DJ lets out 12 garages as bedrooms

tbs624

Foggster wrote: »

I agree. The space of the garage is not included in the space needing planning permission i.e. it is already been "planned" for when the property was built. So like BB said, in most cases it is Building Regs only.

Planning permission for a garage conversion will always be required in areas in which parking is at a premium.

Read through the planning committee's comments ( link above) and you'll get the wider picture for this particular estate, and the detrimental effect that such conversions can have for the rest of the area.

“The properties on this estate were developed as family homes. Due to problems experienced elsewhere in the Ward in association with car parking the idea on this estate was that the development should also include incurtilage parking within garages.

Subsequently private landlords have informally and progressively altered the garage spaces to increase the availability of inhabitable rooms to offer to tenants. This is having a detrimental impact on the estate in many ways, but the increased car parking has impacted on

• the ability of the Council to deliver services to the estate - as occasional blockages of streets mean that bin wagons have difficulty accessing streets;
• environmental concerns as cars are parking on landscaped frontages of the street which has triggered resident complaints.

The changes to the estate have created a completely different character to this residential area and the aspirations for the area have been diminished as a direct result.”

Comments made by Highway Services –

• There is pavement parking occurring on the street that is detrimental to the streetscape, residential amenity and accessibility, especially those using mobility scooters or wheelchairs. As this is a retrospective application and the survey doesn't contain the necessary information it is not possible to determine how much of this is as of a consequence of the development.

• The loss of the garages has removed 14 car parking spaces from the development and the opportunity for this space, if not used for parking a car,for the secure storage of bicycles.

• The streets around the development were not intended to accommodate significant levels of on street parking as adequate provision was provided on driveways, in garages and in the courtyard.

Even though some alterations are classed as "permitted development", which means that PP would not usually be required, it's worth remembering that the local planning authorities are empowered to remove some permitted development rights in some areas.

If there was a condition on the original planning consent for the property which prevents you from converting a garage, or permitted development rights have been removed , then you should expect your local planning authority to pursue the matter.

It only takes a brief exchange of letters with the Planning Officers to check what is required *before* you start: to not take that basic precaution for one property is foolish, to chance it with a dozen properties is an astounding lapse IMO.

It's a shame that the local authority cannot order a form of Rent Repayment Order where the correct permissions have not been sought and obtained and the property has been let out.

Here's a LL who may be regretting not getting those permissions

Meatballs

_bankrupted wrote: »

That small little detail of building a wall behind the garage door, removes all credibility to his story and exposes him as being one big liar who has committed planning fraud for financial gain.

You simply can't be taken as a person who has made a genuine mistake as it's all there to see:- An attempt to hide a bedroom with a fake garage door.

My room was behind a garage door, it means you aren't changing the facade of the building and it remains in keeping with the rest of the street. Also allows it to be converted back quite easily if you sell.

debrag

Meatballs wrote: »

I had the garage room at uni, it was great. Half the houses around here have the garages converted into living space...

EdIT: just seen your other reply