Buying a flat where the bedroom has no window - what are the rules on this?

southernorth

Doozergirl said:

This rings bells of the Hampton Wick flat that was posted about on here a few weeks back. 

It was a conversion under permitted development rules that would never pass proper planning.  It's a loophole of sorts but it doesn't make it at all safe.  

Mortgage lenders weren't happy.  I think the person that posted was the third potential buyer. 

Very interesting, I've had a read through that thread. Seems the building plans were approved for no windows, but perhaps that was wrong now? Certainly a grey area.

Here's the floor plan of the flat if it's of any use.

dimbo61

Please walk away and don't spend any money buying a sub standard pile of trouble 
If you can even get a mortgage on the place you will have issues when you try to sell

Doozergirl

southernorth said:

Doozergirl said:

This rings bells of the Hampton Wick flat that was posted about on here a few weeks back. 

It was a conversion under permitted development rules that would never pass proper planning.  It's a loophole of sorts but it doesn't make it at all safe.  

Mortgage lenders weren't happy.  I think the person that posted was the third potential buyer. 

Very interesting, I've had a read through that thread. Seems the building plans were approved for no windows, but perhaps that was wrong now? Certainly a grey area.

Here's the floor plan of the flat if it's of any use.

It is 'wrong' but a few years ago the government in their infinite wisdom allowed commercial buildings to be converted into flats without 'proper' planning permission. 

Is 'yours' a conversion?  Because it simply wouldn't/shouldn't be allowed under building regulations and looks to me like one of these conversions too.  

Imagine living with one small window in the place where you live.  Imagine that in another lockdown.  

Imagine if you were in bed and a fire broke out in the kitchen.  How would you get out?   

It's petrifying.  Leave it well alone.  

Gentoo365

Whatever the regulations are now on what can be called what, they may change

user1977

Gentoo365 said:

Whatever the regulations are now on what can be called what, they may change

Yes - but not retrospectively.

hazyjo

user1977 said:

Gentoo365 said:

Whatever the regulations are now on what can be called what, they may change

Yes - but not retrospectively.

Possibly for lending on it though!

user1977

hazyjo said:

user1977 said:

Gentoo365 said:

Whatever the regulations are now on what can be called what, they may change

Yes - but not retrospectively.

Possibly for lending on it though!

True - I just meant in terms of building regulations or planning.

southernorth

Doozergirl said:

southernorth said:

Doozergirl said:

This rings bells of the Hampton Wick flat that was posted about on here a few weeks back. 

It was a conversion under permitted development rules that would never pass proper planning.  It's a loophole of sorts but it doesn't make it at all safe.  

Mortgage lenders weren't happy.  I think the person that posted was the third potential buyer. 

Very interesting, I've had a read through that thread. Seems the building plans were approved for no windows, but perhaps that was wrong now? Certainly a grey area.

Here's the floor plan of the flat if it's of any use.

It is 'wrong' but a few years ago the government in their infinite wisdom allowed commercial buildings to be converted into flats without 'proper' planning permission. 

Is 'yours' a conversion?  Because it simply wouldn't/shouldn't be allowed under building regulations and looks to me like one of these conversions too.  

Imagine living with one small window in the place where you live.  Imagine that in another lockdown.  

Imagine if you were in bed and a fire broke out in the kitchen.  How would you get out?   

It's petrifying.  Leave it well alone.  

Thanks for the advice. Yes, 100% going to avoid this one now. I hadn't thought about the issue in such an important situation. 

The development is part of a large office building that was converted to flats, with 2 new additional floors added on top of the original structure. This flat was in one of the new upper floors. 

aoleks

Just for my own entertainment, how much are they asking for this shoe box?

I need something more ridiculous than Boris being ambushed with a cake!

SavingPennies_2

I couldn't bear to live somewhere with just one window!! Even a kitchen or bathroom with no windows is a no go for me but then I love natural light, seeing the sky, the birds, noseing outside at comings and goings, it can't be healthy to live in that environment, apart from the fire risk aswell. Since you won't be buying do you have a link for our curiosity?