Planning permission confusion - 1-bed to 2-bed

[H7529]

Maybe someone can help as I’m confused…. I own a 1-bed flat (leasehold) with a big open plan living space. The entire flat is 850 sq ft so could easily be a 2/3 bed. I can divide the current living space to create another bedroom (of course this would be a reasonably sized room with window and fulfil all requirements, I’ve already looked this up).

I contacted the freeholder for consent and asked which steps to take, basically got a reply ‘don’t know, don’t care, do what you like’.
Then I looked into applying for planning permission but it doesn’t seem that I need one for erecting a non-load bearing internal wall. Does this mean I can just go ahead and do it? What makes me a bit unsure is that the flat is officially a 1-bed as far as ground plan, registry, lease etc says and surely I need to get this officially changed to a 2-bed in order to comply with regulations, pay the correct council tax etc (and also to not cause any issues when selling in future…I want to have the right documents in place)?
Would be grateful if anyone has done this before and knows what to do.

Have you tried the planning team at your local council?

The leaseholder owns the land building is on, not the building, so has no interest in internal changes to your flat.

And erecting internal, non load bearing walls doesn’t need planning permission.

Won't change the council tax for you as you aredoing the alteration. The council tax band would need reassessing when you sell and the buyer will pay the new rate

You don’t need planning to make internal changes (if property isnt listed). You may need building regs although if all you’re doing is putting up a partition wall it’s unlikely. You probably would if putting in a new bathroom as need certain levels of ventilation.

Thank you all

The freeholder/management company will be unlikely to alter the lease plan to reflect that the flat is two beds rather than one bed, so be mindful that when you come to sell in the future, the estate agent may value the flat as a two bed but the lease plan will differ and this will be raised with enquiries by the buyer's solicitor. While your buyer may be happy to go ahead with the purchase, there may be delays while the buyer, their solicitor and the freeholder argue that the flat should be reinstated to a one bed to match the lease plan or that the value of the property should be reduced to a one bed rather than two beds. So, be prepared for the delays in the conveyancing that this may cause.

If you are going ahead to please yourself, then that's fine but don't do it just to increase the value of the flat that you intend to sell.

Thank you, that’s really helpful. This was my worry.