Enforcement and retrospective
Had a letter from the council? Here is what happens next.
A notice is a deadline, not a verdict. An enforcement letter means the council thinks something was done without the right approval. Depending on what was done and when, the answer is a retrospective application, a lawful development certificate showing the work is now immune, or a reply that changes the council’s view. We read the notice, tell you where you stand in plain words, and deal with the council for you.
What you get
From the notice to the answer.
A clear view of your options, and the council handled for you.
The review
What the notice says, the deadline, and your options in plain words.
The case
A retrospective planning application, or a lawful development certificate with the evidence gathered.
The council
Every letter and call handled.
The appeal
An appeal against an enforcement notice, where the grounds are real.
Price and time
What it costs and how long it takes.
A clear price in writing before any work starts.
Quoted on the notice, in writing, before any work.
Notice deadlines are set by the council and are usually short, so send us the notice the day it arrives. For breaches on or after 25 April 2024 there is a single ten-year limit before a breach becomes immune from enforcement; the old four-year rule applies only to earlier breaches.
From our clients
Rated 5.0 on Google.
What clients say after a refusal or a council letter.
“Frustration turned to elation when Bashkal successfully achieved planning permission that had previously been denied by the council.”
FAQs
Enforcement questions.
What is an enforcement notice?
A formal notice from the council requiring work to be changed or undone, with a deadline. It can be appealed.
How long do I have to respond?
The deadline is set out in the notice and is usually short. Send it to us the day it arrives.
Can I apply for permission after the work is done?
Yes. A retrospective planning application asks the council to approve work already carried out.
What is a lawful development certificate?
A certificate confirming that a use or building is lawful, for example because it has existed long enough to be immune from enforcement.
Will I have to undo the work?
Not necessarily. Many cases are resolved with a retrospective application, a certificate or a revised scheme.
Can I appeal?
Yes, an enforcement notice can be appealed where the grounds are real. We advise on whether yours has them.
Had a letter? Talk to us today.
Send us the notice and the address. We review every enquiry and come back within 24 hours.