Hastings Borough Council says that accommodation in a house or garden building may not need planning permission as an annexe when it remains connected to the main house and is used by family members. The Council says an annexe cannot be used to create a new dwelling independent of the main house; renting or selling it separately requires planning permission first. A new garden outbuilding may itself require permission.
These statements are Hastings planning guidance, not a rule for all of England. Whether a building is ancillary can depend on how it connects to and functions with the main home, the intended occupants, its construction, and the property’s earlier planning consents. The Council advises checking conditions attached to previous approvals.
Before changing the use
Review the planning decision and approved plans for the property. If you intend to let the annexe to unrelated occupants or transfer it separately, ask Hastings planning whether permission is required and what application route applies before making the change. Permission for the structure does not necessarily authorize a separate dwelling or independent sale.
Check building approval, lawful occupancy, title, tenancy rules, and any covenant separately. The Council page does not decide a particular property’s history, permission, or title status. Obtain current written advice based on the actual plans and use before relying on an annexe classification.