Loft no dormer no planning permission

ypapandr

Tom99, how do you know the tiles have been replaced? I have been told roof has been redone 3 years ago but given epc I’d be surprised if it was insulated well. I feel that, assuming I don’t need the full conversion, I at least need to ensure it is insulated well and the joists are ok. How can a surveyor assess this without opening the floor?

Tammykitty

Alan2020 wrote: »

Well I had a quick look,
Not in catchment area of outstanding school (10k per year for private education)
That conservatory thing has a radiator, again illegal
That monster decking would never been allowed by planners??
No ground floor loo

So I doubt the OP is going to get a family house as such. Will get a wreck they will need to do up!!

Are you looking at the right house?


There is no decking - there is a paved area of the garden]
And there is downstairs loo in the conservatory

davidmcn

Tammykitty wrote: »

Are you looking at the right house?

There is no decking - there is a paved area of the garden]
And there is downstairs loo in the conservatory

I think he's talking about the alternative property linked to in post #20. Would help if people used the "quote" function so we know what they're replying to.

ypapandr

What would be the best way to check how to regularise the loft? Shall I send an email to the Building Control team in the relevant council?

Albala

I'd want a proper investigation on it with whatever access was necessary or I'd walk away. A relative bought a house once where some previous owner had, in order to get better access to the loft, cut through beams that went across the roof (at right angles to the ridge, not sure of their proper name). As a result, the very heavy roof was gradually opening up flatter (if you can see what I mean?) and pushing the walls that were parallel to the ridge outwards.
They bought in the full knowledge of this, having arranged structural assessments, and costed the very tricky remedial work and got the required permissions (not easy, as it was a listed building as well). It all worked out fine when done, but that's only because they knew exactly what they were in for before they bought it.

I think you're right to take a builder and a surveyor to see this, at the very least.

ypapandr

Thanks and agreed. The report does outline that the stairs and a partition would not be in line with building regs. The loft has been done 3/4 years ago. My question is - shall I get a regularisation application from the council and then do the works or would it be wiser to wait? I think after a certain number of years it would be automatically recognised as compliant - is this set in stone in some regulation?

Davesnave

ypapandr wrote: »

Thanks and agreed. The report does outline that the stairs and a partition would not be in line with building regs. The loft has been done 3/4 years ago. My question is - shall I get a regularisation application from the council and then do the works or would it be wiser to wait? I think after a certain number of years it would be automatically recognised as compliant - is this set in stone in some regulation?

Enforcement of the building regs is unlikely to happen, even after the short passage of time since this conversion was done, but there is no such thing as compliance via the passage of time. Something dangerous and non-compliant remains so until someone makes physical changes to make it safe and/or appropriately insulated etc.

Maybe you're confusing building regs and planning laws? There are planning situations where the power of enforcement lapses when a breach of the rules remains unchallenged for a certain time. The person who has successfully breached the rules might then apply for regularisation via a Certificate of Lawful Development.

ypapandr

Davesnave wrote: »

Enforcement of the building regs is unlikely to happen, even after the short passage of time since this conversion was done, but there is no such thing as compliance via the passage of time. Something dangerous and non-compliant remains so until someone makes physical changes to make it safe and/or appropriately insulated etc.

Maybe you're confusing building regs and planning laws? There are planning situations where the power of enforcement lapses when a breach of the rules remains unchallenged for a certain time. The person who has successfully breached the rules might then apply for regularisation via a Certificate of Lawful Development.

Got it, yes I must have confused the two. So the best course of action is to give a call to Enfield Building Control and ask them to do a regularisation inspection and then carry out the relevant works. As per surveyor's chat, it should be about installing sprinklers and replacing stair to the loft.

markin

ypapandr wrote: »

Got it, yes I must have confused the two. So the best course of action is to give a call to Enfield Building Control and ask them to do a regularisation inspection and then carry out the relevant works. As per surveyor's chat, it should be about installing sprinklers and replacing stair to the loft.

Is the insulation thick enough to pass? My first thought is no way!

ypapandr

I don't think the insulation is either but there seems to be enough space to do from the inside