New Build lofts - 'very difficult' to convert as opposed to traditional?

matthew91822

Not sure this is useful to you, but I'm going to view a house next week where they converted a trussed loft around the truss. See image below from rightmove.
https://media.rightmove.co.uk/47k/46230/72003600/46230_528976030_IMG_12_0000.jpg

AdrianC

thearchitect said:

I will merely observe that the Building Regulations exist for a purpose somewhat more important than merely inconveniencing property owners, and those who ignore them do so at their own risk.

No argument there at all.

However, what was safe and legal and compliant last week may not be next week. Does that make it any less safe? Or just less legal and compliant?

Perhaps the work would have been signed off at the time of conversion - but, for whatever reason, the paperwork never got done, and nobody's worried about it since. Does that make it unsafe?

OTOH, there's plenty of work that has been signed off that is unquestionably sub-standard...

My disagreement with Jim over this is simply that there is no way that anybody can ever STOP you using a room as a bedroom simply by putting a bed in it. And if there's a bed in a room, how is that anything but a "bedroom"? 

jimbog said:

AdrianC said:

jimbog said:

You won't be able to use it as a bedroom without building regs

Of course you can.

Is somebody from the local council is going to leap out of the airing cupboard at 11pm, clad in hivis, waving a clipboard, as you meander towards the steps with a mug of cocoa and a good book?

No, of course not. They may well be able to make you apply for retrospective BR sign-off, for a short while, but not after that.

You may have issues saying "Yes, that room with a bed in is definitely a bedroom, honest" if and when you come to sell it, if the EA or putative buyers are a bit eyebrow-raisey about paperwork. Nothing a useless indemnity won't sort, of course.

Nonsense

thearchitect

There is a common misonception that Building Control, in issuing the certificate of completion or habitation (delete depending upon jurisdiction), have confirmed that the quality of the work is sufficient to meet the local Building Regulations.  That's not quite correct: since the 1990s, they have essentially become verifiers as opposed to checkers.  The duty of inspection is heavily tempered.  Principal responsibility for the quality of work and compliance rests with the owner or occupied and through them the architect or contractor.

Recognising the inherrent risks arising at what I perhaps unkindly call the bottom end of the market, the building control authority therefore typically determines its inspection regime based on a risk assessment involving nature of work, quality of information provided, and perceived competence of contractor.  Nevertheless cases fall between the cracks, particularly with the English and Welsh regimes.

buel10

matthew91822 said:

Not sure this is useful to you, but I'm going to view a house next week where they converted a trussed loft around the truss. See image below from rightmove.
https://media.rightmove.co.uk/47k/46230/72003600/46230_528976030_IMG_12_0000.jpg

Wow, this is interesting. Thank you.

AdrianC

matthew91822 said:

Not sure this is useful to you, but I'm going to view a house next week where they converted a trussed loft around the truss. See image below from rightmove.
https://media.rightmove.co.uk/47k/46230/72003600/46230_528976030_IMG_12_0000.jpg

Good grief. That is horrific. Can you IMAGINE trying to live in that?

matthew91822

AdrianC said:

Good grief. That is horrific. Can you IMAGINE trying to live in that?

I have to agree to be honest, it's quite ugly. It's still only got a ladder to it so not technically another bedroom.

Doozergirl

matthew91822 said:

Not sure this is useful to you, but I'm going to view a house next week where they converted a trussed loft around the truss. See image below from rightmove.
https://media.rightmove.co.uk/47k/46230/72003600/46230_528976030_IMG_12_0000.jpg

That's hilarious!   And it really won't comply.  To the point of probably being dangerous.  

There's not having a certificate for some reason and there's just taking the proverbial! 

Bonniepurple

matthew91822 said:

AdrianC said:

Good grief. That is horrific. Can you IMAGINE trying to live in that?

I have to agree to be honest, it's quite ugly. It's still only got a ladder to it so not technically another bedroom.

That is scary!  Could you post the full RM link so I can be nosy?

matthew91822

Bonniepurple said:

That is scary!  Could you post the full RM link so I can be nosy?

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-72003600.html

AdrianC

matthew91822 said:

Bonniepurple said:

That is scary!  Could you post the full RM link so I can be nosy?

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-72003600.html

...and they've got round the loft BR thing by calling it a "usable loft room", and saying...
"The usable loft room, would require planning and/or building permission to be used as an additional bedroom"

Still, glad they felt the need to tell us what this room is, because I'd never have guessed without that information.

Live, laugh, whatever.