Buying advice old house

AAZ

I am interested in buying an old house currently being lived by an elderly couple, the house need complete revamp, and perhaps will need extension at some point to accommodate my growing family. I am not sure how difficult it would be get planning permission for extension ( it is in a conservation area). The house itself is quite run down but it is in a very nice area with good school and is currently at a price band I can afford . I am hesitant as I am not sure how much the whole refurbishment would cause and will I burn my finger in taking a renovation/extension project. Grateful for any advice

canaldumidi

Has the property already been previously extended at all?

Would your extension fall within 'Permitted Development"?

What are the Conservation Area requirements (should be on council website)?

Would you DIY the refurb, or part of it,or use builders/contractors? Need a surveyor/architect to oversee?

What will the refub involve? Just redecoration or electrics/heating, and/or structural work?

Cost can vary hugely!

cattie

Whatever you think it will cost to renovate, double it to get a better indication of cost. So you would need deep pockets if it needs a complete refurb.

Nobody can advise whether you'll get your fingers burnt, but if you're thinking of buying as a home compared to doing it as an investment then that shouldn't be a consideration.

theoretica

Have any other properties in the area had planning permission for extensions?  Looking on the planning website, google satellite and the conservation area documents might help.

Does any of the refurbishment fall under conservation area requirements (eg windows, doors, roof)

lookstraightahead

When you say old, how old do you mean?

we have an old house in an AONB. It's 200 years old but was updated 15 years ago. 

You will possibly need a full structural survey, and possibly a structural engineers report.

what are the electrics like? Any damp? 

AAZ

Thanks, I will have a look on council website to find out what are the requirement. I was hoping to do it in two phase first just do redecoration ( carpets, tiles, paint and new bathroom) and then in few year do a proper extension with an architect and contractor to carry on the work

AlexMac

AAZ said:

Thanks, I will have a look on council website to find out what are the requirement. I was hoping to do it in two phase first just do redecoration ( carpets, tiles, paint and new bathroom) and then in few year do a proper extension with an architect and contractor to carry on the work

Yes, do your homework, but be brave.  I like your incremental approach- start small.  I've taken on several wrecks, learned loads of pretty heavy-duty DIY skills and never gone wrong. Especially with older buildings, which are surprisingly resilient.  In fact I've worked my way further up the "property ladder"  than I ever hoped; from a £10k slum in a dodgy istreet in 1975, to one now worth well north of a Million quid in a posher area.

My local Council has stacks of good advice online in the form of  guidance and "Supplementary Planning Documents" about what is likely to be approved - including in Conservation Areas like our local one.   In fact in our CA, the Council has NOT even imposed an "Article 4 Direction" which removes Permitted Development Rights; so these still apply. 

Get googling; your local Council's planning frameworks...  

...the Planning Portal 
(for example   https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200125/do_you_need_permission/90/interactive_house

... and the many, many really useful online guides from Homebuilding and Renovating magazine 

(for example   https://www.homebuilding.co.uk/advice/extension-cost-calculator 

In fact Homebuilding and Renovating magazine might be well worth subscribing to for its inspirational content

Go for it!

AAZ

AlexMac said:

AAZ said:

Thanks, I will have a look on council website to find out what are the requirement. I was hoping to do it in two phase first just do redecoration ( carpets, tiles, paint and new bathroom) and then in few year do a proper extension with an architect and contractor to carry on the work

Yes, do your homework, but be brave.  I like your incremental approach- start small.  I've taken on several wrecks, learned loads of pretty heavy-duty DIY skills and never gone wrong. Especially with older buildings, which are surprisingly resilient.  In fact I've worked my way further up the "property ladder"  than I ever hoped; from a £10k slum in a dodgy istreet in 1975, to one now worth well north of a Million quid in a posher area.

My local Council has stacks of good advice online in the form of  guidance and "Supplementary Planning Documents" about what is likely to be approved - including in Conservation Areas like our local one.   In fact in our CA, the Council has NOT even imposed an "Article 4 Direction" which removes Permitted Development Rights; so these still apply. 

Get googling; your local Council's planning frameworks...  

...the Planning Portal 
(for example   https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200125/do_you_need_permission/90/interactive_house

... and the many, many really useful online guides from Homebuilding and Renovating magazine 

(for example   https://www.homebuilding.co.uk/advice/extension-cost-calculator 

In fact Homebuilding and Renovating magazine might be well worth subscribing to for its inspirational content

Go for it!

Thanks Alex

macman

Rear extension, side extension, loft extension?
In a CA the restrictions are usually very clearly set out (for example, no dormers to the front or side elevations, any rear extension has to be within prescribed volume limits).

AAZ

macman said:

Rear extension, side extension, loft extension?
In a CA the restrictions are usually very clearly set out (for example, no dormers to the front or side elevations, any rear extension has to be within prescribed volume limits).

Thanks, I am struggling to find that information at Colchester council site, may have to sieve the site further.
I was looking for rear extension that would be ideal 

canaldumidi

AAZ said:

macman said:

Rear extension, side extension, loft extension?
In a CA the restrictions are usually very clearly set out (for example, no dormers to the front or side elevations, any rear extension has to be within prescribed volume limits).

Thanks, I am struggling to find that information at Colchester council site, may have to sieve the site further.

Go to the colchester website and enter 'conservation areas' in the search function. They are listed eg

Mill Field Estate Conservation Area