Advice needed regarding ceiling height above staircase!

[smicer07]

Hi there

We are in the process of buying a 3 story house in Chester. We've agreed a price, but on 2nd viewing we went with a friend who is a builder. He noticed that the height of the staircase leading down from the 3rd to 2nd floors is a good 10 inches less than the required 2 metres as per building regulations. I noticed this on first viewing as I'm 6ft1 but thought nothing much of it. We asked the current owners who stated that they had no documents or certificates relating to the work done on the 3rd floor (2 bedrooms made into 1) which appears to have lessened the height of the staircase, and when they bought the house 3 years ago, their mortgage company did not bring it up at all.

We are now obviously concerned- because of the health and safety aspect- but mainly because if we want to sell or rent it out in 5/10 years time, this may put the buyers off (as it is with us right now!).

Does anyone have any advice?

Many thanks
Simon.

 

[tony1851]

It was obviously done more than three years ago so it won't be an issue with the council.
It certainly will be of no consequence to anyone in 5-10 years. Many properties have lower than 2m headroom over the stairs.
Has it put you off buying the property?

 

[smicer07]

It has put us off because when it comes to selling it in a few years we are worried potential buyers will be put off due to the height restriction and also the lack of certificate!

 

[TheVictorian]

How old is the house?

We have a three storey Victorian house and the staircase from the middle to the top floor has a very low ceiling. This was picked up on a structural survey as it would not meet current regulations however this isn't really relevant as the regulations do not apply retrospectively, otherwise 95% of houses in the country probably wouldn't meet current standards.

If you like the house then buy it, someone else would do the same and buy it from you in the future...

 

[smicer07]

It's a 1960s house so I think the building regs would apply.

 

[tony1851]

It's a 1960s house so I think the building regs would apply.

Presumably the alterations weren't dealt with under Building Control, but after all this time, the council won't be able to do anything, and the lack of a certificate is neither here nor there.

But if you personally find the height makes it difficult to use the stairs, then of course prospective future purchasers may feel the same way.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Has a loft conversion been carried out?

 

[smicer07]

No loft conversion, it's 3 stories.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

So no loft conversion then it was built like it. In which case your points about building regs are irrelevant and it merely comes down to personal choice. Health and safety is irrelevant too.