A homeowner in England has gone viral after claiming his local council ordered him to remove his newly installed air conditioning system within 28 days—during a heatwave—because it allegedly breached planning rules.

In a post on Reddit’s LegalAdviceUK forum, 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.

According to the post, neighboring council tenants 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 the neighbors allegedly reported the unit to the local council.

The homeowner said he later discovered that planning approval may be required for some air conditioning installations in England. He claimed the council subsequently served him with an enforcement notice ordering him to remove the unit within 28 days and asked online whether he could seek retrospective planning permission instead.

However, the claim that all air conditioning systems in England require planning permission is incorrect.

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.

Planning 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. In some cases, homeowners can apply for retrospective planning permission, although approval is not guaranteed.