Loft conversion - suggestions for a creative architect?

housebuyerlondon

Hi all,
I'm buying a two bed Victorian terrace with a spiral staircase, and a loft which would work well for a conversion were it not for the lack of space for stairs. The surveyor has said I'd have to lose a bit of the already tiny second bedroom, and he doesn't think it's feasible. However, wouldn't it be possible to just extend the spiral staircase into the loft? Could it be that the surveyor is just being a bit un-creative?

 Does anyone know of somebody that could look at pics and give me an informed opinion on this? The EA told me I could convert the attic (I know that's not gospel obviously), so it was one of the factors that went into buying this place, and I want to be fully informed on the possibilities before completing.

Thank you

FTB_Help

Could you link the rightmove ad/ floor plan.

Im sure someone here can look and give an opinion too.

Another thing i would suggest is see what your neighbours have done

housebuyerlondon

Thanks ftb_help, here's the EA link: https://www.acorngroup.co.uk/property-sales/terraced-house-for-sale-in-aitken-road-london-se6/49925

All of the neighbours have normal staircases, unfortunately! I'd like to keep the spiral staircase if possible as I love it, and anticipate changing the stairs to be reasonably expensive on top of a loft conversion?

FTB_Help

I see what you mean the staircase does give it character.

If you do as surveyor suggest and lose some of the room space - you could make that room a small office/ study room and in the loft put in 2 decent sized bedrooms so you'll be a 3 bed with an office room.

housebuyerlondon

Haha, the second room is already a small room and study space (It's not pictured in the EA website).  I guess it would be made even smaller! 

AdrianC

I think you'd need to speak to a specialist to see if that particular spiral could be modified and extended - but I can't see anything stopping it being changed for a similar, but taller one.

FTB_Help

Hmmm, its always a bit trickier when staircases are centered in the middle of a property.

Would you be happy to just lose that small room altogether and put 2 more in the loft area

I assume your goal is to expand for more bedrooms?

housebuyerlondon

Potentially actually! Maybe I could make the bathroom into a mega bathroom?

housebuyerlondon

Also - just an idea, but do you reckon it's ever possible to extend out into the garden to fill the bit down the side of the kitchen and the second bedroom? That would give more space...

housebuyerlondon

Any recommendations for an architect?

FTB_Help

Or a wash room/ shower room.

I kinda think the previous owner moved the staircase from the left handside wall of the livingroom, to the centre, which then ate away at the smaller bedroom.

If you go on rightmove sold prices, type in the postcode, from there you can view some of your neighbours layout, they may have the same set up as you, so could see if any have extended and how.