Viewing a house with "Carpeted Loft Room"

JonB1081

Hi there,

We're looking at a house to buy next week. Its a 3 bed semi that is advertised as having a "carpeted loft room" I'm assuming this means that what's been done is not a real loft conversion, thus hasn't had the floor strengthened/got building regs. Does that sound right?

duchy

JonB1081 wrote: »

Hi there,

We're looking at a house to buy next week. Its a 3 bed semi that is advertised as having a "carpeted loft room" I'm assuming this means that what's been done is not a real loft conversion, thus hasn't had the floor strengthened/got building regs. Does that sound right?

Maybe...maybe not

Why not ask the estate agent ?

meercatsunited

planning should have a copy of permission if it was sought, go onto the web for the local authority for the area, choose planning and the options should be straight forward from there, you will need the postcode and house number, if you just put in the name of the road it will come up with ever planning application on there for about the last 10 years

Ulfar

Don't know about the floor but it means it cannot be advertised as a bedroom otherwise estate agent would have done so.

This is usually because it doesn't meet building regs. specifically the ones to do with escaping in case of a fire.

G_M

Doubt it needs Planning Permission.

Building regs is what you need to check. Council will know - ask them!

But it sounds like an attempt to make th property more attractive to the gullible. It's a house with an attic. Full stop.

JonB1081

G_M wrote: »

Doubt it needs Planning Permission.

Building regs is what you need to check. Council will know - ask them!

But it sounds like an attempt to make th property more attractive to the gullible. It's a house with an attic. Full stop.

This was my line of thinking. I'll point it out when we do the viewing and report back.

curlydiamond

Hello, it could be a fully converted loft that doesn't meet building regs (eg for fire escape, strenghtened floor etc as previously stated) or it could just be an attic that's been boarded out with some carpet thrown on top! You won't know until you look... My house has the former - a fully converted loft with permanent staircase and fire door (but the stairs lead off from back bedroom, no building regs but very useful space), velux window and radiator. The estate agent was surprised when I showed her around, she said most people who tell her their property benefits from an attic room have just put a bit of board down. Good luck with your househunting!

G_M

curlydiamond wrote: »

Hello, it could be a fully converted loft that doesn't meet building regs (eg for fire escape, strenghtened floor etc as previously stated)

This is a contradiction of terms.

If it does not meet Building Regs, it is by definition not fully converted.

curlydiamond

Yup ok you got me, let me rephrase - it could have strengthened floor, permanent stair case, fire escape appropriate windows, wiring, heating etc, basically look like any other habitable room - but if it doesn't have its own access to the landing (ie has staircase leading into another bedroom, eg mine which was done prior to the Building regs that came into force in the 60's) then likely it can only be classed as a storage room. My point it there's a broad spectrum of attic rooms - hope you find the house you're looking for.