Working on a chalet bungalow.....

[WabbitPoo]

I have been asked to do a load of work to bring a tatty chalet bungalow up to smartness again so it can be a holiday rental property. ie new bathroom, new kitchen, redecorate throughout, move walls.

Having taken a look today I note the internal walls are all hollow and clad with what feels like thin ply or even hardboard, the ceilings likewise.

Now, they want some internal walls to be removed, so I take it they'll need to get t'council involved for BR approval (?) and I'm happy to give them a ring in advance of that to see what they say. However it occurs to me that those walls are a fire-prevention officer's stuff of nightmares....is it reasonable to expect them to ask that all ceilings be re-done with plasterboard? If so, there's gonna be shed-loads more work to do (hurrah)

 

[^woody^]

The wall removal is not necessary controlled work. You are not required to upgrade walls or ceilings to current building regs standards, and even if the wall removal requires an application, the council have no remit to require other work to other things not specifically part of the application.

But in other news, the letting contract and business use of the bungalow will make the owners responsible for the safety of the occupants under other legislation and common law.

 

[WabbitPoo]

That said, anything I do (like adding stud walls in other areas) will have to be done to regs, so won't they be interested in these changes?

 

[^woody^]

Not unless you are creating new rooms.

 

[noseall]

Not unless you are creating new rooms.

And the 25% rule....?

Where 25% or more of an external wall is re-rendered, re-clad externally or re-plastered, relined internally, Building regulations will apply....blah blah blah...

 

[WabbitPoo]

Unless I end up re-boarding all the ceilings then a 25% rule wont apply. I still hate the idea of hardboard walls, though......if it were mine I'd rip it down and re-clad throughout.

Thanks for your help