Conservatory - Possible with only one external door accessible from garden?

NoahEden20

Can anyone advise?

I am looking to have a conservatory added to a council house for much needed additional space. The house is semi-detached and has only an external door to the side. The house is small and so there is no room to add an opening along the rear wall ( which comprises of a kitchen and bathroom). 

Is it possible to add the conservatory to the back wall (which will cover the area including the kitchen window and bathroom window) with access only from physically walking out of the side door, a meter or so up the path and through the conservatory door?

Not ideal, and would much prefer an extension however I can not afford this, and really just need a little more space. 

Thanks! 

rexmedorum

do you own this home? 

NoahEden20

Not currently (I have a Council Tenancy with an intention to buy in the future). I am fully aware that however unlikely it is that the council were to repossess the property, I'd lose out on the money spent on improvements etc 

 

theoretica

Sounds like you want to look at garden offices/greenhouses/lean to huts.

NoahEden20

I have looked at garden buildings...the garden is actually pretty big (a larger plot than the house i'd say) so a relatively large garden office type structure could be located at the bottom of the garden but the cost I think to ensure proper insulation, electrics, foundations etc I think would be more costly

Section62

NoahEden20 said:

...(which will cover the area including the kitchen window and bathroom window)

This could cause problems with building regs unless you find a way of ensuring adequate ventilation for these rooms.

At the moment the windows will open into fresh air (presumably) - with them opening into the conservatory you won't get as much ventilation, and smells and humidity will stay inside the property, albeit in the conservatory not the main part of the house.

In terms of 'a little more space' - what would you use the space for?  Your intended use will partly determine whether this is a good idea, or if you'd be better off with something like a shed or stand-alone greenhouse/conservatory.


Even if this property has been purchased from the council, you are likely to find the deeds contain a requirement for you to seek the council's consent before making certain alterations. This is separate from planning consent or building regs.  Adding a conservatory on the rear of the property is likely to be something that you would need consent for if that kind of clause is in the deeds.

You also need to find out whether you would be building over a public sewer, which is quite likely in the case of extensions/conservatories at the rear of an ex-council property.

Section62

NoahEden20 said:

I have looked at garden buildings...the garden is actually pretty big (a larger plot than the house i'd say) so a relatively large garden office type structure could be located at the bottom of the garden but the cost I think to ensure proper insulation, electrics, foundations etc I think would be more costly

See my previous post - it is more likely that building onto the existing house will cost you more.  But it depends on the exact circumstances.

lincroft1710

What do you want the extra space for?


Any sort of "living room" is going to have to be properly heated and insulated whether it be a conservatory or garden room.

NoahEden20

Thanks all for your comments

Section 62 - I would obtain the consent of the Council (many other council tenants in the area have had conservatory works approved and undertaken), so I think this would be ok. 

I think its very likely that the conservatory would pass over the public sewer which would also need consent from the water company, I gather?  

The space would predominately be used as a dining room/kids space so the family can eat together.

Perhaps an outbuilding at the rear or side of the garden would be more cost effective after all, but would need to be properly insulated for all year round use. 

lincroft1710

NoahEden20 said:

The space would predominately be used as a dining room/kids space so the family can eat together.

Perhaps an outbuilding at the rear or side of the garden would be more cost effective after all, but would need to be properly insulated for all year round use. 

I can't see an outbuilding working as a dining room! Especially in autumn/winter!

babyblade41

I honestly don't think your idea would work at all, walking outside to access inside especially for what you want to use it for is a no go, also for outside cabins.

There really is only one way and that is an extension