Loft conversion and building regs

bouicca21

Hey ho, off to see another house. It is described as a 4 bed but the plans show the supposed 4th bedroom merely as a loft room.

Simple enough to ask about building regs (presumably if it is compliant, there will be some sort of certificate). I suspect it isn't compliant, in which case how easy is it to tell whether the conversion has weakened the roof or is this something that needs an opinion from a structural engineer? It's a space roughly 17 by 10, but the slope of the roof means the usable space is much much smaller. There is a velux rather than a dormer.

I don't actually need a 4th bedroom, would use it as a loft.

G_M

If there i no BR sign off you'll need a SE to check.

And that might be difficult if the supporting beams etc are covered over by plaster, floorboards whatever. The seller would have to give permission for the engineer to expose the structure in order to examine it........

bouicca21

Thanks and yes all is covered by plaster. I'll go and see it anyway just in case it is compliant with building regs. The London bubble is a cause of considerable despair, but there is no point in buying trouble. I can only hope that more properties come to market before I get served my section 21.

Carlos77

a good clue to look for is the ceilings of the rooms below, look for evidence of patched up cracks. I would expect to see cracks in the ceilings if the ceiling joists haven't been beefed up.

bouicca21

I'm not so worried about the floor, since I wouldn't use it as a habitable room, more worried about the roof itself.