Is Change of Use Necessary for Occasional Holiday Letting of a Detached Annexe?
August 18, 2023 by David Teague in forum Planning Forum
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- Is Change of Use Necessary for Occasional Holiday Letting of a Detached Annexe?
#2059 David Teague, 18 August 2023, 14:53
After making a permitted development enquiry with my local council and sending architects drawings I was given the OK to renovate an outbuilding on my property (an old blacksmiths forge) to provide a self contained one bedroom 'granny annexe'. It has a living area, bedroom, kitchen, WC and shower room. It is detached from the main property where I live, but within the curtilage. It is mainly be used for putting up family guests (and may well be needed for elderly relatives in the future) but to help repay the renovation costs I'd like to rent it out occasionally via AirBnB or similar, probably for 90 days or less per year. I was (perhaps wrongly) under the impression that occasional paying guests would not constitute a 'material change of use', but my council have told me (in no uncertain terms) that I need to apply for Change of Use to a holiday let. Before I do this, I wanted to ask others whether they think this is strictly necessary or advisable? I'm not worried about the costs involved in an application, but my council are notoriously difficult on any planning issue. Thank you.
#2061 Damian, 19 August 2023, 08:24
Firstly, PD doesn’t allow you to use an outbuilding for separate self-contained accommodation. So the fact the Council have (as you suggest) allowed this is a massive relaxation of the rules anyway. Any variation to that would require a Full
Planning application.
Planning application.
#2062 David Teague, 19 August 2023, 09:35
Well this is the legal advice I was given.
A granny annexe is usually considered to be an outbuilding, which are defined as being incidental to the use of the property. This is very important as it will dictate whether or not granny annexe planning permission is required.
If the annexe is deemed to be ‘incidental’ – namely, it is simply another room of the house – it may be built under permitted development rights. This means it will not be necessary to obtain planning permission for granny annexe developments. Nevertheless, the building must meet the rules relating to outbuildings, or granny annexe planning permission will be needed.
A granny annexe is usually considered to be an outbuilding, which are defined as being incidental to the use of the property. This is very important as it will dictate whether or not granny annexe planning permission is required.
If the annexe is deemed to be ‘incidental’ – namely, it is simply another room of the house – it may be built under permitted development rights. This means it will not be necessary to obtain planning permission for granny annexe developments. Nevertheless, the building must meet the rules relating to outbuildings, or granny annexe planning permission will be needed.
#2065 Damian, 19 August 2023, 17:50
But it isn’t just another room of the house. It has self-contained facilities. Have you submitted a LDC application to the Council for an annexe?
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