Common reasons for wanting to make changes to the façade of a building include:

• Change a window to a door to get onto or use a roof area as a terrace
• Change a window height, size
• Install a new window (perhaps a velux type window to a roof)
• Install a new boiler flue
• Install a new waste pipe to a new bathroom

Any change to the exterior of the building needs to be planned.  Most proposed changes will not only require planning and building regulations consent but consent of the freeholder/freehold company also.

The general rule of thumb is that...

• New pipe protrusions for new waste pipe connections will be allowed subject to conditions such as back filling around pipes (by bricking up not expanding spray foam) should be allowed if they arise from permitted internal alterations.
• New holes for boiler flues should be allowed subject to conditions such as bricking up any former openings from a different flue installation and provision of a heat deflector plate where the boiler emissions are for example near to PVC rainwater goods/waste pipes that might become warped or damaged from the heat of boiler emissions.

Other considerations

For all other external alterations the landlords can withhold consent either because the lease prohibits external alterations or because it says that consent cannot be “unreasonably withheld”.

Clearly a reasonable basis to withhold consent could include a change to the aesthetic design of the building or creation of a door to a flat roof which is not an “authorized roof terrace” either in planning terms or under the lease.

External openings can be accommodated in the exterior of the building subject to:

• provision of suitable bridging support to bear the weight of the load above (ie, lintels of correct mass, length & proportion over window openings);
• provision of additional support to roof rafters removed to create a roof window (typically double bracing the remainder rafters to the head and sides of the new opening formed.

Naturally there may be a limit to how many external openings can be made.

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