For property owners and their advisers

Enforcement and Compliance Advice

A letter from the enforcement team is unsettling, but it is rarely the end of the matter. Most cases have a route to resolution, and the sooner the position is understood the more routes remain open. We set out where you stand in plain English, then do the work needed to close it.

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Enforcement Risk Assessment

A fixed-fee written assessment of your planning enforcement position, returned within 48 hours of receiving your documents. It is the entry point to everything else we do, and the fee is credited against any further work you instruct.

What it includes

A review of the notice or correspondence, the planning history and your evidence, a view on whether there is a breach, and whether immunity or a lawful use argument is available.

What you receive

A written assessment with a risk rating, the realistic outcomes, the options ranked by cost and likelihood, and the deadlines you must not miss.

Turnaround and fee

48 hours from receipt of your documents. A single fixed fee, quoted before you commit, with no hourly billing at this stage.

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Services

Responding to Planning Contravention Notices and enforcement notices

What it is: A considered, evidenced response to formal notices, prepared to the deadline set out in the notice.
Who it is for: Property owners, landlords and businesses who have received a PCN, a requisition for information or an enforcement notice.
What you receive: A drafted response, a summary of your position and the evidence supporting it, and a written view on the likely next steps.
Fee basis: Fixed fee, quoted after the initial assessment.

Enforcement notice appeals, section 174

What it is: Preparation and conduct of an appeal against an enforcement notice, including immunity cases run on grounds (c) and (d).
Who it is for: Anyone served with an enforcement notice who believes it is wrong, excessive or out of time.
What you receive: Grounds of appeal, a full statement of case, evidence bundle and correspondence with the Planning Inspectorate through to decision.
Fee basis: Staged fee, payable at appeal submission and at statement stage.

Certificates of Lawfulness, CLEUD and CLOPUD

What it is: Applications to confirm that an existing use or works are lawful, or that a proposal would be lawful without planning permission.
Who it is for: Owners regularising long standing uses, and buyers or lenders who need certainty before a transaction.
What you receive: A complete application, a supporting statement, an evidence schedule with statutory declarations where needed, and management of the council's queries.
Fee basis: Fixed fee plus the council application fee.

Retrospective planning applications and regularisation

What it is: Applications to obtain permission for works already carried out or uses already begun, with a strategy for the wider enforcement position.
Who it is for: Owners and operators who want the matter closed rather than contested.
What you receive: Drafting and submission of the application, a planning statement, negotiation with the case officer and updates through to decision.
Fee basis: Fixed fee, quoted on scope.

Pre-purchase and pre-let compliance audits

What it is: A planning compliance check on a property before you buy, lend on or let it, covering permissions, conditions, unauthorised works and live enforcement matters.
Who it is for: Investors, landlords, portfolio managers and buying agents.
What you receive: A written audit with a risk rating, the issues found, what they would cost to resolve and what to raise before exchange.
Fee basis: Fixed fee per property, with portfolio rates available.

HMO and change of use compliance

What it is: Advice on whether a change of use needs permission, how Article 4 directions affect your property, and how to resolve an existing breach.
Who it is for: HMO operators, landlords and small businesses changing how a building is used.
What you receive: A written view on the planning position, the options open to you and a recommended route with timescales.
Fee basis: Fixed fee or hourly, depending on scope.

Expert witness and advisory reports for solicitors

What it is: Independent planning enforcement evidence and opinion for litigation, prosecution defence, lease disputes and professional negligence matters.
Who it is for: Solicitors, barristers and their clients.
What you receive: A CPR compliant report where required, or a concise advisory note, with conference attendance as needed.
Fee basis: Hourly, with an agreed estimate in advance.

Working to a deadline on a notice?

Tell us the date on the notice and we will tell you what has to happen before it.