Loft conversion rules

DevonStroller

Hello,
Hope someone can help me. We live in a 3 bedroomed mid terrace house. All rooms are relatively small, and storage areas (built-in cupboards) are tiny. Basically, we're out of room.
So I want to get the loft converted, and finance is definitely limited. I want a dormer-style loft conversion, but I'm not after a 'liveable' space I don't think; what I want is a storage room in which to put a great big wardrobe for a start. If I'm honest with myself, I guess the room might also be used as an additional play area for the children (in which case it might be a 'liveable' space?). Space saver stairs will be fine as well. No bathroom up there, and no bedroom. The existing floor to roof height in the loft is small (less than 2m) which has stopped us in our tracks in the past. I want someone to tell me that that doesn't matter too much! What I want to know is what regulations apply to my house? What can I go ahead and get done without planning permission? What building regs do I need to satisfy? I know stuff is online here and there, but none of it seems exactly relevant to my situation (though I doubt it's uncommon).

Please help, this has been a plan for a couple of years now and I don't seem to be getting anywhere. Anyone have experience of this...?

Thanks in advance for any tips or advice

19vivat

He there
if the dormer is at the back you will probably be able to do the alteration as permitted development. At the front is likely to need planning permission as it affects the street scene. Any fixed stairs apparently mean it is classed as a habitable room. You will definitely need building control.
I have all of this information on the say so of my husband who understands some of this stuff.

Wish he knew the answer to my post query!!

I hope it is of some help and good luck with your project.

southcoastrgi

unfortunately you seem to want a loft conversion without it being classed as a loft conversion, you can't have it both ways, if you intend to use it as anything else than storage then it will be classed as a conversion & it must be installed to the building regs which are too numerious to go into here, even if you can do it under PD the BR still apply

cyclonebri1

And the absolute 1st thing you will have to do is lose another 5" or so of headspace as the new floor will likely need 9" rather than 4" joists that are in place at present.

Omit to do that and it becomes illegal and if you put that dirty great big wardrobe up there, you have the makings of an Irish 2 into 1 room conversion:D.

notanewuser

We had a playroom in the loft as kids. Waaaaay less than 2m head height, and access by a ladder. Dad basically insulated and boarded it out and added a velux to the roof. Worked fine for us. Is now storage for them.

martinsurrey

notanewuser wrote: »

We had a playroom in the loft as kids. Waaaaay less than 2m head height, and access by a ladder. Dad basically insulated and boarded it out and added a velux to the roof. Worked fine for us. Is now storage for them.

A velux needs to be Fensa installed or have a building regs sign off these days.

but I agree, if its just storage, install a large hatch, get a GOOD ladder, board and insulate, but make sure you dont put anything too heavy on any one area.

DevonStroller

Really appreciate all the advice folks - thank you. It's clear to me that I want a loft conversion, and it would be negligent to disregard the safety and structural measures needed as provided by compliance with building regs. So the question now becomes: can I get a compliant conversion done within a height of less than 2 metres? Seems depressingly unlikely. Its trusses up there as well, as opposed to rafters. I gather the height restriction applies only to the space above the stairway; is it feasible to lower a small portion of the first floor ceiling in order to get the desired clearance above some kind of steep and narrow space-saver stairway? The height of the new room itself is mot hugely important as we're all short!! And this is a quality of life improvement thing as opposed to a home-value increasing thing.

Browntoa

theres all kinds of rules about adequate fire escapes now so suspect the steep narrow staircase is a non starter

cyclonebri1

I don't think the OP wants the rules, he seems to want a way around them,

macman

If you do a bodged conversion, whether it complies with building regs or not, then it will be a sure-fire home value decreasing thing.

evokit

terrace is 40 cubic mtrs allowed to increase
the 2mtr restriction is for the top of the stair well for head room - yet that's more than many house stairs.
you also need to sound proof the under the floor, yet no houses really have sound proof on floor 1..!
just check the planning portal - you can actually do more in terms of space than you would be allowed with planning.
http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/commonprojects/loftconversion/


we are doing this in our renovation but now doing the loft next year. yet putting everything in place for now
you will also need 2/3 steels to support the floor on building regs