Landlord consent process

Under the terms of your lease, you must get written permission from us before making certain changes and improvements to your site. This permission is called landlord consent.

Alterations or improvements which need permission

You usually don't need your landlord's consent for minor changes. However, you must get consent for any major or structural changes or additions, and this may also need changes to your lease. You need to get this consent before starting any work.

You will also be responsible for getting the relevant planning permission, and making sure your changes meet building control and health and safety regulations. 

We will not ask you to get permission for minor improvements, like:

• installation of cupboards
• replacement of carpets
• replacing the existing kitchen or bathroom 
• carrying out any electrical or gas works by a registered person

You will need permission for:

• alterations and additions to internal and external walls and ceilings including removals, insertions and extensions
• all works that may disturb the fabric of the building and services connected to it (building structure, for example walls, ceilings, floors and services such as electric, gas, water and safety systems)
• refurbishments - any work that goes beyond routine repair and maintenance, such as kitchen and bathroom refits, re-wires, window and door replacements, roof and roofline works, heating systems
• demolition works
• building of a new structure including multi-use games areas (mugas)
• inserting new fences (external) or applying a new type of surface to existing surfaces (external)

Also, depending on the terms of your agreement, you may need permission for:

• sub-leasing or underletting parts of your building for other uses or to different organisations, for example, coffee shop, youth club
• assignment of the lease to another tenant, if allowed within your lease

A surveyor may need to check the property to make sure your plans do not harm nearby properties or buildings. They may also need to check the work once it's done.

Alteration types

We will not give permission for works to be carried out that: 

• could damage the property or building
• create safety risks
• disturb other residents
• make the council pay for future repairs or maintenance
• happen in parts of the building not included in your lease (lofts, attics, basements or common gardens) unless they are bought as part of the process

Requesting permission to make changes

If you are a leaseholder and want to ask for permission to carry out any improvements and alterations to the property you occupy, you will need to complete the landlord consent form (Word doc, 43 KB).

Alterations carried out without consent

If you have already started or made changes to your property without our permission, you will be in breach of your lease and will still need to get our permission.

Making changes without our permission means you will have to return the property back to its original state if consent is not given.

Apply for landlord consent for building works

Complete this form if you are a leaseholder and want to ask for permission to carry out building work on your Gateshead Council property. This is called landlord consent.

Before you start

Only complete this form if you:

• are the owner of the leasehold property 
• have checked and applied for planning permission or building control approval, if needed

You will need:

• property address
• contact telephone number
• scaled plans showing existing and proposed layout for structural changes
• photos or supporting documents

Supporting documents

We may ask you to provide some documents. For example, plans of any structural changes, gas safe certificate, planning permission, building control approval, FENSA certificate.

What happens next

Landlord consent is required to ensure all works fulfil Gateshead Council standards and follow health and safety regulations. If you are unsure if you need permission, please contact the property services team on property@gateshead.gov.uk

We will send you a letter within 10 working days, explaining the process you will need to follow to get landlord consent.

If you know you require landlord consent, please complete and return the form (Word doc, 43 KB) with all requested information to property services property@gateshead.gov.uk

Please be aware that landlord consent applications will take a minimum of two weeks to process. Works should not proceed until consent has been given.