PEOPLE who make ‘improvements’ to their council home without seeking advice have been warned.

The work may come back to bite you – as a Huddersfield couple discovered.

Diane Boltwood and Donovan Wood, of Crosland Moor , changed the colour scheme of their kitchen and installed decking in their steep garden so disabled Ms Boltwood could sit outside in the summer.

But the pair were told they could not move to another council home – through (KNH) Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing’s ‘Choose and Move’ scheme – until they undid their handiwork.

Ms Boltwood and Mr Wood were told their modifications were not in line with specifications stipulated by KNH, which manages Kirklees Council’s social housing portfolio.

The couple have now had to repaint the kitchen and strip the decking from the garden so they can move to a smaller ground floor property.

Ms Boltwood, who has arthritis and lung disease, says she can no longer afford to pay for two unoccupied rooms now her children have grown up and left home.

Diane, 48, said: “The kitchen looked cheap and grotty before so we did it up out of our own pocket.

“We’ve had to put it back and it’s like living in a basic council house.

“It’s a waste of time and effort having to do this.

“Until we put everything back to normal we can’t move and we’ll continue to have to pay for bedrooms that no-one uses.”

Tenants are advised to seek permission from KNH before making modifications to their homes.

A KNH spokesman said: “If a tenant has made an improvement to their home without our permission, we will discuss with them the possibility of leaving it in, if it adds value to the property, is safe, and conforms to building regulations.

“If they move, they must either leave any approved improvements or put their home back to its original condition. They will probably have to pay to put things right when their tenancy ends.

“We will discuss potential home improvements with tenants to tell if the improvements they are planning are suitable or not. This will avoid any extra expense to put things right later on.”

If you are thinking of making improvements to your KNH home call: 01484 414886.