third part wall

by Mr. Osgood
(Twickenham)

Can you convert space in the loft right up to and including the third party wall / chimney i.e. can it be plastered and used as part of the loft room?

Or should there be a partition wall providing a gap between the two?

Party Wall

There is no party walling in loft only chimney breast. What building regs does this come under. Can I build on top of existing wall to close off my attic?

Loft conversion no building regulations approval

Hi

We are trying to buy a house that is being sold as a 3 bedroom property but the loft room (3rd bedroom) has no building regulations in place.

The estate agent insists that as there is indemnity insurance it is fine, but we are being advised that it is legally a two bed and are worried about the extent of the work needed to rectify any structural shortcomings etc as we would like to extend elsewhere in the property and also have a legal 3 bed property!

Are they right that it is fine as is with indemnity insurance and is therefore a 'bedroom'?

Thanks for any advice you can give!

Completion certificate

by Corrine
(Middlesex)

I have a loft conversion in my bungalow completed in May 2006, I attained building regulations and every step of the conversion was monitored by the local athority.

I am now in the process of selling my property, but the local authority will not issue the completion certificate, because the smoke alarms need to be wired in to the electrics, safety catch on the excape window to be fitted, balstrade spindles do not meet with regulations,and they are now questioning the drawings and design which was sent to them at the beginning so I could obtain building regulations, personally I think they have lost my file as this was four years ago!!!

If I do not comply and sell to my cash buyer, is there a time span for completion certicates, say she wanted to sell the property on in years to come would it be a problem?

Thank you Corrine

Building Regulations Question

by Clayton
(United Kingdom)

Jeremy,

A question about means of escape for a small one room loft conversion in a two storey house effectively making it a three storey's house.

Would I be correct in understanding that the location of the bottom of a rooflight of 1700mm up from the eaves measured along the roof pitch is no longer a requirement in the new 2006 edition of the Building reg's???

Also, is the escape window still required, & location to be no higher above finished floor level of 1100mm.

Regards,

Clayton

Doors And Building Regs

by Steve
(Hornchurch,Essex)

Hello, having a loft converted very soon, the local authority has requested ALL doors to be changed to 30 min fire check type, is this correct or should it be only the doors in the loft?

Regards

Steve Green

Loft Conversion Height Question

by boni
(London)

Hi,

My loft is just 1.8 metres height, can I still convert it?

I have read that you need at least 2.4 metres, is this correct?

I wouldn´t mind to have an extra room even if I could fully stand in it.

Thanks in advance for your help

Boni

Loft Conversion Building Regulations Questions

I understand that the regulations regarding loft conversions having to have an extra roof light in the front of the property to enable the Fire Brigade to gain access was changed in 2008 and that this is now is no longer a requirement.

However the new regulations state that all the doors have to be changed to fire resistent doors and that each floor requires a smoke alarm installed.

Is this correct.

Bungalow Loft Conversion

by Keith
(Kent)

I bought a bungalow about 4 years ago with a loft conversion which had I belive had no planning permission.

The previous owner signed a declaration that there had been no construction work on the bungalow in the previous 5 years.

It has a small dormer window at the front and a dormer at the back, none extend beyond the guttering or the top of the existing roof.

As far as the borough council is concerned it is a 2 bed bungalow when in fact it is now a four bed two bathroom bungalow.

In view of the relaxed planning permission will I be Ok when I attempt to sell it in the future,and what is the liabilty for any council tax and the property banding now or in previous years.

Building Regulations

by Mark
(Colliers Wood, London, UK)

Dear Jeremy

Two years ago I bought a property which had a 'loft room'. I believe it was sold as a 'loft room' because there was no application submitted for building regulation approval.

Howver, I believe much of the construction would meet building regulation approval. The construction of the room is as follows:

Floor: Flitch beams circa 250/300mm deep installed in gable walls with new joists installed in between.

Roof construction: Vaulted roof construction (No Mansard) with 4 no. vulex windows. All wall and ceiling coverings are plasterboard, however, I do not know if they are firerated platerboard or normal plasterboard, although I expect they are the latter.

I believe much of the structure would achieve building regulisation approval However, I am unsure about the staircase and access arrangements as The staircase is reasonably steep and is surrounded at the opening into the loft room by a ballustrade (i.e. no wals or doors around the staircase).

Furthermore, none of the doors throughout the house are fire rated either.

Could you please provide some inital advice on whether or not if I apply for building regulisation approval, if I will be required to undertake extensive works to obtain building regulation approval?

I would very grateful for any advise or assistance you could provide.

Conversion

Hi

I live in Dudley and I'm unsure of any regs, what I would like to do is add another floor to my house.

My loft is not big enough to stnd up in by a few inches.

Can I build another floor then put back the existing roof or build up another 5 course and adjust the roof to suit with some dormer windows?

What is the recomended footing depth in good ground and how good are raft foundations as I may have them

Party Wall Agreement

by Angela
(London)

Hello, my neighbour has served a PWA to me with no supporting documentation.

He states that the survey has not yet been conducted therefore I cannot view the plans.

I am trying to ascertain what liability he/his builders will take is damage is caused to the party wall.

He seems very vague about this but is pressuring me to sign (which I wont!)

If I do not agree to sign will he have to appoint a surveryor and pay for the costs incurred.

Would be very grateful for your advise.

Angela