Often not — but in a conservation area, or where an Article 4 direction applies, cladding or rendering an exterior wall does need permission, and there are plenty of both across Brighton and Hove. Listed buildings need listed building consent. Given how much of the city is covered, this is always worth checking before you commit to a colour. We'll tell you if we think your property is affected.
Traditional sand-and-cement is the most economical, but it's rigid and prone to hairline cracking as a building moves. Modern silicone and acrylic renders are more flexible, come through-coloured so they don't need painting, and shed dirt better — they cost more upfront and less over time. On older solid-wall properties, breathability matters: trapping moisture in a wall that was built to breathe causes damp problems, and lime render is often the right answer. The building should determine the render, not the other way round.
Not on its own, and this is important. Render is a weather coating, not a damp-proofing system. If you've got penetrating damp from a failed gutter, a cracked wall, bridged cavities or a defective damp-proof course, rendering over it can trap the moisture and make things worse. We'll want to understand why the wall is wet before we cover it up. If the underlying problem needs fixing first, we'll tell you.
