Advice needed - changing a door into a window

JJmcClure

Hello everyone

I'm hoping to buy a flat that has a very odd design flaw. It's a ground floor flat that has a double patio door that leads from the lounge into parking for three cars (one mine).

If it went into a private garden, I'd keep the doors, but I can't ever see me sitting down with a coffee and a paper in a tarmac drive with two cars

It's a great flat otherwise. I am thinking of taking out the offending doors and putting in a window for more security and privacy

Would I need to speak to the local authorities about this? Council?

And if I ever wanted to rent it out in the future, would I have trouble doing it because it only has one exit (front door)?

The windows are big enough to get out of in case of a fire, and as most of us have, I've lived in plenty of 1st and 2nd floor flats with only one exit proper...

Sorry if this is a daft question, just my builder thinks it might be a problem so am after advice, cheers

Archlever

Hi,

You MUST contact the building control department of the local council for advice. This is because you are planning to replace a door which opens to the outside of the property with a window (smaller opening), therefore fire escape regs may come into play.If your council say this is ok....then get the installation done through someone who is FENSA registered, otherwise you will need to make a building control application and have the works inspected. In any case do this BEFORE you start work. A FENSA certificate or building regulations compliance certificate will be required when you sell or rent the property.

Hope this helps.

Doozergirl

It will be fine but your window needs to comply to building regs with regards to a means of escape, that's all. You don't have to contact building control if your window people are FENSA registered.

If you builder buys one of the shelf from one of the merchants then you will need to ask them to inspect the window so best to check what size opener you will need and the minimum height for a regular window rather than toughened glass.

Ulfar

You will also need permission of the freeholder if the flat is leasehold.

barnaby-bear

JJmcClure wrote: »

Hello everyone

I'm hoping to buy a flat that has a very odd design flaw. It's a ground floor flat that has a double patio door that leads from the lounge into parking for three cars (one mine).

If it went into a private garden, I'd keep the doors, but I can't ever see me sitting down with a coffee and a paper in a tarmac drive with two cars

It's a great flat otherwise. I am thinking of taking out the offending doors and putting in a window for more security and privacy

Would I need to speak to the local authorities about this? Council?

And if I ever wanted to rent it out in the future, would I have trouble doing it because it only has one exit (front door)?

The windows are big enough to get out of in case of a fire, and as most of us have, I've lived in plenty of 1st and 2nd floor flats with only one exit proper...

Sorry if this is a daft question, just my builder thinks it might be a problem so am after advice, cheers

Wouldn't the cheapest option be to replace the bottom half panes with solid ones - the glass units can be replaced very cheaply - couple of hundred for solid PVC rather than glass or if full length door panes repace with half paned ones?

g_attrill

barnaby-bear wrote: »

Wouldn't the cheapest option be to replace the bottom half panes with solid ones - the glass units can be replaced very cheaply - couple of hundred for solid PVC rather than glass or if full length door panes repace with half paned ones?

The doors will still be a "weak spot" in terms of security - you can pop open standard patio doors very easily. High security ones can be obtained, but that is probably unlikely here.

One possible idea however could be to fit the panels like you suggest, then bolt a steel bar across the doors on the outside (or two, one top, one bottom), meaning they can't be opened without removing the bars. The bars could be painted to match the bricks and UPVC so it doesn't make the place look dodgy!

JJmcClure

Thanks for all the info, really useful

The freehold owner is fine with me doing it

I'll check out the FENSA stuff now

It's definitely a security and privacy issue, to be honest

it's a wart on an otherwise perfect flat

Cheers one and all