Sue cutler

Thanks temp. Yes looking back it seems our mistake was once we had permission to do the basement extension we should have actually done that before applying for permission to convert into flats. Then there would have been no cil. And in fact I imagine we could still do that. We actually have 2 planning permissions - 1 is cil free for an extension and the other is for the creation of all 3 flats where they plan to charge cil on the extension. I guess we could just ignore the second permission, proceed with the extension using the first permission then apply again for creation of the flats. At that point there would be no extension so no cil However, in practice we don’t have enough money to do that. We need to sell 2 flats in order to pay off the mortgage and fund the extension...... so I suspect we will just have to accept cil. You also make a good point that of course that way we would pay full vat on the extension work so what we gain on the cil swings we lose on the vat roundabouts. Just seems unreasonable to say a self build exemption applies to this sort of thing and then in practice make it not achievable. But from my research it seems there are lots of things about cil which are wholly unreasonable will see what the council says thanks for the thoughts sue

Just looked at the regs. It seems it only qualifies as a residential extension if it “does not comprise a new dwelling” so the fact that we are doing the extension as part of the development of 3 flats disqualifies it. But we cannot do the 2 flats first then apply separately for an extension to my sisters flat as we would only get permission for the 2 flats by extending the third..... so it seems we cannot get the extension exemption because we are doing the other flats as part of the same permission, they force us to do the other flats as part of the same permission, and we cannot get the self build exemption because although we are creating a new dwelling none of the self build products which they require us to have are available because those products regard this as more of an extension than a self build..... frustrating Will see if the local authority has anything to say. thanks all

In fact it never occurred to me to challenge that as at that point I thought We would be able to get the self build exemption so maybe I will pursue that one... thanks. A good idea. Yes. That is actually a great help without which the project would definitely not be do able. Doesn’t help with cil but does reduce cost a lot....

Yes by the way the whole idea is for her to live in the flat for ever...

Good plan. I think you are right. Will try that and see how we get on.. thanks

I think that doesn’t apply because the one planning application also created The 2 new flats. In fact we applied just to extend house first so as to use that exemption and then submitted an application to divide into flats but they then say it is not just a residential extension. We seem to be caught between 2 stools. If we look just at the flat my sister will live in it is currently just the sitting area of the house so we are creating a new dwelling hence I thought self build. But yes I guess I should ask la as it really does seem not to be one thing or another thanks all

We have been granted the exemption for the one which is increasing in size and which is also the one she will live in. The other 2 are not increasing in size. So she only needs to live in the Cil liable one for 3 years not the others? That is what the council have agreed but the problem is that the paperwork they require on completion does not seem to be possible to comply with in these circs even tho the project seems to qualify in theory

Yes that’s correct. There is an increase in floor area because in order to get planning permission to divide into 3 flats we had to create 1x1 bed, 1x 2 bed and 1x 3 bed. To do that we needed to dig out basement which increased floor area. sue

hi I am sue. My sister and I are planning to convert her large house into 3 flats so as to sell two, pay off her mortgage and for her to live in the third. She has claimed and received a self build exemption for one flat but my research suggests she will not be able to supply any of the 3 forms of evidence required at the end of the self build ( vat letter, self build warranty or self build mortgage) as none of those seem to be available for conversion of a house into 3 flats... has anyone had any experience with this? The Cil is about £20,000 and is making us think twice about whether the project is viable.... love to hear from anyone as this self build exemption looks like a nightmare. thanks sue