no building regs

Chippet

jebervic wrote: »

you only need it for extra space, so whats the problem?

I'm worried that if the floor joists haven't been strengthened, it may affect the structure of the property??

We will use it as a room, just not a bedroom

hazyjo

When you offered, was the loft space included in the number of bedrooms it was being advertised as having? Even if it was included as a 'loft conversion', it would have been misleading as it's basically a 'handy boarded attic space'. I'd compare prices again with others on the market. Have a good look at what's around (if you stopped looking when you found this). Prices have generally dropped again, and you might find you can offer on something else that makes up for any money you've lost so far. Don't be blinded by the whole 'we were so set on being in for Christmas' thing... this is a huge amount of money you'll be spending and you don't want to have regrets further down the line, especially if overpaying for something that was wrongly described, in a falling market... Something better will come along if you do decide not to take a gamble on it.

Jx

Chippet

Catatonia wrote: »

I've been put off a few houses like this mainly because of the worry that I don't know how the building regs haven't been met. If it's just a fire door, that's easy to sort, but if it's strengthening the joists then I don't know if that would mean ripping it all out and starting again. Is there any way you can find out exactly how it fails building regs?

It would def fail due to no fire door, obv don't know if there are other problems.

If we were to put a fire door in then we would probably have to have a landing as well becuase there isn't much head room right at the top of the stairs. So we would loose a lot of space in the room...(i think!)

The seller is being awkward about sorting things out and it has to be her that does it, not us....

Chippet

hazyjo wrote: »

When you offered, was the loft space included in the number of bedrooms it was being advertised as having? Even if it was included as a 'loft conversion', it would have been misleading as it's basically a 'handy boarded attic space'. I'd compare prices again with others on the market. Have a good look at what's around (if you stopped looking when you found this).
Jx

Have already considered this. I *think* the attic was advertised as a third bedroom, but have no proof. I have already suggested to the estate agent that now we've realised it can't be classed as a 'room' the price should be dropped, but she said that this wasn't the case as we already got it for 4k less than the asking price.

jebervic

Chippet wrote: »

It would def fail due to no fire door, obv don't know if there are other problems.

If we were to put a fire door in then we would probably have to have a landing as well becuase there isn't much head room right at the top of the stairs. So we would loose a lot of space in the room...(i think!)

The seller is being awkward about sorting things out and it has to be her that does it, not us....

As far as I can see (correct me if im wrong) it wasn't advertised as a bedroom on the details, therefore it is just an attic, they never claimed it to be anything else, you liked the extra space and offered it, however, if it had the building regs for it to be used as a room it would make the house cost more, so you are getting what you offered on, my seller is basically saying that and I am struggling to disagree

jebervic

Chippet wrote: »

Have already considered this. I *think* the attic was advertised as a third bedroom, but have no proof. I have already suggested to the estate agent that now we've realised it can't be classed as a 'room' the price should be dropped, but she said that this wasn't the case as we already got it for 4k less than the asking price.

Come on !, the details will still be on the agents website (include SSTC) you will get the answer, better still post the link on here.

iamana1ias

Chippet wrote: »

It would def fail due to no fire door, obv don't know if there are other problems.

If we were to put a fire door in then we would probably have to have a landing as well becuase there isn't much head room right at the top of the stairs. So we would loose a lot of space in the room...(i think!)

The seller is being awkward about sorting things out and it has to be her that does it, not us....

There has to be at least 2 metres between the top of the stairs and the ceiling - if you have less than this it will fail building regs on this too.

Sounds like a bodge job to me.

Chippet

iamana1ias wrote: »

There has to be at least 2 metres between the top of the stairs and the ceiling - if you have less than this it will fail building regs on this too.

Sounds like a bodge job to me.

I'm certain there isn't that much as my boyfriend banged his head going up and hes only 5'10 ish

Chippet

jebervic wrote: »

Come on !, the details will still be on the agents website (include SSTC) you will get the answer, better still post the link on here.

It is NOW advertised as 2 bedroom. But am fairly certain it was 3 bed when we looked at it because i remember being confused as to why they could advertise it this way when another similar house we had looked at previously couldn't be because there wasn't a door.

Can they change the ad?

Catblue

You keep referring to it as a loft conversion - it is not. So put that out of your mind right away.

You don't sound sure about this purchase at all. Do you need to use this room as a study or something? Sounds like it is not really a habitable room so you certainly should not be paying for an extra habitable room within your purchase price.

One problem might be that it is nigh impossible to convert it properly anyway (irrespective of how much money you chuck at it), due to lack of space and head height. In which case, you will never be able to advertise it as a converted loft or an extra bedroom when you come to sell.

Obviously, a 2 bed house with a loft room will be less expensive than a similar 3 bed house, or a house that has had a proper loft conversion done. Sounds like the vendors have done some work but haven't realised that their work has added very little value.

How much is this house in relation to 2 bedroom houses which have no loft room? That needs to be your starting point - if you are paying more for this 2 bedroom house with a loft room then you need to revise that. You need to look at comparable 2 bed houses and pitch your offer at that. You will only get what a 2 bed house is worth when you come to sell it on again.

Alternatively, if you need 3 bedrooms then you need to withdraw your offer and start looking at proper 3 bedroom houses.