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Is this loft room a bedroom?
seven-day-weekend
Posts: 36,755 Forumite
Hi there, yet another question about my UK house!
It is a 1850s Victorian mid-terrace with a room in the roof. My son uses this as his bedroom. I think it is an original room rather than a conversion; certainly it has existed at least 40 years. (We have owned the house since 1976 and we didn't put it in; neither did the previous owners who had it for five years, and they don't think the ones before them did either).
Obviously it doesn't meet modern building regulations standards. What I want to know is, can it legally be classed as a bedroom if we were ever to sell the house? If not, what do we have to do to bring it up to modern regulations?
I know about Planning having worked in Enforcement for several years, but I'm not sure about Building Regulations.
All help gratefully received!
It is a 1850s Victorian mid-terrace with a room in the roof. My son uses this as his bedroom. I think it is an original room rather than a conversion; certainly it has existed at least 40 years. (We have owned the house since 1976 and we didn't put it in; neither did the previous owners who had it for five years, and they don't think the ones before them did either).
Obviously it doesn't meet modern building regulations standards. What I want to know is, can it legally be classed as a bedroom if we were ever to sell the house? If not, what do we have to do to bring it up to modern regulations?
I know about Planning having worked in Enforcement for several years, but I'm not sure about Building Regulations.
All help gratefully received!
(AKA HRH_MUngo)
Member #10 of £2 savers club
Imagine someone holding forth on biology whose only knowledge of the subject is the Book of British Birds, and you have a rough idea of what it feels like to read Richard Dawkins on theology: Terry Eagleton
Member #10 of £2 savers club
Imagine someone holding forth on biology whose only knowledge of the subject is the Book of British Birds, and you have a rough idea of what it feels like to read Richard Dawkins on theology: Terry Eagleton
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Comments
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Working on the premise that Building Regs aren't retrospective - if they were almost every not brand new house in the UK would need an overhaul everytime they change - I don't see any reason why it shouldn't legally be classed as a bedroom.
A loft conversion in a terraced house these days does I believe [you probably know!] require PP, BR for joist above strengthening and above the 1st floor [ie: not in a bungalow] fire doors/escape windows to be classed as habitable space rather than a loft room. If built before those requirements then surely it is habitable space which can be a bedroom.
Why not give your former mates at the council a bell, see if they can find out?0 -
Yes, I think I will do that.
It does have an escape window (put in recently).
I only ask the question because our neighbours are having to advertise their house as a two-bedroom with 'studio' - but their loft conversion has only just been done and so would have to comply with today's regulations.
BTW, it wouldn't have needed Planning Permission, even if done today!(AKA HRH_MUngo)
Member #10 of £2 savers club
Imagine someone holding forth on biology whose only knowledge of the subject is the Book of British Birds, and you have a rough idea of what it feels like to read Richard Dawkins on theology: Terry Eagleton0 -
As said you need a fire escape window and a proper staircase at least.0
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Yes it also has a proper staircase with a door from the main landing at the bottom.
Thanks for your replies.(AKA HRH_MUngo)
Member #10 of £2 savers club
Imagine someone holding forth on biology whose only knowledge of the subject is the Book of British Birds, and you have a rough idea of what it feels like to read Richard Dawkins on theology: Terry Eagleton0
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