loft conversion

[bigbus]

I own my own house and my loft is all boarded out and central heated do i need planning permission to put a sky light and staircase in to make an extra bedroom?

[Hawkwalk]

this may depend on certain factors. You will need to comply with building regs. You may also find that the floor is not suitable to carry much weight so will need to be reinforced.

Best to contact your local planning office who can guide you.

[ceejay123]

Hi Bigbus
Its late I cant sleep so I'm surfing and came across your question. I was in the exact same situation as you and even had a Velux window and proper stairs to the loft!!
Came to sell the house and the buyers surveyer mentioned the words "Planning Permission" in his report (not a full structural one)
You would have thought my wife and I were criminals the way the council treated us for the next few weeks!
It brings back very painful memourys and the expence just to sell the house was horrendous. We should have stayed but we hated the neighbours and had to go.

Basically you can do what you like to your own home if the council don't know about it!!
But, they'll find out when you come to sell. You will have to apply for retrospective P P so if your conversion has not been done correctly you will have to return it to its original spec or upgrade it.
Councils are run by box ticking "jobsworths" and you will have to comply to sell.
I had to have the stairs removed and i had to disconnect the heating and destroy (literally) the insulation.

The short answer is get the building regs guide to loft conversions from your local "jobsworths"
All the best Chris

[eyebrows]

yeah....those bloody 'jobsworths' that make us fit stuff for those disabled's.....

jeeze, you some one is sleeping in that bedroom and it goes up in flames who is to blam when teh conversion is made of petrol filled hay......

they are doing a job, and a good job at that.....sheesh

[ceejay123]

Your dead (no pun intended) right "eyebrows" and lets not treat this question as a M B subject but.,the person who bought our house was perfectly willing to take the house AS IT WAS. But the box tickers said no. They wouldnt even let us brick up the bottom of the stairs and ressurect the original loft opening.
"They might take down the wall once they are in!!" was all they could say.
People in those jobs are not allowed any discretion through fear......
Enough Chris

[bigbus]

ty everyone for ur help

[Ethel]

If you live in a semi or terraced house you also have to get permission from your neighbours.

You may have to do a foundation test to make sure your foundations are strong enough to support an extra floor.

Speak to your council for advice.

[123everton]

It depends on a few factors if your house does'nt overlook another property then you don't need planning permission (not in Merseyside anyway) and if it's already got a skylight in. If the other adjoining properties have them also then it's likely you'd get permission, and just because someone objects does'nt mean you won't get approval..
It's easier just to ring up and ask and they'll tell you, even with it done you might not be able to claim it as bedroom due to the floorspace available etc, you may have to call it a study.

[Ethel]

Still need building regs approval.