Smart rental upgrades that don't require planning permission

As any landlord will know, striking the right balance between wanting to earn more rent for your property through strategic developments, and worrying about planning permission delays leaving the property vacant for too long is always important.

Permitted developments are the answer—changes to the look and feel of a home but without the need for planning applications. These developments are minor building works or changes that don’t require a formal application to a local council. In other words, they’re upgrades that can be made to your rental that deliver high ROI, with the lowest risk. While some exceptions exist, like period properties or listed buildings, most modern homes can proceed with the following changes without worry.

Interior upgrades: high impact, low intervention

The first change you can make, without the need for planning permission, is updating the aesthetics. Refreshing the colour scheme with neutral or modern colours, replacing worn carpets with easy-to-clean vinyl or laminate flooring, and adding a fresh touch to doors and cabinets with new hardware can all work wonders in making a dated rental look stylish.

Likewise, kitchens and bathrooms are the perfect starting point for giving the rental a refresh, but a full refit is not necessary to make a difference. Resealing the silicone around baths, showers, and sinks, or redoing the grout between tiling can instantly make the room look more polished and well-maintained. Old, tired cupboard doors and handles can be given new life even by changing the door hardware and giving a lick of fresh paint to the units, to create a new feel.

Upgrading old electrics and lighting fixtures can also be carried out without planning permission and are a wise investment for rental properties, giving you and your tenants peace of mind. Not only does it make the rooms brighter and more functional, but it also helps to reduce energy wastage which brings the carbon footprint of the property down. This can also be a good opportunity to add in extra plug sockets in kitchens and living rooms, or USB charging ports near beds or desks.

Exterior and security boosts

If your property has a garden or outdoor space, making this more usable and functional will make a huge difference. Replacing lawned areas with patio slabs or gravel will make the area easier for tenants to maintain, even those who don’t have a green thumb. Attractive, retractable awnings overhead will provide protection from the elements year-round, and many specialist companies offer customisable sizing for awnings and pergolas. Providers like Aquarius Blinds demonstrate this flexibility, allowing landlords to install shading totally suited to any size of balcony or patio.

Another permitted development that can add great value to a property is a porch. Provided it’s 2m away from any neighbouring boundary, and no more than 3m in height, you shouldn’t need planning permission for it. It’s a practical addition that can be used by tenants as a utility or a boot room, or even just to add a decorative touch to enhance the kerb appeal of the building.

Landlords also need to manage risks in the property and there are simple upgrades that will make your rental safer and secure. Installing a key safe, or replacing existing hardware with a smart lock, minimises the risk of unauthorised access, while motion-sensor security lighting that can be mounted to the walls easily will allow safe thoroughfare for tenants and deter criminal activity.

Energy efficiency and thermal control

Making the rental more energy efficient is always time and money well spent. The first step is to look at adding window treatments to give tenants more control over heat loss and gain. Installing high-quality, thermal-backed blinds or shutters will enhance the look of each room, while motorised options also make the rental more convenient for residents.

Smart technology is another easy way to make a buy-to-let more appealing to tenants without any need for planning permission or lengthy renovation projects. Smart thermostats and smart locks don’t require any structural rewiring and will make a huge difference to your tenants’ quality of life.

Don’t forget to take a look at the insulation, and level this up where possible. Loft insulation can be updated easily and will retain more warmth in the property, while replacing dated extractor fans in kitchens and bathrooms with high-efficiency models will keep moisture and condensation at bay.

As landlords and property owners, we often assume that any impactful changes to a property have to come with a lengthy planning application, but as we can see, that’s not always the case. Careful changes that put the tenant first and bear their comfort and convenience in mind are always going to be the most effective, and don’t need to take considerable time or money to put in place.