MAKE YOUR FREE Landlord consent to alterations letter

For use in England and Wales only.

Use this landlord consent to alterations to give your residential tenant permission to make alterations to your property.

Recently reviewed by Adnan Mahmood, Solicitor and Head of Legal, UK. 

This garage licence was last reviewed on 17 June 2022.

Use this landlord consent to alterations letter:

• if you are a residential landlord

• if your tenant has asked for your permission to make alterations to the rental property and you consent to these alterations

• to set out the terms of your consent

• for alterations to properties in England and Wales only

This landlord consent to alterations template covers:

• the landlord’s consent to the proposed alterations

• what other permissions (eg planning permission) the tenant needs to obtain before making alterations

• where the drawings and specifications for the proposed alterations can be found

• the quality and suitability of materials for the alterations

• when the landlord (or their legal advisers or surveyors) can inspect the alterations

• who must pay expenses in connection with the proposed alterations

A landlord consent to alterations letter creates an agreement between a landlord and a tenant, permitting the tenant to make changes and alterations to rented residential property. Using this letter, the landlord grants the tenant permission to modify the property subject to the terms in the letter. The tenant is asked to confirm receipt of the letter by signing and returning a copy to the landlord.

You should use a landlord consent to alterations letter if your tenant has requested to make changes to the property. 

Use this landlord consent to alterations if you: 

• have received a request to alter the property from your tenant, and

• have considered the tenant’s application for property alterations, and

• consent to the proposed property alterations and have decided to allow the tenant to proceed with the proposed alterations

A landlord consent to alterations will help avoid any potential conflict by setting out clear rules about changes tenants would like to make to their rented home.

The drawings and specifications of the alterations are a representation of the changes the tenant wants to make to the property (eg architect’s drawings). The tenant may provide the drawings and specifications:

• when they initially request the landlord’s permission to make the changes

• later on in the process of gaining the landlord’s consent

Alternatively, the landlord may provide the drawings and specifications if the tenant merely requested a change be made, but not precisely how this should look. For example, the tenant may request shelving be installed in the property but not how or where.

In all cases, the drawings and specifications should be attached to this landlord consent to alterations to act as a reference of the accepted alterations.

All alterations to the property must be made using good quality and suitable materials, which are to the landlord’s satisfaction. 

Similarly, all alterations must be carried out to a high standard of workmanship, which is to the landlord’s satisfaction.

Generally, the tenant will pay for the alterations they wish to make unless the alterations are essential (eg must be made to ensure that the property is fit for human habitation or to repair the property). If the latter is the case, the landlord must typically cover the cost of the alterations (which are likely to be repaired).

The tenant must also pay any reasonable expenses incurred by the landlord or the landlord’s advisers (eg lawyers) or surveyors in connection with the proposed alterations. For example, costs associated with:

• a surveyor checking alteration plans and the work itself

• any  general administration charges

A licence to alter (also known as a ‘licence for alterations’) is a formal legal document required by leaseholders to make certain changes to their leasehold property. 

A leasehold property is leased from the freehold owner (ie the person or business that owns the whole property and the land it is built on) and is the ownership of the property - but not the land - for a fixed term. For more information, read Freehold and leasehold property.

A licence to alter sets out the conditions under which alterations can be made and ensures that unexpected conflicts related to the work can be avoided.

This landlord consent to alterations is not a licence to alter. If you require a licence to alter Ask a lawyer for more information.

In this landlord consent letter, the landlord can request that the tenant remove the property alterations and return the property to its previous state by giving notice before the end of the tenancy. For example, this may be the case if the alterations involved:

• baby-proofing the property (eg installing baby gates)

• installing wall shelving

If the landlord does not request that the tenant remove the alterations, they will form part of the property and can remain after the tenancy ends.

Ask a lawyer for advice if:

• the document doesn't meet your needs or cover what you want

• the tenant does not agree to or comply with the terms of this letter

• your tenant is a commercial tenant

• you are based in Scotland

This landlord consent to alterations is governed by the laws of England and Wales.