Secure Tenants have the legal right to request permission to carry out improvements and/or alterations to their homes. Tenants must not carry out improvements to their homes without written permission from CNH. CNH will seek to ensure that any works undertaken by the tenant are carried out to an acceptable standard and also meet statutory or safety guidelines.

Permission for improvements that tenants wish to make will not be unreasonably withheld.

In determining whether a request for alterations or improvements is reasonable, regard should be given to whether the alteration or improvement would:

• Make the dwelling-house or any other premises less safe for occupiers
• Cause the landlord to incur expenditure it would not be likely to incur if the
improvements were not made
• Reduce the price which the dwelling house would fetch on the open
market or the rent which could be charged.

Introductory tenants do not have the right to carry out improvements and/or alterations to their homes, but in some circumstances where the request is reasonable or it is a relatively minor improvement, consent may be granted at the discretion of Charnwood Neighbourhood Housing.

If you wish to carry out an alteration of improvement to your home you must have permission prior to carrying out any work. In some cases a home visit may be required before a decision can be given. A decision will be given within 20 days of receipt of a request.