Describe the actual work
Give the property address, current use and proposed change. A sketch and photographs help an initial enquiry. Ask about permission, notifications, additional consents and inspections. A contractor’s general statement that no permit is needed is not a decision for your property.
Prepare documents without guessing the final list
Use this as preparation for the authority’s own checklist. Requirements depend on the location, building and type of work.
- Property details, existing plans and a description of current conditions.
- Proposed drawings and a written scope in the required format.
- Ownership or authorisation details and any necessary landlord or shared-ownership consent.
- Structural, energy, drainage or fire-safety evidence from qualified professionals where required.
Keep separate decisions separate
A building permit does not approve a grant. Funding approval does not replace building permission. Check the order of applications, contracts and work before committing. Keep decisions, conditions, inspection records and completion documents together.
Your next step in United Kingdom
Planning permission and building regulations approval are separate; a project may need both. Start with the relevant nation and local planning authority. GOV.UK’s building-control guidance links to the separate Scottish and Northern Irish systems. In England, some higher-risk building work is handled by the Building Safety Regulator rather than the usual building-control route.
Support and applications
Where to ask for help with home adaptations
Support for disability-related adaptations is different from buying ordinary furniture. England and Wales use the council route for Disabled Facilities Grants. Northern Ireland has its Housing Executive route; Scotland has separate equipment and adaptation arrangements.
Where to apply or ask
Use the relevant national link below. Ask for an assessment of the changes needed, including any kitchen access or working-height problem.
- England and Wales: find the council application route
- Scotland: equipment and adaptations
- Northern Ireland: Disabled Facilities Grants
What to prepare
- Your address and housing status, including landlord details where relevant.
- A description of the daily activities that are difficult and any existing assessment.
- Plans and itemised quotes as requested by the assessor or grants team.
- Income, savings and other information if required for the relevant means test.
When to act
Contact the responsible body before starting work. Starting before approval can prevent grant support.
The responsible body determines the documents required in your case. Send personal evidence through its official channel, not through WOHNALIO.
Turn the next question into a plan
Buying a home: what to check before you commit
Look beyond the listing. Prepare your viewing, investigate documents and allow for the costs that come after the purchase price.
Open the guideBuilding and renovating: compare the whole job
Prepare a clear brief, choose suitable contractors and make extra costs visible. Use a project cost sheet based on your own figures.
Open the guideHome insurance: compare cover for the way you live
Separate the building, belongings and liability risks. Prepare the questions that help you compare cover, exclusions and your share of a claim.
Open the guideReady to plan the rooms?
Once the building and the work are clear, plan furniture, storage and the kitchen around the space you will actually have.
Explore furniture and kitchen planning