House Conversion Help PLZ

dickieg

Me and my wife have seen a big house going at auction that would be ideal to turn into an upstairs flat and a downstairs flat. We sold our house recently and have the money to buy it, what we wandered is how easy is it to turn the property into 2 seperate flats ie do we need planning permission, what about council tax and such things as the gas/electric meters which would have to be pay as you use. We have the idea for 2 flats as we both agree it is probably too big to let out as a single house. Any help would be great thanx in advance

WillowCat

Yes, you will need planning permission which may or may not be granted.

Reasons for refusal might be not enough parking (as there will be two households not one) or change character of area etc. It would be worth having a pre-planning submission discussion with the local authority to get a feel for what they would allow in the area.

You will also need building regulations approval for the works you carry out, although unlike planning permission this is not something that can be 'rejected' - as long as you build to the regulations it will pass. The utility companies will split the supply so you will have two meters, and the council will cancel the current house banding and re-evaluate for two properties.

dickieg

Basically all that needs doing to the house is a new entrance door putting in and a stud wall putting up by the staircase to seperate the building into 2 seperate units, what we are worried about is if we buy the place we won,t be able to do this, or is this just a chance we have to take buying at auction. I know that houses are being rented out in the area as i spoke to the next door neighbour who is renting herself

PasturesNew

It's a lot more complex than that.

Fire-proofing. Probably putting new fire-proof ceilings on every room on the ground floor.

Fire alarm/smoke detectors, mains wired.

Stairs/hallways to be fire-proofed.

Fire doors onto any stair/hallway areas.

And more.

tbs624

Agree with PasturesNew -really is more to it than you might think. You'll need planning permission & build regs approval - specifically under Part B Means of Escape, Part E Sound Insulation, Parl L Thermal calculations..... ring the local council buildings control officer for advice on what is needed.

You'd also be looking at splitting water supplies, as well as gas & electricity supplies and these may all mean an upgrade and a new dedicated supply to the property. The fact that there are other rented properties nearby does not necessarily mean that you would be granted permission - many areas are now saturated by number of flats/rental properties and some councils are seeking to limit such developments.

Doozergirl

dickieg wrote: »

Basically all that needs doing to the house is a new entrance door putting in and a stud wall putting up by the staircase to seperate the building into 2 seperate units, what we are worried about is if we buy the place we won,t be able to do this, or is this just a chance we have to take buying at auction. I know that houses are being rented out in the area as i spoke to the next door neighbour who is renting herself

God help you.

As soon as you get planning permission(indeed if you meet the criteria) for a new dwelling (or 2 as the case is) then you need to meet the full regs for a new dwelling. Flat conversions cost a lot of money - tens of thousands really when you take into account things that have already been mentioned - you can even be finding yourself changing perfectly good windows etc to meet those regs. Building Control will have you jumping through hoops like a dog at Crufts.

If you fancy yourself as a property developer then you're going to have to research much more thoroughly than you have done. At least you've asked here though.

dickieg

Never thought of half of these things thanx all anyway for your thoughts