Under the terms of Wilbury Grange leases (paragraph 3 (xviii)) flat owners are not permitted to carry out works to their flat without the prior written consent of the freehold company, Wilbury Grange (Hove) Ltd. Permission should be obtained by contacting the managing agent.

The lease says that ‘works’ include any alteration or addition either internally or externally in or to the flat or the construction height walls timbers elevation or appearance thereof nor cut maim injure or remove any of the walls partitions or principal or bearing or other supports thereof.

You must not add bathrooms or showers which are in addition to the current facilities unless, for example, a shower attachment over a bath.  If you are, for example, adding a shower then all mixer taps (bath taps and shower taps) must have double non-return valves with the cold water connected to the indirect down service.  All new plumbing works should incorporate suitable shut-off valves.

When undertaking works requiring the water to be drained down you should at that time check the isolating valves to your flat and replace any seized or poorly functioning valves.  This will enable, in most cases, the isolation of the water to your flat in the event of leaks or future works. Owing to the complexity of the heating and plumbing system the only contractor approved to carry out works at Wilbury Grange is ServCom.

Relatively minor works such as redecorating and replacement kitchens units or bathroom suites on a like for like basis do not usually require consent, but if works are to be carried out to the communal heating or communal hot and cold water supplies approval must be obtained beforehand. If a drain down of any of the services is required specifically to facilitate proposed works and the works do not occur at a time when the building is being drained down generally then you will need to meet the costs of the drain down and the subsequent refilling including any repeat attendances for the purpose of clearing airlocks etc.

Under the terms of the lease Wilbury Grange (Hove) Ltd (the Company) is responsible for ensuring any proposed works are approved in advance so that works will not adversely affect the building or your neighbours’ flats.

The following is intended as a guide to the process of obtaining consent and is not an exhaustive list of what may be required which will vary from case to case.

You must provide the following information to the managing agent:

  • A written undertaking on a complete indemnity basis to meet the Company’s reasonable (Usually given by your solicitor on your behalf to the landlord’s solicitors),
  • A plan showing the existing layout and the proposed alteration(s), together with a specification of works where appropriate,
  • On receipt of this information the managing agent will consider the proposed works and make recommendations to the Board of Directors,
  • Provisional consent may then be given subject to such other information that may be required by the Company or its advisors. This may (according to the complexities of the matter) require some or all of the statutory consents and some, all or more of the undernoted: some of the undernoted; all of the undernoted or possibly additional requirements:
  • A full copy of the approved application to Building Control (including drawings and any specifications) or a copy of a formal note from a qualified structural engineer confirming that the proposed works are not of a structural nature and will not affect the structure of the building. If a structural engineer’s or surveyor’s report is required for your works you should arrange for any report to be made out for the attention of Wilbury Grange (Hove) Limited and for the invoice to be presented for payment to Wilbury Grange (Hove) Limited.  Wilbury Grange (Hove) Limited will then make payment of the invoice and will require reimbursement in the same sum from you within seven days.  This is to enable Wilbury Grange (Hove) Limited to rely on the indemnity insurance for any professional opinion given even after you may have moved from the building.
  • Confirmation from the Environmental Health Department or Fire & Rescue Services that the alterations when completed will not adversely affect the integrity of the flat or building from a fire safety perspective.
  • A full copy of any relevant planning consent (if required). Please remember that whilst alterations to the layout of the flat may be acceptable if the owner resides in the flat they may not be acceptable if the flat is then sub-let.

Once the Company and/or its advisors have approved the proposed works a formal Licence Agreement will be prepared by the Company’s solicitor and submitted to your solicitor.  You will be required to pay the Company’s reasonable costs, including, where appropriate, its solicitor, managing agent, surveyor and structural engineer.

Works must NOT be commenced until the formal Licence Agreement is completed and you are strongly advised to allow sufficient time for the completion of what can sometimes be a lengthy process.  When works commence there may be a continuing involvement for some or all of the Company’s advisors and this would also be at your cost.

You can keep your costs to a minimum by ensuring that you employ the appropriate personnel with adequate insurance.  This would apply similarly in relation to any contractors that you use and/or their sub-contractors.

All contractors must be informed of the parking regulations which can be found in the section on parking. If you are having works to your flat, you must be on site for the duration to ensure your contractors are following the rules with regards to parking, permitted hours of work an in-case of emergencies.  If you are not able to be on site, a family member, relative, close friend must be on site. Items for waste/ recycling must not be left anywhere within the grounds of Wilbury Grange without written permission from the managing agent.  Ensure your contractors protect the carpets and walls within the communal areas and observe the weight limits of the lifts. Any charges incurred with regards to additional cleaning of the communal areas, lift call out fees due to the lift being overloaded will be charged accordingly.