Family member built loft extension without permission / building reg

[Hyper88]

A family member build a loft extension. It has stairs leading up to it. The door has been cut diagonally (is this normal?). I have told them they should have applied for PLanning Permission (if appropriate) and Building Control. IT is n't a dormer, but it has windows a the back of the roof.

They told me they paid £20k for it. Given that a dormer costs around £40k (last time I asked). Why did n't the builder just apply for building control? Would it have cost too much over £20k?

How can they fix this, if say they want to sell their home?

 

[^woody^]

Apply for Regularisation with the council's building control dept.

And check if planning permission was required with the council's planning dept.

Tell the home insurers that they have unauthorised building works.

 

[martygturner]

Its not a loft conversion...its a loft. They do not have to FIX it....all that happens is the estate agent uses the following phrase...a usefully amenity space in the loft...everybody knows what it is and nobody cares.....You have mistaken the fact that as with most things there is not some all seeing god of planning....all that matters is are you happy using that space if not then don't buy it, most people will go oooh look that place has an extra room...but its not a bedroom, but its 20k under the one that is a bedroom, well who would know or care...errr Holiday in the Seychelles for christmas ????...Garden rooms must not be used overnight well that's 10% of north london's accommodation /airBnB gone then....

 

[^woody^]

Its not a loft conversion...its a loft. They do not have to FIX it....all that happens is the estate agent uses the following phrase...a usefully amenity space in the loft...everybody knows what it is and nobody cares.....You have mistaken the fact that as with most things there is not some all seeing god of planning....all that matters is are you happy using that space if not then don't buy it, most people will go oooh look that place has an extra room...but its not a bedroom, but its 20k under the one that is a bedroom, well who would know or care...errr Holiday in the Seychelles for christmas ????...Garden rooms must not be used overnight well that's 10% of north london's accommodation /airBnB gone then....

A fixed flight means it's a loft conversion and unauthorised works, and estate agents can't describe it as anything else.

And a major insurance risk.

 

[martygturner]

A fixed flight makes it a loft conversion...no it does not....rubbish on rubbish...my house has stairs to our attic but in anit a room its an attic. And estate agents can only describe a room as a room you are saying they must describe a non room as a room....err what are you on

A major insurance risk...you mean an extra 100 on the insurance....

 

[clifford1]

Which is riskier to escape down in a hurry - a staircase or a ladder?

 

[tony1851]

A fixed flight makes it a loft conversion...no it does not....rubbish on rubbish...my house has stairs to our attic but in anit a room its an attic. And estate agents can only describe a room as a room you are saying they must describe a non room as a room....err what are you on

A major insurance risk...you mean an extra 100 on the insurance....

A new fixed flight of stairs into a roof void does make it a loft conversion, meaning that the relevant Building Regulations (means of escape/stucture/thermal insulation etc) come into play.
As such, an unauthorized 'conversion' could well invalidate the insurance.

 

[cdbe]

How can they fix this, if say they want to sell their home?

1. Get it regularised - costs maybe a few thousand or less - sell for full market value.

2. Tell buyers, mortgage valuer, solicitors etc that it's not a bedroom - sell for £20-30k less.

3. Repeat #2. with a nudge and a wink - sell for full market value.

 

[^woody^]

A fixed flight makes it a loft conversion...no it does not....rubbish on rubbish...my house has stairs to our attic but in anit a room its an attic. And estate agents can only describe a room as a room you are saying they must describe a non room as a room....err what are you on

A major insurance risk...you mean an extra 100 on the insurance....

Ok. We'll base property law and statute on what goes on at your house.

It's more like insurers declining cover or not paying out in a claim. What would they do at your house?