How to check if loft conversion is regulatory standard?

murat987

Hi, we're thinking of moving into a bigger house. The new house has a loft conversion. The loft is very well decorated and is about 2 metres high if not a big more, but the entrance is a ladder and not stairs. It being just a ladder got me thinking about if it meets regulatory standards.

Is there rules about height or ladder/stairs.
And should the homeowner have paperwork showing the work approved?

P.S. The estate agent did not consider the loft as a bedroom.

Thanks for any help in advance. :money:

southcoastrgi

that would indicate warning signs to me, a ladder normally means it's not had building permission or may not have been done to the correct building regs which is prob why it's just classed as storage & not a room by the estate agent, plus if it's not structurly sound the council may make you put it back the way it was to make it safe.

sounds like a diy job or done on the quiet

Jaynne

As said it could be anything - you need to ask if any building regs or planning permission were required. It doesn't sound like any PP would be as you can board your loft and put in velux windows without it usually.

If they've not done the above then the room is as you say just loft storage. They may or may not have done some of the work required for a proper loft conversion but its best to assume they haven't. You need to ask them for any proof of how it is constructed and if you decide to offer get a surveyor to verify it is safe but beaware that they may need lift carpets etc to inspect the structure and the current owners may not want you to do this.

In the end it could be a nice bonus play room or it could be a liability no-one here can tell you which unseen but its always safer to assume the latter.

Leif

murat987 wrote: »

P.S. The estate agent did not consider the loft as a bedroom.

That is worrying, it does suggest no planning permission was sought and building regs were ignored. I saw several houses like that, and walked away. The problem is that the joists might be the original ones, and might not be able to support the load. Also they might have removed internal roof beams (no idea what they are called, but you see them when walking round a normal roof space), and that might have reduced the roof integrity.

macman

A loft conversion requires a fixed stairway, not a ladder, so it's certainly not passed building regs. It can only be used for storage in that condition, not for occupation.
Planning permission is another matter, if it was required.
Any agent with half a brain would know this, so that's why they're not describing it as a bedroom.

murat987

Oh ok, I'll best ask for paper work. When I said ladder, It's fixed at an angle, so it's like a stair case, and there is a handle bar.

societys_child

Some info about loft conversions:

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/commonprojects/loftconversion/

ed110220

What exactly do you want to do with this loft room? It sounds as though it is not suitable for a bedroom either from an official point of view or a practical one (I wouldn't want to be climbing up and down a ladder to access a bedroom, even if it was structurally sound up there).

murat987

ed110220 wrote: »

What exactly do you want to do with this loft room? It sounds as though it is not suitable for a bedroom either from an official point of view or a practical one (I wouldn't want to be climbing up and down a ladder to access a bedroom, even if it was structurally sound up there).

Well, its currently used as a bedroom, so we wanted to keep using it as one.