Former council houses
Restrictive covenants on former council houses imposed by SODC
Restrictive covenants are permanent rules on what you can and can’t do to a house and/or a piece of land and these rules are passed on to anyone buying it.
To find out if your home has a restrictive covenant, you can read the title documents from when you bought the house or ask the solicitor who acted for you for advice.
Covenants can include restrictions on:
- Alterations and extensions to the building
- Changes to the front garden and garden fences
- Parking
- Changing the use – such as turning a house into a business premises
- Pets
- Hobbies
- Letting it out to others
- Advertising posters
- Right of entry for maintenance of services – such as keeping drains uncovered
Applying for consent to make changes
If the property was formerly owned by SODC you must apply to the Strategic Property team prior to doing any work or making any changes.
Once a member of the Strategic Property team starts work on your case, you will need to provide us with the following information:
- Land registry documents for your own property/land
- Title register
- Title plan
- Title deed
- Transfer document
- Your solicitor’s details (where applicable)
We would recommend that residents contact their own solicitors for legal advice in relation to covenants.
The council is only able to deal with applications and enquiries from the freeholder or their appointed solicitor.
Please be aware that you will be responsible for the council’s costs in dealing with this matter and the Strategic Property team will be able to advise further.
If you live in a Soha property, you will need to contact them for consent. Their website is www.soha.co.uk.
Contact us - Strategic Property team
01235 422660
(Text phone users add 18001 before dialing)
South Oxfordshire District Council
Abbey House
Abbey Close
Abingdon
OX14 3JE