Loft conversion in a new build

smoggieboy4

Exploring this idea, we have a miller home and its now over 5 years old. 
Roof is over 2.3m at the highest point so fulfils that requirement. 
Is planning required
Can miller homes stop me from doing it?
Thanks in advice

twopenny

Is there any warranty on the house given by the builders?

It's usually 10yrs.

If you make a conversion that would probably make it invalid.

Plumber90

smoggieboy4 said:

Exploring this idea, we have a miller home and its now over 5 years old. 
Roof is over 2.3m at the highest point so fulfils that requirement. 
Is planning required
Can miller homes stop me from doing it?
Thanks in advice

Are you sure that's enough head height, I had 2.5 metres in my loft, by the time the new joists, trusses and insulation/plasterboard went over the top I was down to 2.2 metres. 

ElephantBoy57

smoggieboy4 said:

Exploring this idea, we have a miller home and its now over 5 years old. 
Roof is over 2.3m at the highest point so fulfils that requirement. 
Is planning required. Can miller homes stop me from doing it?

A loft in itself does not require planning, but that would depend on velux or dormer windows.

It would need to comply with building regulations. Loft convertion into storage/rooms?

RelievedSheff

smoggieboy4 said:

Exploring this idea, we have a miller home and its now over 5 years old. 
Roof is over 2.3m at the highest point so fulfils that requirement. 
Is planning required
Can miller homes stop me from doing it?
Thanks in advice

You will find that by the time you have put in new roof supports, moved insulation around and put in a new floor structure that you have much less than 2.3m head room in the converted room.

Miller Homes cannot stop you doing it but as someone else has pointed out you will probably invalidate your NHBC warranty.

Mickey666

ElephantBoy57 said:

smoggieboy4 said:

Exploring this idea, we have a miller home and its now over 5 years old. 
Roof is over 2.3m at the highest point so fulfils that requirement. 
Is planning required. Can miller homes stop me from doing it?

A loft in itself does not require planning, but that would depend on velux or dormer windows.

It would need to comply with building regulations. Loft convertion into storage/rooms?

And what if it didn't?

I had a two-storey extension added to a previous house.  The roof space was large enough for an additional room so I got the builders to increase the size of the floor/ceiling joists during construction, lay a solid floor and fit a retractable attic ladder.  After the extension works were all signed off by building control, I converted the roof space myself with insulation, plasterboard and a velux window to use as a study/hobby room.  No problems at all.

When it came to selling the house, the EA pointed out that because the conversion had no BC sign-off it could not be advertised as an additional room, only as 'fully boarded attic space'.  Fair enough.  Everyone who viewed the house could see the room for what it was and the eventual buyer was delighted with the additional 'room'.  There were no issues with the conveyance and no requirement for indemnity policies for lack of building regs etc.

My feeling is that some people just like to look for problems and we've become a nation of people who think they need official permission to do anything.  When did an Englishman's home stop being his castle?

DevilDamo

@smoggieboy4 Are there any restrictive covenants or conditions on the property that prevent you from converting the loft under Permitted Development? A lot of new housing developments do have certain restrictions so check the original Planning approval first.

How has the existing roof space been formed... cut roof, trusses or attic trusses?

@Mickey666 Building an extension and carrying out some localised upgrades to make the loft more of a usable space is a lot easier and more feasible than converting an existing loft space. I’m sure you do know but you are aware the alterations you carried out are not PD?

Mickey666

@Mickey666 Building an extension and carrying out some localised upgrades to make the loft more of a usable space is a lot easier and more feasible than converting an existing loft space. I’m sure you do know but you are aware the alterations you carried out are not PD?

PD was not a thing when I did my conversion back in 1995.  I agree that some conversions are easier than others, depending on the roof construction.   My basic point was that if common sense is used for such conversions then the lack of planning and building control paperwork needn’t be a problem when it comes to selling. 

ElephantBoy57

Mickey666 said:

And what if it didn't?

My feeling is that some people just like to look for problems and we've become a nation of people who think they need official permission to do anything.  When did an Englishman's home stop being his castle?

I agree with your point. But some people are dishonest, so they like to know it complies with regulations.

southcoastrgi

2.3m is no where near high enough & you will find you won't get permission to raise the roof height 

Mickey666

ElephantBoy57 said:

Mickey666 said:

And what if it didn't?

My feeling is that some people just like to look for problems and we've become a nation of people who think they need official permission to do anything.  When did an Englishman's home stop being his castle?

I agree with your point. But some people are dishonest, so they like to know it complies with regulations.

Regulations and honesty are different things.  The attic conversion I described did not comply with building regulations because the ceiling height was just under 2m,  but there was no dishonesty involved.  It was just presented as it was and was plain for all to see when viewing.