Certificate of Lawfulness in
London
An extension built years ago in London without formal permission, or a use that’s continued unchallenged for a decade, can become genuinely lawful over time – but only with the right evidence and the right certificate. We check whether your specific situation in London actually qualifies before you apply for anything.
Get Your Free Eligibility CheckUnderstanding The Evidence Test For London
People in London often assume that because something’s been in place a long time, it’s automatically fine – but immunity from enforcement isn’t automatic, it has to be formally confirmed through a Certificate of Lawfulness, and that confirmation depends entirely on the strength of the evidence presented.
Property sales in London are a genuinely common trigger for this – a conveyancing solicitor spots an undocumented alteration and won’t proceed until its lawful status is confirmed, putting real time pressure on getting the certificate right.
Before anything formal happens for London, our free eligibility check covers your specific situation – existing or proposed, timeline, and what evidence genuinely exists to support it.
Free Eligibility Check
Confirms whether you genuinely qualify
Existing Or Proposed
CLEUD or CLOPUD, correctly identified
Evidence Prepared
Built to satisfy the council’s evidence test
Fast Turnaround
Applications moved along quickly
How We Help in London
Working out which certificate actually applies to London – existing use or proposed – and whether the situation genuinely meets the relevant legal threshold comes first, before anything else.
From there, we help gather and organise the evidence your London application needs – dated documentation, statutory declarations, anything that builds a clear, defensible timeline for the council to assess.
Because London councils can query specific evidence points during determination, we remain available throughout to clarify or supplement whatever’s needed.
Why London Homeowners Start With An Eligibility Check
Every London situation has its own evidence trail, and generic advice can’t account for what’s actually documented versus what would need to be gathered. We check the real picture first.
London applications succeed or fail on evidence quality, not quantity – we focus on what actually proves continuous, unchallenged use, not a folder of loosely related documents.
Property transactions in London often bring real time pressure – a solicitor flagging an issue days before completion. We understand that urgency and work accordingly, without cutting corners on the evidence itself.
Get Your Free Eligibility Check
Certificate of Lawfulness FAQs for London
What’s the difference between existing and proposed certificates in London?
A Certificate of Lawfulness for Existing Use or Development (CLEUD) confirms something already in place in London is lawful, while a Certificate for a Proposed Use or Development (CLOPUD) confirms something not yet started won’t need planning permission.
What is the four-year rule for a London Certificate of Lawfulness?
The four-year rule in London applies specifically to building operations and changes of use to use as a single dwelling – other changes of use typically need ten years instead.
Which changes of use need ten years in London?
If your London situation isn’t building work or a single dwelling use change, the ten-year rule most likely applies – we confirm which threshold your specific case needs.
What evidence do I need for a London Certificate of Lawfulness?
Dated photographs, utility bills, tenancy agreements, and statutory declarations from neighbours or previous owners are all common evidence types for London applications, building a clear continuous timeline.
Do I need a Certificate of Lawfulness to sell my London property?
Often yes – a conveyancing solicitor in London may flag an undocumented alteration and require formal confirmation of its lawful status before the sale can proceed.
Do I pay anything before the London evidence review starts?
Yes, the London eligibility check costs nothing – you’ll know whether your situation genuinely qualifies long before fees ever come into it.