From loft to bedroom! Building reg??

tishybabe

Hi guys,

I have a proper staircase going to the second floor of my house with a big room upstairs. It is considered as a loft but you can easily stand in it, it's got a radiator and a window.

What would I need to do for it to have a "bedroom" status. I checked on my local council website (wirral) and I can't find anything relevant. An estate agent told us that it would add 10-15K to the value of the house if it was to become a proper 5th bedroom. We use it at the moment as a storage place/gym!!

Any advice?

Thanks

McAzrael

How long has it been a room/unusually well-decorated storage area with window?

tishybabe

Hiya. We bought it 4 years ago and it was already like that. We could use it as a bedroom but I know that it hasnt got the status of bedroom but still loft. Thanks

Mankysteve

You really need to consult a structural engineer.

But it'll be stuff like fire-door, correct wiring, reinforced floor joist, mains wired fire alarm, fire escape.

keystone

If its already got a proper staircase, the roof timbers have been adjusted to allow it to be an open space and you've been using it as a gym without magically appearing in the room below then theres a fair chance that it was done as a proper conversion in the first place. Ring your LABC directly (don't faff with the council website). They should have a record if it was done properly.

Not classified as a bedroom by whom? The estate agent?

Cheers

McAzrael

Or just check the paperwork from when you bought it. Your solicitor would have asked if there had been any structural alterations and the sellers in turn may well have said yes and provided the LABC certificate(s).

As keystone asks, who is not classifying it as a bedroom? Stick a bed in it and it's a bedroom.

iamcornholio

"Classing it as a bedroom" is a meaningless term

The roof void is uninhabitable, and not a room until it is made a "habitable space" - then it becomes a room and you can give it whatever name you like

As part of making it habitable, the main points are means of escape in case of fire, protection from fire, access, insulation and ventilation. And above all the structural stability of the floor and roof

If the conversion is not done properly, and does not have the required completion certificate from the council, then by definition it is unlawful and unauthorised and can make any insurance policy void if the claim relates to the loft area