Converting a garage into a bedroom..?

LilSmiler

Hopefully a straight forward query and simple to answer

My son's house had a garage added as an extension over 20 years ago with building regs/permissions etc all done and signed off.

If he want's to convert the garage into a bedroom (including changing the single skin walls into cavity, insulating the roof and adding windows etc) does he need to apply for further planning permission and go through any sort of process with the local council to do so?

WIAWSNB

LilSmiler said:

Hopefully a straight forward query and simple to answer  
My son's house had a garage added as an extension over 20 years ago with building regs/permissions etc all done and signed off.
If he want's to convert the garage into a bedroom (including changing the single skin walls into cavity, insulating the roof and adding windows etc) does he need to apply for further planning permission and go through any sort of process with the local council to do so - building control?

I believe you'll need both, as it'll be a habitable space.

Most likely PP will be ok, especially if others in the 'hood have already done this. Possibly it's even within permitted, but worth checking. If off-street parking is limited, tho', then that could be an issue.

Building Control, definitely, as it'll need to conform to the required insulation levels, electrics, etc. Really worth doing this in any case, as the endless list of threads on here about, 'extension/conversion has no completion cert - should I buy or walk away?' will make clear. 

Bigphil1474

The standards for a garage and a bedroom are different. Even if BC signed it off 20 years ago, they weren't signing it off as a bedroom. You can convert the garage to a workshop/study/office without BC sign off, but not as a bedroom.

FreeBear

WIAWSNB said:

LilSmiler said:

Hopefully a straight forward query and simple to answer  
My son's house had a garage added as an extension over 20 years ago with building regs/permissions etc all done and signed off.
If he want's to convert the garage into a bedroom (including changing the single skin walls into cavity, insulating the roof and adding windows etc) does he need to apply for further planning permission and go through any sort of process with the local council to do so - building control?

Really worth doing this in any case, as the endless list of threads on here about, 'extension/conversion has no completion cert - should I buy or walk away?' will make clear.

With recent changes to legislation, councils now have up to 10 years to take enforcement action. The scale of penalties has also increased dramatically. So it makes sense to do it "by the book" on that count alone. The impact on selling in the future is also worth considering.

LilSmiler

thanks very much for the info all, it's appreciated