about if we want to make 'external changes to the building or extend we have to seek permission from 'the management'.

This is where we're confused, we've bounced back to Sol but she's off till Weds, I can't see her having missed this but we're obvs confused as there it is in black and white in title.

We are wondering tho whether this doesn't apply to freeholders tho as the title pack seems to be very generic and has info in there which is very clearly pertaining to leasehold properties and 'block properties' ours is neither so we're wondering given that sol never mentioned when asked that the external changes refers to leasehold (altho less clear than other points) rather than freehold.

Also we've no idea who the manager is?!! Is it Springfield we've got 0 info on that. The 'owned' part of the estate is finished and they are just building some adapted council homes now - sales office went months ago.

There is no terms of reference at the start of the Title Pack or anywhere else in any of the legal documents that explains who this 'manager' is.

What are people's experience and are windows external and the deck??

You are allowed to add a conservatory without permission apparently, so don't see how that is any different to extending?? Or putting new windows in.

OP posts:
cindertoffeeapple · 25/11/2024 15:30

I don’t know anything about this particular company but our 1960s-built house has a covenant that the original developer has to give permission for any changes and the previous owner got permission from them before adding a conservatory. So, I wouldn’t assume being a freeholder means this doesn’t apply.

BeatrixPottery24 · 25/11/2024 15:32

@cindertoffeeapple thing is it refers to Springfield in this document but for certain bits just 'the manager' so I'm trying to work out who this is.

OP posts:
Rubybetsie · 25/11/2024 15:40

We are in a new build and one of the many covenants stated we have to get permission for certain things, like adding a canopy over the door, fence height, having a shed for example...we are freehold also but most new builds now state you have to get permission for external changes, from the developer or the management company if you have one, usually for a fee.

Flubadubba · 25/11/2024 16:30

Has the estate been finished? Clauses like this are almost always to keep things looking uniform.whilst the estate is finished.

BeatrixPottery24 · 25/11/2024 17:39

@Flubadubba yes the private housing is finished although there is still the show home and one other they can't seem to sell. Sales office went about 6 months ago.

They have just started building the council owned adapted housing.

OP posts:
BeatrixPottery24 · 25/11/2024 17:40

@Rubybetsie yes it just says manager but we've no idea who this is. We called Springfield today and they didn't seem to know either. Well the person we spoke to didn't

OP posts:
BeatrixPottery24 · 25/11/2024 17:41

Also no mention of a fee.

OP posts:
Rubybetsie · 25/11/2024 17:52

Contact customer care for Springfield Homes..they will be able to advise you who to gain permission from.

BeatrixPottery24 · 25/11/2024 19:15

We did that and they don't know @Rubybetsie 🤣

OP posts:
Rubybetsie · 25/11/2024 19:23

That's very strange that they were unable to advise you. I would email customer care and see if they are more helpful. As the changes seem to be at the rear of your property it's very unlikely that that they would even be aware of any changes you make and very unlikely to care now they are off-site.

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