Building Regulations for a Store (moved from Building)

[CHRIS_511]

Hello,
Hopefully somebody can give me some advice.

I am buying a bungalow with a converted garage which is used by the current owner as a bedroom, and which I intend to used as a spare bedroom.

I have just seen the building regulations consent, which states in the description "Conversion of garage to store"

I would like to know if there are separate regulations for a "store" compared to a habitable space?

And if so, what problems might I encounter by using this space as a spare bedroom - I would guess cold may be the main one.

Can these problems be addressed without rebuilding the garage?

Thanks in advance,
Chris.

 

[jeds]

The garage shouldn't be advertised as a bedroom. That would be against the property misdescriptions act. You also couldn't sell it as a bedroom. Potential issues: Using it as a bedroom could be an insurance problem - should there ever be a major problem the insurance company could cancel your insurance and not entertain any claim. Building regs might come knocking and force you to desist using it as a bedroom. The room might be capable of upgrading but depends entirely on the construction. My guess is you would need to start as if it were a garage conversion rather than an upgrade.

 

[Mattatooi]

Well you should be able to offer a much lower price on property now, as it has 1 less bedroom.

 

[geraldthehamster]

I'm puzzled as to why Building Control was involved in converting a garage to a store.

If it was being converted to habitable space, notification would have been required, but if this was done more than a year ago then it's out of time for enforcement, unless it's structurally dangerous.

I don't see that what it's being used for now is part of Building Control's remit. That's a planning issue, and planning permission isn't usually needed to convert a garage into habitable space, assuming permitted development rights haven't been removed.

In practical terms I'd be concerned as to whether insulation and ventilation were adequate.

Cheers
Richard