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

Doozergirl

vkvp said:

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. 

New build houses would need to comply with Part M of the building regulations with regard
to being accessible for disable visitors.  That means a toilet on the floor that you enter the property. 

There isn't any other rule about what floor bathrooms need to be on that I'm aware of.   No requirement for a bathroom on the same floor as bedrooms.  

You're overthinking this.   Taking out a bit of plumbing for an upstairs bathroom doesn't bear much effect on anything.  

The one thing is that the room should have a window that you can escape from, which I don't believe is a requirement for a bathroom.
 

davidmcn

vkvp said:

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. 

Only applicable where there was a previous requirement under building regulations, I think e.g. new houses must have a toilet on the ground floor, so it would be non-compliant to remove that - but if it were an older house which was never obliged to have a downstairs toilet, you can remove it.

macman

vkvp said:

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. 

The pipework would have been removed or capped off as necessary. If one of the old supply pipes were leaking it would be very obvious! You are over-thinking this.

vkvp

Spoke to our solicitor today, and she thinks building regs is required for this work. And also for the works finished 3 years ago, she is insisting for Building regulation completion certificate. When I say why worry too much if they are more than 12 months ago, she said we need to worry utpo 10 years.. Whats the logic for 10 years for Building control process? 

davidmcn

vkvp said:

Spoke to our solicitor today, and she thinks building regs is required for this work. And also for the works finished 3 years ago, she is insisting for Building regulation completion certificate. When I say why worry too much if they are more than 12 months ago, she said we need to worry utpo 10 years.. Whats the logic for 10 years for Building control process? 

I don't know, what does she think the logic is?

DCFC79

vkvp said:

Spoke to our solicitor today, and she thinks building regs is required for this work. And also for the works finished 3 years ago, she is insisting for Building regulation completion certificate. When I say why worry too much if they are more than 12 months ago, she said we need to worry utpo 10 years.. Whats the logic for 10 years for Building control process? 

So she thinks the regs are required for the work, now Im not an expert but surely she should know the answer or be able to find out for sure.

macman

There is no logic, and she is wrong on both counts. You can't 'insist' on a BC cert if one does not exist.

ElephantBoy57

This is the worst case scenario

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/two-houses-collapse-basement-work-chelsea-b43428.html?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook#Echobox=1604399897