Roof Terrace Conversion Help Please

haleybeth

Hello all, Im new here and I think I may have posted my original question in the wrong place! sorry if anyone is seeing this twice!

My problem is that I really dont know where to start. We live on the first floor of a victorian terrace conversion block of flats. It's a leasehold and the freeholder owns the ground floor flat. On the other side of our bedroom is the roof of the ground floor flat. We would like to (somehow) turn this into a roof terrace by putting a door in the bedroom leading to the roof. Our neighbors have done this on both sides of us so I think it should be ok. BUT there are two skylights at one end of the roof. My questions are these:

1. due to the skylights, is this whole thing a no-go?
2. what order should we be speaking to people? Architect (for structural soundness etc)/builders/solicitors/flat owner etc?
3. What type of planning permission might we need?
4. What should we expect to pay for all of this?!

Thanks very much for any advice!:)

ormus

first thing is to get permission from the freeholder and the leaseholder of the flat.
i doubt you need any PP.
then get a builder to quote you for the works. he will advise if you require a structural engineer or not.
the skylight problem can be solved, (armoured glass/safety grills), again with the owners permission.
as for costs? to many variables to any accurate figure, but my rough guestimate is in the region of 2.5-5k.

haleybeth

ormus wrote: »

first thing is to get permission from the freeholder and the leaseholder of the flat.
i doubt you need any PP.
then get a builder to quote you for the works. he will advise if you require a structural engineer or not.
the skylight problem can be solved, (armoured glass/safety grills), again with the owners permission.
as for costs? to many variables to any accurate figure, but my rough guestimate is in the region of 2.5-5k.

Thank you very much, so helpful!

We think we may need to offer the owner of the roof some money... what do you think is a sensible amount?

Amphion

This project needn’t be a complicated.

If you are unsure how to proceed ask one of your neighbourswho has done this for their advice.

If I was building this is the process I’d follow:

· Do the free things first….Ask the landlord forpermission to build a terrace on his roof and at the same time approach yourlocal authority to enquire about the possibilities of building a roof terrace. Atthis stage don’t pay a penny to planning or building regulations as you justwant advice. If either say no, it’s likely that its game over I’m afraid but atleast you haven’t wasted any money.

· If you get positive responses from the above Getquotations from builders to see if you can afford the extension. Again don’t spendanything!

· If you decide to go ahead get all agreementswith landlord in writing and involve solicitor to sort freehold /conditions andamend your leasehold to include the terrace. Appoint a builder but stress thatyou will only be going ahead with the project is you get planning approval

· Don’t think you need to appoint an architect forsuch a small job so just Spend a few £100 pounds getting some drawings done ofwhat you want, if you have a builder appointed then ask him for help (he may dothem as part of the job) or there is nothing stopping you from drawing yourown! Send off your plans and Apply for planning permission and buildingregulations (you’ll need building regulations approval because you are either addingpermanent load to a roof that was probably designed to accommodate temporaryload and maintenance access only so they will want to make sure what’sunderneath your terrace will be safe) this will cost a few hundred pounds (geta price list from your local authority)

· At this stage you may need a structural engineerto provide evidence that the structure below the decking will be ok. Buildingregs and your builder will advise.

· Once all permissions are granted instructbuilder to begin work.

As for how much you pay……who knows everyone is different…..Ifthe landlord says yes to the terrace then its negotiation time! J You may not need topay the landlord a penny as one project I was involved in the landlord acceptedthe other party adopting the liability for their roof in lieu of payment plus asmall increase in leasehold cost. Any agreements you do come to make sure you getthem signed and sealed before spending anything on planning.

Good Luck and I hope it goes well for you!

iamcornholio

The OP will also need planning permission

Also the OP can't get any relevant quotes for the work until she has some sort of drawing and specification for the work. There may or may not be structural upgrading, the type of deck material, and the type and fixing of the perimeter guarding can vary by £000's

So first is to approach the landlord to see if it is a go'er.

Then she needs a designer to design something, in context of what can be done regarding planning and building regs. If it wont pass planning, then that's it but the designer should advise this before doing anything

Otherwise, an application for planning permission

If approval is likely, then the technical design goes into to building regulations for approval. At the same time quotes can be sought

The Party Wall Act may apply, so that needs to be sorted before work starts

When everything is done, then the lease and property details need to be updated by a legal advisor

jmedwards

Hey OP

What did you end up doing about the sky light?