Confused about loft conversion rules

LittleMissAspie

If I had a house with no room for a permanent staircase up to the loft, does this mean it's actually illegal to spend time up there?

What I would actually like is a strengthened floor with laminate over it, maybe a window or two for light, and then walls which are painted so that it's all nice and clean and not dirty and cobwebby like a normal loft. Then I would get some nice storage units and bookcases and use it for storage and reading, and maybe for yoga too since there would be lots of empty floor.

Is that possible?

Owain_Moneysaver

No. You are talking about creating a habitable room, and that has to be accessed by a proper staircase (which might include a spacesaver staircase like this or this )

Generally Building Control will look at lined/insulated walls/ceiling, windows, stairs, and if you have any two of those the space is deemed to be habitable and must comply fully with building regulations, including fire safety.

Counting_Pennies_2

My understanding is it is possible to pay someone to do this for you, but it wouldn't make it a habitable room, or pass building regs.

So if you came to sell, you would need to sell it as a loft, and no room. People have played their trainsets up in attics for decades, so can't see you banned from doing that.

What I would say is if you do decide to do it, think about a fire escape, if you put a sky light in, make sure it is big enough to exit through and buy a fire escape ladder.

hth