Pakistanis Moving to the UK: Installing An AC Without Approval Can Be Illegal

Pakistanis moving to the United Kingdom, beware: Installing an air conditioner without permission could be illegal in many cases.

A homeowner in England has gone viral on Reddit after revealing that his local council ordered him to remove his newly installed air conditioning system within 28 days (during a heatwave) because it breached their planning rules.

The homeowner said he bought an ex-council house in 2022 and installed an air conditioning unit in 2025 after experiencing a particularly hot summer.

Neighbouring council tenants did not believe he had an AC and later asked their housing association to install similar units but were refused. After learning that the homeowner had paid for his own installation, one of them reported the unit to the local council.

The council served him with an enforcement notice ordering him to remove the AC unit within 28 days and asked online whether he could seek retrospective planning permission instead.

What’s the actual rule?

Under England’s planning rules, many domestic air conditioning installations are allowed under permitted development rights, meaning no planning application is needed, provided they meet specific conditions.

Whether permission is required depends on factors including the type of system, the property’s location, the size and position of the outdoor unit, and whether the home is a flat, listed building, or located in a conservation area.

Local councils may also take enforcement action if an installation falls outside permitted development rules.

Some property experts recommend checking with the relevant local planning authority before installing an external air conditioning unit, as requirements vary depending on the property and the installation.