We bought our house 16 years ago and it had a cottage in the garden.
The house and cottage are both about 175-200 years old.
We applied for a building warrant to renovate the interior of the cottage. we also contacted planning and were told that if it is a house and we are not changing it from a house then we didn't need planning permission. There were no exterior changes.
We started renting the cottage out about 8 years ago once we realised none of our parents were going to occupy it. We have all the land lords certifacates, council tax stuff etc.
The council have contacted us and told us the cottage is illegal. They wont tell us why and only after pestering a clerk did he suggest getting a certificate of lawfulness. Why would we need it after nearly 200 years??
The house and cottage are both about 175-200 years old.
We applied for a building warrant to renovate the interior of the cottage. we also contacted planning and were told that if it is a house and we are not changing it from a house then we didn't need planning permission. There were no exterior changes.
We started renting the cottage out about 8 years ago once we realised none of our parents were going to occupy it. We have all the land lords certifacates, council tax stuff etc.
The council have contacted us and told us the cottage is illegal. They wont tell us why and only after pestering a clerk did he suggest getting a certificate of lawfulness. Why would we need it after nearly 200 years??