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Loft Conversion
Building Regs required
Anonymous user 9 March 2024 - 3.30 PM
A house that we wish to buy was listed as 5 bedroom and this includes a loft bedroom, however we have now found that this doesn’t have sign off of building regulations.
The flooring was completed by a previous owner and the current owner has then added velux windows, a new roof and a permanent staircase leading up from the main staircase. They are aware that it doesn’t meet building regs and that it can now only be classed as a 4 bedroom as a result.
We’re fairly satisfied that the staircase and roof would meet regulations, but not sure about the floor as it’s currently covered. We also know that it would need fire doors and smoke alarms fitted.
Would we need to completely start this again or is it just a case of getting the flooring checked and the fire doors and smoke alarms fitted?
Also, what sort of cost would we be looking at if the flooring wasn’t correct?
Are you a tradesperson and able to answer this question?
No, just get an inspector in and get him to write up his recommendations, get the advisory list completed and you can have the building regs signed off
Hi an inspector is needed but would more than likely want structural calculations done for the floor and if structural steel beams are required and would probably ask to see what's been done in the floor ,so the boards would probably need to be lifted up
Answered1 September 2022
0
Anonymous user
I'd be worried mostly about what, if any beefing up of the attic floor was done and beefing up of existing roof trusses.
Along with that you would need to have it inspected for
1. Fire walls (if it's a semi detached)
2. Insulation and vapour layers on any external walls.
Other stuff that may come up on inspection is stair width, door opening width, fire doors and socket/switch heights/positions
You would need an electrician to safety check and sign it off plus if any boiler movement was involved, a gas safe cert.
I'm based in Scotland so unsure of other areas requirements but it's very strict.
This all may be costly so I would personally request all of this to be inspected prior to purchasing. Best case is if whoever carried out the works did involve the correct advice and other than some intrusive inspections that's all you need. Worst case is a strip out and pretty much start again.
Again I am commenting based on Scottish regulations so I've no experience with England's but I'd imagine they wont be too different.
The building inspector will require a visual check on all the structural alterations and structural calcs to back this up, the insulation levels the necessary fire protection the means of escape the correct ventilation the electrical certificate etc etc. All this is not visible without opening the relevant areas which you caannot do as its not your property.
In my 30 plus years of loft conversions all diy lofts were non compliant and had to be removed and started again (which means more cost)
My best advice would be walk away and buy something without a problem or negotiate a sensible price drop to cover the relevant problem ahead.
If you buy and can get a morgage and do not do the work you will have difficulty trying to sell, good luck
