Move or stay put?
Moving home is a very expensive business which is why the prospect of a London loft conversion can be very appealing. It is also one of the quickest and least disruptive ways of increasing the floor area of your house.
According to figures released recently by a leading building society, taking into account legal fees, mortgage fees, surveys, estate agents commission, removals and stamp duty – the average cost of moving home is around £16,000. That's before you've stumped up an additional £30,000+ for upsizing from, for example, a three bedroom house to a four bedroom house.
Rather than face the upheaval and expense of moving to find a larger home many homeowners are deciding to stay put and convert their loft. Not only does a loft conversion in London make best use of the unused space in your house but, if done properly, it can increase the floor area of your house by upto 30% and add upto 20% to the value of your house.
However, not all lofts are suitable for conversion. The headroom, structural stability, shape and size are all important factors to consider before converting your loft. They must also meet current planning and building regulations.
Planning Permission
Nowadays planning permission for London loft conversions is not always necessary, but it is still advisable to contact your local planning office and ask them to review the proposed development. If planning permission is required and you don't apply for it, the local authorities can enforce you to remove the loft extension and return the building to its original state.
Planning permission will still be needed if any one of the following conditions are met:
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Building Regulations
On completion, the converted loft space must meet regulations in terms of:
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Get the Professionals in....
Employing the services of loft conversion experts and a specialist architect will minimise the likelihood of costly and dangerous mistakes. The services of a specialist architect should ensure the best use of space and design ideas.
An experienced loft conversion team is essential. A good company will take care of all the paperwork for you – dealing with the council and building regulations, order skips and scaffolding and getting permits, where required. Hiring a specialist loft conversion company may sound like unnecessary expense, but substandard work may make your house less saleable and, in the worst case scenario, you could end up breaking the law and making your home unsafe.
Okay…so who do you choose? There are a lot of cowboys out there and, no doubt, you’ve heard of or read plenty of horror stories about them. Fortunately, these cowboys are in a minority and there are a lot of professional companies who have been in this business for many years and provide an excellent service. The only problem is – HOW do you find them?
When choosing a London Loft Conversion company, make sure they tick the following boxes:
| They belong to a recognised trade association such as Federation of Master builders; | |
| They have adequate insurance to cover for any damage that may be caused as a consequence of their actions; | |
| They are able to provide testimonials from previous clients; | |
| They have been in the business for many years and loft conversions is their main line of business; | |
| They provide a guarantee, at least 10 years, for the structural work they have carried out. |
Following these five simple steps should help you choose an expert company dealing in London loft conversions.
