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When you can make structural alterations

We can only approve structural alterations to your home (changes which alter its layout) if they are made for medical reasons:

• after a change in your or your dependant鈥檚 circumstances
• so they will improve your quality of life

For example, this could be because you, your partner or dependant has reduced mobility or a sensory impairment following an accident and suffering an injury.

Things that count as structural alterations

You must get permission from us for:

• anything that needs planning permission
• changes to your home鈥檚 layout, like converting two rooms into an open plan living space
• converting a loft or basement
• installing specially adapted kitchen units and worktops
• adding an extension or conservatory
• changing access, for example creating a ramp or widening doorways

Things that do not count

You do not need permission for things like:

• internal redecoration and maintenance
• painting
• carpeting
• installing built-in furniture
• refitting an existing kitchen or bathroom
• landscaping of your garden or surrounding land

Keeping your home affordable

Although we want your home to be suitable for your needs, we also want it to be affordable, so you can still comfortably make your equity loan payments.

Depending on your type of alteration and how it was funded, if the structural alterations increase your home鈥檚 market value, they will also increase the equity loan amount you need to repay (as the repayment amount is linked to the market value at the time of repaying). Think about whether you can afford increased repayments.

Any structural alterations you make must not reduce the property鈥檚 market value.

Example

You bought a 2 bedroom home with a Help to Buy: Equity Loan. A year after moving in, you had an accident and suffered spinal injuries. Your medical diagnosis says you will have long term mobility issues.

You鈥檇 like to make your home more accessible by:

• knocking the wall down between the dining and living rooms, creating an open plan living space without doorways
• changing the bathroom into a wet room

As the changes will alter the house structure and layout, you need permission from us before starting work.

We鈥檙e likely to grant your application as the changes are being made for medical reasons and you can provide medical evidence.

How structural alterations will affect your equity loan repayments

If you get permission to make structural alterations, and after making and paying for them yourself this increases the value of your home, the increase in market value will not be added to the total equity loan amount you owe.

If you receive a grant to pay for the alterations, the increase in the value of your home will be included in the market value.

Example

You extended your kitchen with permission based on medical grounds, and after 2 years you want to repay the 20% you borrowed from the Help to Buy: Equity Loan scheme.

You get a certified RICS surveyor to value your home, who says:

• it鈥檚 worth 拢300,000 (not including the extension)
• the extension has added a further 拢25,000 to its market value

Although the market value is now 拢325,000, this increase will not be included in the valuation or the final repayment amount for the equity loan.

You would owe 拢60,000 (20% of 拢300,000). This excludes any interest or management fees.

Making structural alterations without permission

If you do not get permission to make structural alterations, any increase in your home鈥檚 market value will be added to your equity loan, so you鈥檒l owe more.

Example

You built an extra room at the back of your home, but did not get permission before doing the work.

You get a certified RICS surveyor to value your home, who says:

• it is worth 拢300,000 (not including the extra room)
• the extra room has added a further 拢25,000 to its market value

This increase in the value of your home will be included in the valuation and in the final repayment amount for your equity loan.

You would owe 拢65,000 (20% of 拢325,000). This excludes any interest or management fees.

If you鈥檝e already made structural alterations but did not get permission

If you鈥檝e already made structural alterations to your home, but did not know that you needed permission, you can still apply by following the 鈥楬ow to apply鈥� steps

You鈥檒l also need to complete and send us the declaration of work completed form, even if your application is not successful.鈥�鈥�

We鈥檒l keep a copy of this form on your customer file.鈥�鈥�

We will:鈥�鈥�

• assess your application鈥�鈥�
• tell you in writing if it鈥檚 successful鈥�

If we decline your application, you鈥檒l have to either return your home to its original condition, at your own cost, or repay the loan. The cost of the structural alteration will be included in the property鈥檚 valuation.

We鈥檒l process your application as soon as we receive all your documents and forms, but we may have to refer your case to another team.

How to apply for permission to make structural alterations

Follow these steps to make your application.

1. Contact our Customer Service team

Let us know you鈥檇 like to apply to make a structural alteration and we鈥檒l tell you more about the process.

Phone: 0300 123 4123

Email: [email protected]

When emailing our Customer Service team, please include your account number and a brief summary of your query 鈥� for example 鈥楽tructural alterations鈥� 鈥� in your email subject line.

Post: Help to Buy Customer Service team, PO Box 5262, Lancing, BN99 9HE

Our Customer Service team is available Monday to Friday, 8am-8pm and Saturday, 9am-1pm (excluding UK public holidays).

2. Prepare your medical and financial evidence

We鈥檒l need to see evidence showing why the structural alterations are needed.

You must send us:

• a letter from your GP or another medical professional saying why you need the changes
• copies of any planning permission documents, building control approval, quotes for works etc.
• a letter from your property鈥檚 owner, if you live in a leasehold property, saying that they agree to the structural alterations, under the terms of your lease
• a copy of the declaration of work completed form if you鈥檝e already made the structural alterations

We鈥檒l also need proof of how you鈥檒l pay for the structural alterations. This could be through:

• private funds: copies of bank statements showing your savings
• additional borrowing: a letter from your mortgage lender saying they approve the structural alterations and will lend you extra on your repayment mortgage to pay for them
• a medical grant to fund all or part of the structural alterations: a copy of your grant confirmation letter

Find out how to remortgage your Help to Buy home to pay for structural alterations.

3. Complete the application form

Complete and sign the application form.

Return your completed form to our Customer Service team with your evidence by email or post using the details above.

4. Pay the administration fee

You鈥檒l need to pay a 拢50 administration fee when you send us the application form and documents.

You can pay this by:

• bank transfer
• online at the link we send you
• debit card by calling 0300 123 4123
• cheque

If you pay by bank transfer, you need to tell us by email or phone so we can confirm it on your customer file.

If we have your mobile number, we鈥檒l send you an SMS text message from 鈥楬elptoBuy鈥� with a unique link to HelptoBuy.paythru.com. The link works for 4 days from when we send it. We only use this payment method for your admin fee.

Our Customer Service team is available 9.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday (excluding UK public holidays).

We cannot progress your application until we鈥檝e received this payment.

Payment details

Bank name: Lloyds Bank PLC

Account name: EQGATEWAY RE HE HELP TO BUY ADMIN

Sort code: 30-80-12

Account number: 24501860

Reference: Your customer account number or first line of your address and postcode

5. Getting a decision

You鈥檒l get a decision in writing within 10 working days of us receiving your documents and application fee. We鈥檒l record this on your customer file.

The decision will either be:

• permission to make structural alterations. The value of the alteration will not be included when you repay your equity loan.
• permission to make structural alterations using a grant. The value of the alteration will be included when you repay your equity loan.
• refusal of permission to make structural alterations

We will refuse permission if the structural alteration is not made for a medical reason.

If you decide to make the structural alterations after we refuse your application, or without applying, you鈥檒l put yourself at risk of legal action and potential costs.

We鈥檒l consider taking action against you as you will be breaking the terms of your Help to Buy: Equity Loan.

We may also consider taking action against you with your mortgage lender.

6. Sign and send a 鈥榙eclaration of work completed鈥� form

When any structural alterations to your property are completed, you must complete, sign and return the 鈥榙eclaration of work completed鈥� form, together with any supporting documents, like building control approval.

You need to send this to us even if they have not approved the work.鈥�

We鈥檒l hold a copy on your customer file.