Generally, no. It’s risky to start major renovation work before all required permissions are formally approved. In the best case, you may just get a warning. In worse cases, you could be fined, asked to undo parts of the work, or face serious disputes with building management or local authorities.

Even if you’re confident that approval will come, you never fully know what conditions might be attached. Sometimes authorities or societies impose limits on working hours, noise, or changes to external walls and windows. If you’ve already done work that doesn’t comply, you’ll be stuck in an awkward position.

For purely internal, very small upgrades, you might not need permission, but anything affecting structure, plumbing risers, external appearance, or shared services usually does. It’s better to lose a week waiting than to lose peace of mind for months dealing with complaints and legal issues.

So the safer rule: get your paperwork clear, then pick up the hammer.