HELP- buying a house with Loft conversion in 1980

CG0777

Hi everyone, I’m hoping for some advice as I’m getting a lot of mixed information. 

We are in the process of purchasing a property that had a loft conversion done in 1980. The current vendor bought the property in 1985. We have just found out the date the conversion was done. The house is being sold as a 3 bedroom which includes the loft space listed as a bedroom. 

Is this allowed? 

The estate agent says that it can be classed as a bedroom as it was done before regs. The solicitors aren’t giving much information in regards to it and are saying we need to wait until we get to the searches etc. Our structural engineer and surveyor seems to disagree with the estate agent and suggest it should be up to current building regs in order for it to be classed as a habitable space. The issue is anything built in the 1980s won’t be up to current building regs.

We are in the process of getting a mortgage so we are worried that it could be rejected due to this. 

Thank you in advance. 

casper_gutman

You're buying the house as seen, and you need the surveyor to comment on the adequacy or otherwise of the structure and any defects you should think about remedying. The idea that the loft isn't a real room because it was done before some particular administrative requirement existed is nonsensical.

No work done on a property in the 1980s could be expected to meet modern regulations. If it was true that this meant the loft conversion didn't count as a habitable room, then neither would my kitchen diner, living room, any of the bedrooms or the bathroom because the entire house was put up before regs existed. Do you think that would make sense? 

CG0777

casper_gutman said:

You're buying the house as seen, and you need the surveyor to comment on the adequacy or otherwise of the structure and any defects you should think about remedying. The idea that the loft isn't a real room because it was done before some particular administrative requirement existed is nonsensical.

No work done on a property in the 1980s could be expected to meet modern regulations. If it was true that this meant the loft conversion didn't count as a habitable room, then neither would my kitchen diner, living room, any of the bedrooms or the bathroom because the entire house was put up before regs existed. Do you think that would make sense? 

Thanks for the reply. We share the same opinion about properties built before regs not meeting the current standards. I agree that it doesn’t make sense. The structural engineer pointed out a problem with the roof that we would rectify happily but it was the different information we have been receiving from different parties that has thrown us a bit. Thanks again for taking the time to reply. 

Silvertabby

I would check that it meets current fire regs, though. 

pmartin86

my last house was built in the 1930s, extended in the 1940s and extensively renovated in the 1980s. Not a single part of that house met current regs when i bought it!

If the loft was converted in the 80s, you've got to consider its "stood" for 40~ years, unless you can see obvious signs, its probably fine. If you love the house and you're concerned, put a few quid aside to bring it up to current regs when you buy it.

My current house has some serious "defects", but I intend to live here for 20-30 years, so I've budgeted in for modernisation and repairs, that's just the cost of owning a home you "love"