What improvements will Hackney Homes make to my home?
Hackney Homes has an on-going plan for major repairs and improvements to properties in the borough. As part of the Decent Homes programme, these improvements are being carried out in thousands of homes. Improvements can include major building as well as environmental improvements such as lighting, security, CCTV and enlarging refuse chutes.
We will consult with you, well ahead of time, about any work we expect to do in your home such as, new windows, roofs or heating systems. You can also ask us for details of what we may be planning for your area. You can find out more about Decent Homes on the website.
What improvements can I make to my home?
You can carry out improvements to your home but you will need to discuss your plans with us first so that we can grant landlord's consent. Examples of alterations are:
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Installation of new windows
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Installation of a new boiler
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Any alteration to the internal structure of the property, eg removing a wall
What you need to do to obtain landlord's consent depends on whether you are a tenant or leaseholder:
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If you are a tenant then you should write to your Neighbourhood Housing Office, giving full details of what you plan to do.
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If you are a leaseholder you should write to the Business Support Officer, First Floor, Christopher Addison House, 72 Wilton Way, London E8 1BJ. You can also call for advice on 020 8356 2298. Please include a contact telephone number as we will need to arrange for a Surveyor to visit you.
Each alterations request is considered separately and we will normally give permission, subject to any conditions that may be appropriate for the type of work required. You must not start work before getting permission. If we don't give permission we will tell you our reasons.
If you want guidance on what you can do without permission, please contact us, as above.
In addition to obtaining landlord's consent you may also need to obtain planning permission or building regulations approval from Hackney Council for the work you want to carry out. There is further information on planning permission shown below.
You can download the 
Decorating your home information leaflet for some handy hints and advice about decorating the inside of your home. Although home decorating can take some time, it can also be extremely rewarding and help you to create the kind of atmosphere that you want to live in.
Decorating your home information leaflet for some handy hints and advice about decorating the inside of your home. Although home decorating can take some time, it can also be extremely rewarding and help you to create the kind of atmosphere that you want to live in.Will I need to get planning permission?
In some cases you will need to get planning permission and building regulations approval from the Hackney Council.
This approval is required in addition to landlord's consent, not instead of it. You should check with the Council's Planning Department whether approval is needed for what you want to do. See Planning applications (opens in a new window). It is your responsibility to apply for this approval. We cannot do it on your behalf.
Tenants' compensation for improvements
Can I get compensation for improvements made to my home?
At the end of your tenancy, you may get compensation for certain improvements you have done. We can give you a list of what kinds of improvements these are.Compensation can only be paid when you leave your home. The amount paid will be based on the original cost of the improvement and how long it has been in use. No compensation will be paid if:
- you did not get our written permission to do the work
- we have had to evict you because you broke the tenancy conditions
- the compensation to be paid is less than £50
- the improvement was made before 1st April 1994.
If you are a tenant, you can get more information about home alterations and improvements by phoning the Redecorations Team on 020 8356 3132.