Stud wall housing association house

kirstycobie

Hi,

I currently have a two bed house, I have two kids, son is 10 and daughter is 6, I love where I live and really don't want to move,

Does anyone know if your usualy allowed to erect a stud particion wall so the kids have a room each, their bedroom is big enough to do this but don't know where I would start, I understand as I have one of each and son is 10 he should really have his own room now

Has anyone done this before and were the council/ housing association ok for this to go ahead?

Thanks

slipthru

I've known people to do this and remove walls in council housing, so can't imagine it being a problem, but maybe best to ask your housing association to make sure.

leveller2911

kirstycobie wrote: »

Hi,

Does anyone know if your usualy allowed to erect a stud particion wall so the kids have a room each, their bedroom is big enough to do this but don't know where I would start, I understand as I have one of each and son is 10 he should really have his own room now

Has anyone done this before and were the council/ housing association ok for this to go ahead?

Thanks

Most HA will give permission without really taking into account issues that can arise. I know of a house just down the road from me which is owned by Sanctuary Hereward Housing Association. The tenants asked for permission to sub divide a bedroom with a stud wall , which was granted. The studwall was built, plastered ,decorated etc. I was asked by the tenant to look at another small job they wanted doing and to my horror the "extra" bedroom they had created didn't have a window , so no means of escape in case of fire.

I told them the wall should be taken down straight away and put back to a single bedroom. That was about 5 years ago and its still there as a bedroom 10' x 5' with no means of escape for the child. Their response was "well the landlord gave us permission so if anything happens then they are liable"........

I have mentioned it to the housing officer since then but they never stay in the job very long and a new one turns up.

Do not divide a bedroom without fitting an escape window....

kirstycobie

Thanks for replies, the room has two windows so one window would be in each room although one of them is much smaller and only opens at the top to let a little air in, so would I need to get it changed or would that be fine?

leveller2911

kirstycobie wrote: »

Thanks for replies, the room has two windows so one window would be in each room although one of them is much smaller and only opens at the top to let a little air in, so would I need to get it changed or would that be fine?

You should replace it , having a top fanlight opening is ok for airing the room but no good for exiting a fire.

Seronera

Go and get permission from the HA. They may well have conditions you need to comply with. And there is the small matter of complying with building regs and electrical safety and heating the extra room Doing it without consulting them will be breaking the terms of your tenancy.

I worked for a contractor in the social sector for ten years working at many different Councils and Housing Assocs. They vary tremendously, but you must talk to them first.