Legality of renting out loft conversion without building reg approval for lodger

Davesnave

RositaF wrote: »

When I move in I am hoping to rent out the loft space, but was wondering whether you have any knowledge about the legality of this?

Finally, when I move in I would like to get a quote on getting approval for the loft (which was apparently converted by the council in the 1970s) but not sure whether getting a quote would mean I would be obliged to go ahead with the work, as it will be inhabited?

You are intending to play fast and loose with fire safety regulations, which is why people are being unsympathetic. Putting a lodger in a roof space without a means of egress other than the stairway would be unwise and probably illegal.

As to building regs, we are a long way from the 1970s, sadly, so what was deemed appropriate then for height or floor strength might not be seen as adequate now,

There could be very good reasons why this loft has not been converted to habitable space. Although you have managed to get money off the house price, it may be uneconomic to alter the roof space to meet the regulations now in force.

davidmcn

tacpot12 wrote: »

Your buildings insurance won't cover you for certain sorts of claims if the loft is occupied, but doesn't have BR approval. You really don't want to find out when it is too late that the event that has happened isn't covered by your insurance.

This keeps on being trotted out but never with any authority to back it up, and I've never seen an insurance proposal form asking about BR approval (and you'd think they would ask the question if they actually cared).

There are millions of houses which either lack BR approval for alterations or for the original construction of the whole house (such as the 1880s one I live in), but they're insurable.

If the loft was converted in the 1970s and has been used as a habitable room for a similarly long period (not clear whether the last bit is the case) then I don't see a problem. If of course it looks like a deathtrap (irrespective of whether you have a bit of paper from 40+ years ago saying it's fine) then you ought to sort that out.

A_Nice_Englishman

I'm a bit surprised to hear that a Council did a conversion like that. I thought they would have been more likely to rehouse a tenant requiring additional space. Could the conversion have been done unofficially? They might still have the paperwork. Whether they'd be willing to look for it in their archives is another matter but it would be interesting to see it.

Personally, I'd find out how much it would cost to make the loft compliant with today's BRs and compare that with the cost of buying a 'proper' three bedroom house before proceeding with the purchase (assuming I wasn't already committed to buy).

[Deleted User]

You should have seen a 4 bed council house I lived in some years ago. The loft was simply divided up by concrete blocks with a ceiling added. The blocks didn't even go up to the rafters. No insulation til I put some in so the room froze in the winter. No idea when it was created.