A good ‘document’ to read is the “Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002” – or something like that. My solicitor put me onto this when we bought our house last year. It will mention in this document, which is very lengthy, about gaining permission when doing alterations to your property (I think).
When we bought our house, the previous occupier had erected an extension and not told the lessor (freeholder, landlord). Unfortunately, the lessor charged them £300 retrospective consent.
Has the lessor tried to get you to use their insurers? They tried this with me, then tried to charge me a ‘reasonable charge’ for getting my own insurer ‘approved’. Gave them a legal kick in the ‘nads for that. They haven’t bothered me since – but I’ve got to contact them again so the fun will begin soon!
There is a reason why lessors insist you have insurance and why they insist on approving plans for extensions. They are quite outdated though and not relevant for the 21st century. The extension approval especially seeing as you need planning permission for most projects. The main reason they chase you for consents etc. is because they are what my solicitor described them as: “Thieving B…s”.
Do you deal with the landlord direct or through a management company? There is a reason for asking – but I won’t go into that in public. Don’t want to give away my trump card when I go to enfranchisement (when we buy the freehold) shortly.
Also, how long before you start on your extension? If it’s a while, it may be worth contacting
www.lease.org.uk (or whatever the link above is). I’ve used them before. See whether it would be worth taking the lessors to the LVT (Leasehold Valuation Tribunal) about the consent charge not being reasonable. If you do do this, let me know whether your ‘landlords’ use a management company first.
Hope this has been of some help.
G