Single detached garage conversion

kazzamunga

I have a similar situation, and I'm not sure why people think that planners would have a problem with this? Surely if you do everything above board and pay your extra taxes etc, you should be able to do a conversion? I have just put an offer on a house which has a detached 22ft garage, and we are hoping to do something with it too. A studio for guests to stay in, and maybe even AirBnb. It already has windows all the way around, so the only material change would be blocking off the up and over door and putting in a front door in its place. Does anyone have any experience of something like this being turned down by planning, and if so, why?

Green_hopeful

There are lots of small living ideas on https://tinyhousetalk.com they are world wide and lots are on wheels but there are a fair few where people convert existing garages and sheds. Even if you don’t convert it is fun to see what people can do. Some are very much on a shoestring.

Fire_Fox

kazzamunga wrote: »

I have a similar situation, and I'm not sure why people think that planners would have a problem with this? Surely if you do everything above board and pay your extra taxes etc, you should be able to do a conversion? I have just put an offer on a house which has a detached 22ft garage, and we are hoping to do something with it too. A studio for guests to stay in, and maybe even AirBnb. It already has windows all the way around, so the only material change would be blocking off the up and over door and putting in a front door in its place. Does anyone have any experience of something like this being turned down by planning, and if so, why?

On that basis a classic car enthusiast could build a multi-vehicle garage, then convert it to a luxury four bedroom home. Or keep adding another storey until they have a high-rise block of studio flats (actually only five floors or 18M tall).

In London, especially, a few greedy rogue landlords will go to the extremes. As do some AirBnb hosts.

A garden room used as part of your family home for occasional guests, is different than a seasonal business/ holiday let, is different than a full-time self contained annexe for a relative. Extra traffic, illegal parking, noise, reduced privacy, household waste.

There has to be a line in the sand somewhere .... Check out the Planning section of your local council's website, and the Planning Portal.

gwynlas

This threas dates back to 2017 which I did not realise until I had read through.
We are looking into doing this at the moment and have recived estimates of £15-18,000 including planning regs,

Davesnave

gwynlas wrote: »

This thread dates back to 2017 which I did not realise until I had read through.
We are looking into doing this at the moment and have received estimates of £15-18,000 including planning regs,

But that wasn't really what the OP proposed anyway. They wanted a cheap fix.

Although I'm generally against 'beds in sheds,' at the time this thread was current, a member of my extended family was living in a hastily converted garage. That was chosen in preference to allowing her and her child to fall on the 'mercy' of the local authority. Nobody liked it, but family support was there at a crucial time, so the shortcomings of the accommodation were judged less important.

I'm happy to say, the difficult situation has been resolved now.