Lawful Development Certificates for garden rooms
If you build your garden room under the Permitted Development rules, it is worth applying to your Local Authority for a Lawful Development Certificate.
A Lawful Development Certificate can be helpful to confirm what you are building is legal. The certificate can also reassure concerned neighbours and make the conveyancing process smoother when you sell your house.
Different to planning permission
A Lawful Development Certificate is different to Planning Permission but does give you proof that the building work is legal, as is the intended use of the building.
In many cases, a garden room can be built without the need to apply for Planning Permission as long as you follow the Permitted Development rules.
By applying for a Lawful Development Certificate, you are seeking formal confirmation that planning permission is not required and that you are building the garden room under Permitted Development rules lawfully.
Applying for a Certificate of Lawfulness takes time to process, and there are fees involved, but it will give you peace of mind that everything you are doing is by the book!
In some cases, garden room companies will obtain the Lawful Development Certificate for you as part of their overall service.