Unconvert Garage Conversion that didnt have building regs

neas

Hi all,

looking to buy a house which appears to have a garage conversion without building permission.

The original garage door is in place, it just seems a fake stud wall/blockwork wall has been erected behind the door, with floor carperted and room skimmed.

Unsure if they bothered DPC the original floor or not. My question is what would it involve to convert back (cost and involving building control).

Need to know this info really before proceeding with sale.

Pictures of garage are as follows:



]

McKneff

Cant see any reason why you cant just drag everything out of it.
It'd just look like a garage again.

Or that B. regs would need to be involved.

withabix

What makes you think it was not an approved conversion? Have they told you this?

It looks like it has been done fairly well, so they probably have done the DPC - on a concrete garage floor that could be polythene or a DPC paint system.

The floor is presumably level with the rest of the house - is it solid or on joists?

Leaving the garage door in place is a bit odd, but I'm sure there are thousands of converted garages with the door still in place just like this one!

gardner1

when you change it back it will be the smartest garage in the street

fwor

Looks like they might have replaced the door to the rest of the house, or added one if not originally there. In which case may need to be replaced with an appropriate fire rated one. Also looks like it hinges inward, which ain't so clever in a garage.

Might also be some labour involved in taking the floor back down to outside level, depending on what the new floor is made of.

And there's a good chance the existing door will not be re-usable, as they have probably chopped out the running gear that allows it to open.

neas

Hi guys, firstly thanks for the quick advice.

I looked up on the council website if there was any planning permission or building control applied at the property. There was none... and the estate agent has been rather sheeping regarding the building regs.. first saying yes they have but saying she would confirm with her colleague they never got back to me.

Its been done nice, agree.

At the moment if someone would say it meets all building regs i'd be happy but dont want it to be cold/damp or more importantly a problem we inherit when we sell in the long term future.

Also agree it doesn't look like a firedoor. The camera is essentially standing against the fake blockwork wall.

The door can't be opened as it would 'bash' into the fake wall i'd guess. It is a big put off but also an opportunity to negotiate if i get a feeling of what it will cost to put it right (garage or no garage).

And would guess the door to garage has been added (at some point) along with the garage window. (is this large enough for building regs?).


For all I know they've insulated the external walls (including one behind garage door), insulated loft area to 270mm (but no access hatch!) and could've dpc the floor. When looking around I didn't notice if we stepped in or onto the garage area, would have to check later.

Will be talking to estate agent to request info if things progress.

macka0

you dont need planning permission ,only building regs for a garage conversion

societys_child

Have you checked the answers on your other thread?

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/57802185#Comment_57802185

neas

societys_child wrote: »

Have you checked the answers on your other thread?

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/57802185#Comment_57802185

That was more a fact finding thread than this thread. Also the other thread is in the wrong location.

The answers I got were:

Need floor insulation for building regs (not what to do to unconvert)
Suggestion to buy another property
Proper conversion will cost alot.

What i've asked here is how to unconvert a garage... not answered whatsoever by the above answers...

So while it is an annoyance of a seemingly duplicate thread.. in this instance I believe the suggestion the first thread would answer the questions is wrong.... and would appreciate advice as I'm sure people have come across this before.

neas

macka0 wrote: »

you dont need planning permission ,only building regs for a garage conversion

Agree. I meant the council has a BC and PP website to interrogate any agreed BC or PP at a property electronically.


Anyways it seems worst case to comply with Building regs I'd need to ensure firedoor was present to garage. This probably has never been done lol. I know of other properties which haven't done this. Do you know when this building reg came into force? i.e. having fire door? as the door may have been installed long ago into garage.

southcoastrgi

i don't think it's going to be a cheap job if you take into account the floor, new fire door, new up & over garage door, ripping out the fire & everything else in there, atm it looks a nice room do you really need somewhere to put the car rather than a fully serviceable extra room