Why EA doesn't mention about loft space?

avisccs

I went to see a property which has a loft conversion but it was not mentioned in the EA's leftlet and marketing adv. Is there any reason for this? I thought it was to do with planning permission, but I checked on the council website and it said there is no need for planning permission for a loft conversion. Am I missing something?

Also, do I need planning permission to have a window installed in the loft? There is no window at the moment.

Thank you in advance.

asharon

Often people do convert lofts but they are called loft rooms rather than bedrooms because to be signed off on they need to be passed for fire regulations and they might need joists put in to support the weight.

If it is not listed then in all likely hood it is a loft room rather than a conversion.

F_T_Buyer

No window = no fire escape. So it can't be a bedroom, it is a loft room just for storage.

Running_Horse

Reduce your offer by whatever a reputable builder tells you it will cost to bring up to current regulations.

stanleyunwin

Doesn't meet building regs is the usual reason for EAs not listing loft space.

No window is a definite, but also whether or not their is a door at either end of the staircase to the loft

avisccs

Is there anywhere I can check the current building regulations? It has no window and the stairs are like the usual loft. So it is indeed a loft room. I would like to find out what else I can do to turn it into a useful space. Might be a spiral stairs or something... I don't know much about construction work, so any idea would be great.

vegasbaby100

the price depends on lots of different factors a lot of the time it wont be possible to convert a loft space as once you have a seperate hallway and meet the regs there is little space for a room!

benood

Doubtless many an old attic would no longer meet building and fire regs but have "legal" bedrooms up there having been in existence before any regulations came into force - reduce your offer and take a view and discuss it verbally off the record with your surveyor. It may be that the attic room is usable if strictly illegal - of course if the worst happened could you then live with yourself...

Doozergirl

Why would you reduce an offer to take into account a room which the EA has not taken into account. They can't have vlaued the property including the room upstair if it isn't in the details?

Lofts are all different - you will have to have someone out to look at it for you to see if it can be officially converted. Ultimately the joists need to be strong enough to carry the weight of a room, not just the weight of a ceiling. Simply boarding the loft does not make it a loft conversion.

You do not need a door at either side of the stairs - you need one door at one end - up or down. You will need a special escape window and something like 220cm head height in the middle of the room for it to qualify.

FilthyLuka

Its common that roofs are not constructed as 'open' roomlike spaces so the timber supports need to be altered to create the 'room'

If this is not done adequately the roof structure can be really messed up, I would view a 'loft room' as a liability more than a plus as the roof could be in a dangerous condition and the works to convert it safely can be more expensive than it would cost when done conventionally

avisccs

OK, so now I know it will never meet the building regulation.

At the moment, they are using it as a gym. How do I know if the structure is strong enough? If they put a bike in the room, shouldn't it be strong enough to put a bed and a table in it? Might be it can be a guest room or study room...

I feel the EA has increased the price a bit (2-3k) because of this loft space. Other houses for sale at the same postcode is not as expensive. Should I actually assume there is no loft space when considering this property?

Also, I heard I might need to get a planning permission when installing a roof window, because it might affect the privacy of the neibour. Is it true?