Ready to hire?

Post your job in minutes, browse real reviews and choose who to speak to.Post a job

Need some tips or advice?

Loft Conversion

loft stair - building warrant?

Anonymous user 09/03/2024 - 2.50 PM

Am looking to stick in a permanent 'space saver' type staircase up to my loft. The loft has been converted to an extent by previous owner - floored, lined with heating and power, but not classed as a proper conversion (ie letter of comfort provided by the council). Given it is essentially glorified storage space I wasn't sure if I needed to get a building warrant to replace the existing pull down ladder with the stairs. Got a quote and a design from a local joiners who tell me that I don't need the warrant. The stairs certainly wouldn't comply with the building regs given their pitch etc but given that I would just be using them to access my 'storage space' and not a formal room I wondered if this mattered? If I went ahead with the work and found out when I come to sell the place that I should have had a warrant what's the worst that could happen? The stairs would be much safer than the near vertical ladder that we're currently climbing every time we want to go up.

Are you a tradesperson and able to answer this question?

1 Answer

Aaron Cullern

Rating: 4.3 out of 5

Bury St Edmunds

Hi, All fixed staircases should comply with current building regulations. In particular with regards to the pitch, head heights and handrails. Some exceptions can be made, but this is usually for older buildings, with low ceilings and such. There's nothing stopping you putting them in, you certainly don't need to obtain planning. However if you do come to sell your house they may well me picked up on a survey as unsuitable and put off potential buyers. As even though they are only used to access a storage area, the fact that they are fixed would imply they're used on a daily basis, the same as you're main staircase. Worst case scenario is you're asked to remove them prior to selling the house. I hope this helps. Aaron Cullern Mildenbuild Ltd.

Answered12 July 2017