Garage Conversion

vickyjm

Hi,

I am converting my garage which is at other end of my garden and hence totally detached from house into living room. I have got pre-planning approval and also going through building regulation inspector to ensure it is all as per regulations.

My question is can I use this converted Garage as additional bedroom although i asked on paper for Living room?

Regards,
Vicky

Doozergirl

You've gone for a pre-application advice? I'm not entirely sure what pre-planning approval is.

It is a material change because it is a detached building and so you specifically need to ask for permission for it to be a bedroom.

G_M

vickyjm wrote: »

....I have got pre-planning approval .....

My question is can I use this converted Garage as additional bedroom although i asked on paper for Living room?

Either this is Permitted Deveopment, not requiring Planning Consent, which is unlikely, or you need Planning Consent.

If the latter, when you submit the application, put 'bedroom'.

vickyjm

Thanks for the prompt response.

Yes it was pre planning advice in which I just mentioned garage extension as I am extending it to take use of full width of my garden.

In Building regulation application, I mentioned usage as personal home office. I have been having building inspector visit every 3-4 days and insulating the walls, ceilings, floors and other items as per him.

Will I be able to use it as bedroom in future?

Regards

Doozergirl

Not without planning permission.

A home office is incidental to the dwelling, a bedroom is not and it would have to be considered separately.

Did your pre application advice tell you that your proposed office fell under Permitted Development? I presume that is the case if you are already building.

A bedroom does need full planning permission.

EachPenny

vickyjm wrote: »

In Building regulation application, I mentioned usage as personal home office. I have been having building inspector visit every 3-4 days and insulating the walls, ceilings, floors and other items as per him.

Will I be able to use it as bedroom in future?

The question is why did you describe it as a "personal home office" to the officials if you want to use it as a bedroom?

And why are you asking us, and not the officials you are already dealing with?

Google 'beds in sheds', which will give you an idea of the sensitivity of this topic as far as local authorities are concerned.

Cheeky_Monkey

I suspect that the OP has lied to the Council about her intended use of the conversion because she knows that the regulations and, indeed, criteria for approval, will be much stricter for a bedroom than an office.

ScorpiondeRooftrouser

What do you mean "use it as a bedroom"? As far as I know nobody can stop you sleeping in your own shed, so you can use it for that. If you want to rent it out, that's a completely different matter. if you want to describe it as a bedroom when you sell it, people will laugh at you. What use do you intend?

Doozergirl

ScorpiondeRooftrouser wrote: »

What do you mean "use it as a bedroom"? As far as I know nobody can stop you sleeping in your own shed, so you can use it for that. If you want to rent it out, that's a completely different matter. if you want to describe it as a bedroom when you sell it, people will laugh at you. What use do you intend?

Planning enforcement can stop you from sleeping in your shed if you don't have permission for it. We all need safe and warm homes and that's exactly the sort of thing that would be enforced and it's exactly the soet of thing neighbours will complain about.

ScorpiondeRooftrouser

Doozergirl wrote: »

Planning enforcement can stop you from sleeping in your shed if you don't have permission for it. We all need safe and warm homes and that's exactly the sort of thing that would be enforced and it's exactly the soet of thing neighbours will complain about.

I am pretty sure this is not correct. I can sleep in the garden if I like. What law would anyone be breaking by sleeping in a shed?

Smodlet

I doubt there is a law preventing anyone from sleeping in a tent in their own garden if they so wish. That is not the issue. Pretending a garage conversion is to be used as an office when the real intention is to park your granny in it or gods forbid, rent it out is entirely different.

Security and insulation are obvious concerns, as is insurance. A detached garage is still an outbuilding, whatever its use and therefore more vulnerable to any kind of attack. How is a burglar to know that, rather than steal your lawnmower or "borrow" a ladder to break into your house, they are going to cause a coronary in a senior citizen?