Making use of loft in leasehold flat

victorias_dad

I know of one development in Manchester that has this clause about the non use of loft space, all of the directors of the management co have top floor apartments all know of the clause and all have totally ignored it and put the loft to a variety of uses in fact I have recently been asked to improve the loft access with a better ladder for one of the directors I know it does not make it right but who would know if you decide to use it

mart.vader

Well, OP, there you have it. The collected wisdom of the MSE forum.

You can't be given notice for doing it. Several posters say they know of cases where it has happened for years.

You can't do any permanent alterations,

If your joists are 4" thick, probably better to just use it for storage. If, like mine they're 6" thick, much less of a problem.

Even if FH finds out during an inspection, the only thing they can do is go to court.

If you can keep the FH from finding out, then you might want to take the risk.

fluffymuffy

If there are other occupiers of the building then it would be a very serious breach of the Building Regulations. If someone was hurt or killed by a fire, for example, then you'd be looking at a prison sentence. Where there is a serious danger to health, the potential to damage other properties, or a deliberate abuse of the fire rules, then it is a criminal offence under the 1984 Building Act.

mart.vader

OK, OP, Fluffymuffy says it's also a breach of the fire regulations - so don't install a barbecue up there !

Norman_Castle

Personally I would keep quiet and just use it for storage but mind the weight. Have you ever been in a loft?. Unless it was properly converted it would be a very unpleasant place to work or study.

vaio

fluffymuffy wrote: »

If there are other occupiers of the building then it would be a very serious breach of the Building Regulations. If someone was hurt or killed by a fire, for example, then you'd be looking at a prison sentence. Where there is a serious danger to health, the potential to damage other properties, or a deliberate abuse of the fire rules, then it is a criminal offence under the 1984 Building Act.

Is this not a bit OTT?

Personally I'm struggling to see how the OP using the loft for storage could breach building regs, hurt anyone or cause a fire

keystone

Freeholder has expressly said no. Reasons for that decision are imaterial. Should that not be an end of it?

Cheers

southcoastrgi

as above, but the thing you did wrong was asking in the first place instead of just using it for storage