Brent success: Certificate of Lawfulness for two self-contained flats
This case related to an application for a Certificate of Lawfulness for the use of part of a residential property in the London Borough of Brent as two self-contained flats. The property had been subdivided into multiple units without planning permission. The application relied on evidence that the use of the ground floor and top […]
Application for a certificate of lawfulness for the use of an outbuilding as a separate, self-contained dwelling
Section 171B(2) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 sets out a time limit of four years for councils to take enforcement action against new dwellings that have been created without planning permission. This ‘four year rule’ was abolished in April 2024, but it can still be used as long as the new dwelling was […]
Certificate of lawfulness for the use of the building as 4 flats (under the four year rule)
This is the latest in a series of successful applications for certificates of lawfulness under the so-called ‘four year rule’. It is also the second victory of this kind in Redbridge in just two days! Yesterday we obtained a similar certificate of lawfulness for the use of 39 flats in another part of Ilford. This […]
Certificate of Lawfulness under the four year rule for the use of a building as 39 flats
This is the biggest ever application we have made for a certificate of lawfulness under the four year rule! The applicant had created 39 flats without planning permission. However, the “four-year rule” means that the creation of new dwellings is lawful after a period of four years has passed. It is a provision set out […]
Enforcement notice quashed after appeal against conversion of upper floors into three flats
London Borough of Barking and Dagenham served an enforcement notice against our client in relation to the upper floors above a shop at 683A Green Lane, Dagenham. The council alleged that the flat above the shop had been subdivided without planning permission into multiple self-contained units of accommodation. The notice required our client to stop […]
Certificate of lawfulness granted for 14 flats (four-year rule)
This case concerned a building that had been converted into 14 self-contained flats without planning permission. The flats had been in place for several years, but no formal confirmation of their lawfulness had been obtained. This created uncertainty as to the planning status of the property. If a building is converted into flats without planning […]
Certificate of lawfulness granted for a house (four-year rule)
This case concerned a property that had been in use as a separate house for many years, but without any formal confirmation that the use was lawful. The dwelling had originally been created from a two-storey side extension to number 5 Kentwode Green. Although it had clearly been used as a separate, self-contained house for […]
Lawful Development Certificate Granted – Creation of Separate Dwellings
The four year rule The Town & Country Planning Act allows that development without planning permission becomes lawful after four years (the four year rule) or ten years (the ten year rule). The four year rule applies to physical development (such as building an extension) or a change of use creating a new dwelling. The […]
Certificate of lawfulness for the use of a building as two separate flats
If new flats or houses are created without planning permission, they can become lawful after a period of time has passed. This is often referred to as the ‘four year rule’. In this case, our client had converted an outbuilding at the rear of his property into two separate flats. The works had taken place […]
Certificate of lawfulness granted for use of an annexe as a separate dwelling
The site and background This case concerned a property at Poulton Road in Southport, where a substantial outbuilding to the rear of the main house had been converted into residential accommodation. Planning permission was granted in 2003 for the conversion of the outbuilding into living accommodation for members of the household. That permission was subject […]