Knowledge Hub / Legal & Compliance

Legal & Compliance

Planning permission, building regulations, boundaries and safety — the rules explained in plain English, so you know where you stand before you build.

Do you need planning permission for a garden room?

When a garden room counts as permitted development — the height, size and position rules — and when you’ll need to apply.

Garden room building regulations explained

The floor area, boundary and sleeping-accommodation rules that decide whether building regulations apply.

Garden rooms and your property boundary

The 2-metre height rule, the 1-metre fire safety rule, party walls and getting access for the build.

Electrics, plumbing & utilities

Part P electrics, data cabling, plumbing and drainage — and checking your supply has the capacity.

Approvals for home extensions

Permitted development, Building Regulations and drains under the footprint — answered in our extension FAQs.

Warranty & aftercare

What our 10-year structural warranty and CareCover™ aftercare include, and how to look after your room.

These guides are general information based on the rules for houses in England. Your property may have its own restrictions (for example in a conservation area or where permitted development rights have been removed), so always check with your local council before you build. We check your plot at the site survey too.

Not sure what applies to your plot?

We check planning and building regulation requirements during your free site survey, so you’ll know exactly where you stand before your design is finalised.