Does converting a current bathroom into a bedroom need building regs?

vkvp

In continuation to my previous post, the current vendor has converted an extra bathroom upstairs into a bedroom. We believe they did in last 12 months or so. But no building regulations certificates. I couldn't find any help online to suggest whether a building control process required to remove bathroom to form an additional bathroom. Any advise please?

davidmcn

Depends what exactly they did. Do you know? I doubt that merely removing plumbing requires anything. Installing it would.

vkvp

davidmcn said:

Depends what exactly they did. Do you know? I doubt that merely removing plumbing requires anything. Installing it would.

I don't know - but they kind of gave a clue that since plumbing sort of exist I could easily add a bathroom that place. Does it mean they left pipe work there!? (I'm no trade man sorry.)

coachman12

For an ordinary house, I see no case for permissions of any sort to be needed in turning a bathroom into a bedroom. The only proviso is that I am fairly sure there is a legal minimum size for a bedroom 
in England. You'll need to google that if the new bedroom that was created looks  smaller than any bedroom you've normally seen in a house. Otherwise, nothing to bother about IMO.

Doozergirl

coachman12 said:

For an ordinary house, I see no case for permissions of any sort to be needed in turning a bathroom into a bedroom. The only proviso is that I am fairly sure there is a legal minimum size for a bedroom 
in England. You'll need to google that if the new bedroom that was created looks  smaller than any bedroom you've normally seen in a house. Otherwise, nothing to bother about IMO.

There's no legal minimum size for a bedroom in a private dwelling. 

And no reason to need building regs. 

AskAsk

I don't believe so as you are simply removing the fittings.  Unless you are installing something to create the bedroom, like windows, or electrics.

coachman12

https://landlordlawblog.co.uk/2018/09/27/new-mandatory-bedroom-sizes-hmos/

bolwin1

coachman12 said:

https://landlordlawblog.co.uk/2018/09/27/new-mandatory-bedroom-sizes-hmos/

That's for a HMO, not a regular home.

vkvp

Thanks everyone for your replies. In fact original 3rd bedroom (box room) was converted into a bathroom 20 odd years ago and is converted into a bedroom again by the current vendors. The one thing that I'm concerned is how they removed the plumbing work and since it's critical as in to keep walls dry, I thought removal also needed Building control approvals. But as you suggested I will just satisfy with my building survey results about the current state. 

Owain_Moneysaver

Planning and building regs wouldn't be required to remove a bathroom but the removal must not make the house less compliant with building regs than it was previously, so eg you can't remove the only downstairs toilet, and possibly if there is now no toilet on the same floor as the principal bedrooms (the only bathroom is now downstairs) that would be less compliant. 

vkvp

Owain_Moneysaver said:

Planning and building regs wouldn't be required to remove a bathroom but the removal must not make the house less compliant with building regs than it was previously, so eg you can't remove the only downstairs toilet, and possibly if there is now no toilet on the same floor as the principal bedrooms (the only bathroom is now downstairs) that would be less compliant. 

Thanks that's interesting point. No removing that bathroom still leave another bathroom on first floor where principal bedroom lies. May I ask do you have any reference to the point you made? Just so I can show it to my solicitor if needed.