Is it right that if you apply for retrospective planning permission to the freeholder of your property they can charge you what they like?
More or less – although I don’t think you’re actually talking about planning permission. Many leases contain a clause requiring the leaseholder not to carry out any alterations without the landlord’s (freeholder’s) permission. Even if you apply for permission it’s likely that you will have to cross the landlord’s palm with silver. If you have gone ahead without permission you are in a very difficult situation. You can either knock down your kitchen extension (or whatever alteration you have made), pay what your landlord demands, or risk forfeiture proceedings. Thanks to recent legislation this may be less serious than it used to be, but you need a solicitor’s help.