Help selling a house with floored attic no building regs

lincroft1710

Gwendo40 wrote: »

In a similar vein, am I right in assuming that an EA is in breach of advertising standards if they market a property as having x number of ''bedrooms'' if some of those ''bedrooms'' are clearly non-compliant with building regs?
i.e a boarded attic space as in the OP's description?

EAs are not usually conversant with every aspect of building regs, nor do they investigate the existence of building regs for any extension/alteration and will only describe what they see or are told

vw100

What alterations have you made to the loft?


Because it is boarded and the velux window regardless it was there or not when you brought it - gives a indication that it habitual space, so they need to something to cover their hinds.


So you may need to revert the loft back to a non habitual looking space or get building control sign off as indemnity is not a option according to your solicitor.
House buying and selling is a stressful event with so many parties involved and keeping them pleased, even more so with complexities and lack of paperwork

dunroving

davidmcn wrote: »

The OP hasn't suggested that there is a fixed staircase. Like I said, I'm really not convinced you need a building warrant merely for fixing some boards to the rafters/joists. Unless it's the veux window which is causing the concern, if that's an alteration?

Sometimes, boarding a loft involves altering roof ties to give space for moving around - in my case this is what the LA said required a building warrant (my attic wasn't boarded beyond partial flooring, but the original owner raised the collar ties 40 years ago). It took £500 for a structural engineer to say it was not a concern in the slightest (if it were, half the houses in the neighbourhood would be falling down, as most of them have Velux windows, loft conversions, and/or fully boarded attic spaces.)

But try telling that to a certain person at the Council. I will post more in due course, when the dust has settled.

Mojisola

vw100 wrote: »

Because it is boarded and the velux window regardless it was there or not when you brought it - gives a indication that it habitual space, so they need to something to cover their hinds.

We have boarded the loft for storage and have had a window put in but it's by no means a habitable space. The only way to get into it is via a loft ladder and a hatch!

dunroving

Mojisola wrote: »

We have boarded the loft for storage and have had a window put in but it's by no means a habitable space. The only way to get into it is via a loft ladder and a hatch!

Same set-up as mine, then*, but I only have a part-floored attic space and no window. Didn't stop the Council getting worked up about it - though from everything I have found out, my situation is quite exceptional, largely due to the person handling the case.

* Except the work was done to my attic years before I bought it, as far as I can determine, 40 years ago.

vw100

vw100 wrote: »

What alterations have you made to the loft?


Because it is boarded and the velux window regardless it was there or not when you brought it - gives a indication that it habitual space, so they need to something to cover their hinds.


So you may need to revert the loft back to a non habitual looking space or get building control sign off as indemnity is not a option according to your solicitor.
House buying and selling is a stressful event with so many parties involved and keeping them pleased, even more so with complexities and lack of paperwork

It might not be a habitual space, but it potentially could or gives a indication to a 3rd party - this is the concern.

bouicca21

ive had two 1930s built houses that had original velux type lights in the roof. Both designed to allow natural light to the landing. So velux as evidence of intention to create habitable space doesn't cut it for me.

sevenhills

bouicca21 wrote: »

ive had two 1930s built houses that had original velux type lights in the roof. Both designed to allow natural light to the landing. So velux as evidence of intention to create habitable space doesn't cut it for me.

Put that together with the "lined loft space", and its overkilll for just storing a Christmas tree. So people are rightly asking, what elese is being done up there.
Will the joists take the extra weight for what is being done up there?

pinklady21

My loft also has an old fashioned roof light - I think I could replace that with a velux without requiring a B/W, so long as I didn't change the size of it. Maybe your Velux is a replacement for an existing rooflight???
My loft is also partially floored, with loft ladder access. There is no way it could be deemed potentially habitable space!

dunroving

pinklady21 wrote: »

My loft also has an old fashioned roof light - I think I could replace that with a velux without requiring a B/W, so long as I didn't change the size of it. Maybe your Velux is a replacement for an existing rooflight???
My loft is also partially floored, with loft ladder access. There is no way it could be deemed potentially habitable space!

I did have a small family living in my loft for a while.

Well, the two kids slept up there.

And it was only for 10 days.

And they were on holiday.

So it was more of a camping/sleepover experience.

But I know someone at my LA who would take that as meaning it was habitable.



(They didn't fall through the ceiling)

(I'm just bitter and twisted at the moment, hope it doesn't show).