Guides · 5 min
Lawful development certificates
A certificate is the council saying a project is lawful. It can still be a no.
Two kinds
A certificate of lawfulness for a proposed use or development asks about work you have not done yet. One for an existing use or development asks the council to confirm work that is already there.
You send drawings and the facts. If the council agrees the national rules cover it, they issue the certificate. If not, they refuse. A refusal does not ban a later planning application.
Why people get one
Buyers and lenders like a certificate because it is a piece of paper. It is stronger than a friend’s opinion that “it should be fine”.
The council judges the drawings against the rules. A loft that is too big, or a house whose rights were removed, will fail.
Check with your council. Rules change, and every house is different.
Questions
Is a certificate the same as planning permission?
No. It confirms the work is lawful under the rules. It is not a design approval.
Should I get one before I buy?
If the price depends on a loft or an extension that you think is already allowed, a certificate is the clean way to know. It takes time, so ask early.
Check with your council. Rules change, and every house is different.