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Consent to burn – information on woodburner installation
Rising energy costs
One of the most ‘heated’ conversation topics across the country over the last year has been the soaring cost of heating our homes. This has led to an increase in the installation and use of multi fuel and wood burning stoves as we all try to avoid turning the heating on .
Many choices
There are many different decisions to make when installing a stove in your home. These decisions are affected by the type of home you live in, and how it is constructed. Installation works can vary in their level of intrusion and structural requirements, which in turn impacts on costs.
Sellers’ legal obligations
When selling a property in Scotland there is a legal obligation for the seller to provide Local Authority paperwork for any ‘alterations’ that have been undertaken in the last 20 years that required Building Warrant and in the last 10 years in relation to Planning Permission. Installation of a stove is the type of alteration which may require such paperwork and it is important to check with your Local Authority before undertaking the work. For the purposes of this article we will be considering the Local Authority requirements in the North East of Scotland.
Local Authority requirements
Many stove installations will fall within “Permitted Development” and as such require no Planning Permission. However, both Planning Permission and Building Warrant may be required in certain cases. This can depend on the height and/or location of the flue, the need for structural changes, changes to the layout of your home, or if a chimney is created. These consents provided by the Local Authority ensure the installation of your stove is in line with recommended practices and current legislation
A word of advice
We would offer the following guidance to homeowners who are considering, or have, retrofitted stoves.
- If you are planning to install a stove in your home (a) consider using a HETAS certified installer. HETAS approved installers will provide certification which evidences the fact the installation has been fitted in line with recommended practices and all relevant building regulations. This can give homeowners, and future purchasers, comfort that the installation has been properly carried out and (b) complete a council “Do I need Planning Permission” enquiry and check with the council if the works are exempt from Building Warrant. If the council advise that consents are not required keep a copy of this confirmation safe for future reference.
- If you are considering selling your property, already have a stove fitted and did not obtain permission or check with the Council on whether this was required; we would advise you contact us for advice on what your options are to ensure that your property is saleable
If you have any questions on this or any other property related matter please contact our property team by emailing property@raeburns.co.uk or contacting your local branch. Find out more about our property services here .
