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What is the difference between a Letter Licence and a Licence Deed?
Letter Licence
This is usually for minor alterations (the table below shows examples) and includes all the conditions you must meet.
A Letter Licence is produced by HomeGround on behalf of the landlord and you need to sign and return it to HomeGround before you can begin any alterations.
Licence Deed
This is required for more complex works, for major works or where a variation might be required to the terms of the lease or if other parties are involved, such as a superior landlord or where the landlord is not the freeholder (see FAQ Will I need to get consent from anybody else?).
A Licence Deed is drafted by the landlord’s solicitors and it will need to be executed as a legal deed by you and the other parties.
The landlord will also instruct a surveyor to review your proposal and to prepare a report that confirms the intended works will:
- Houses
- not create a risk to the structure of the house
- not adversely affect the estate in any way.
- Flats
- not create a risk to the building
- not create a risk to the other leaseholders.
We will let you know if the surveyor needs to visit your property to discuss the proposed alterations with you and/or your representatives. They surveyor's recommendations will be in incorporated in the Licence Deed.
HomeGround do not act as surveyors and are not qualified to advise landlords on plans and drawings for proposed works. It is essential that these are professionally reviewed to ensure the safety of the building and those who live in it.
Each request for alterations is treated on a case-by-case basis and HomeGround and the landlord will decide which licence is most appropriate for your application.
Examples of alterations which typically fall under either a Letter Licence or a Licence Deed (please note, this list is not exhaustive):
| Letter Licence | Licence Deed |
|---|---|
| Replacing existing windows or doors | Conservatories and orangeries |
| Replacing a boiler and related flue | Converting a garage into living space (such as a bedroom or living room) |
| Erecting external walls, fences, gates and railings | Extensions |
| Replacing or maintaining driveways | Changing the internal layout of the flat where structural walls are moved/removed |
| Wet rooms | Extending into the loft space |
| Lighting and minor electrical works | Installing additional floors, such as mezzanine levels, and creating new staircases (e.g. within multi-level apartments) |
| Flooring (e.g. installing wooden or laminate flooring) | Creating new window or door openings or converting an external window to a door |