No, if you use any of our planning services: the CIL forms are included free. Bought alone they start at from £49. Any levy that falls due is paid to your council, never to us.
On this page
The money is not the main risk. The risk is a missed deadline, because the householder exemption is lost if it is not claimed in time.
Who pays CIL, and when?
CIL applies where the gross internal area of new build is 100 sq m or more, and the limit does not apply to new houses or flats (GOV.UK). Landowners are ultimately liable, although anyone involved can take on the liability.
Most householder extensions are under 100 sq m, so no levy arises. Larger ones, and any new dwelling, can bring a charge set by your council's charging schedule.
What is the householder exemption?
People extending their own homes, or building annexes in the grounds, are exempt if they meet the criteria: the main dwelling is their principal residence, they hold a material interest in it, and no extra dwelling is created. The claim, Form 9 for an extension or Form 8 for an annex, must reach the collecting authority before development commences (GOV.UK).
That timing is the point. Starting work first can lose the exemption, so we flag the date on every job.
Where do the forms sit in an application?
They sit beside the application pack, described in our pack post. Our extension package post shows the total paperwork bill.
Frequently asked questions
Does my loft or small extension pay CIL? Usually not, being under 100 sq m, but we check the area.
Is CIL the same as the planning fee? No. The planning fee is £548 for a householder application. CIL is a separate levy.
Who do I send the claim to? The collecting authority, usually your council.
Can I claim after I have started? The guidance says the claim must be made before development commences, so do not rely on it.
If the application goes through the Planning Portal, the Portal adds its own service charge: nothing, £99 or £149 including VAT, depending on the application type and complexity, paid to the Portal at submission and not normally refunded with a council fee (Ashford Borough Council, Planning Portal service charges, 11 September 2026). It is not ours and not the council's. Other submission routes exist; where your council accepts one without a charge, we can use it.
