General (main property discussion here) - Planning permission for a massionate

Hi, I own 2 bed first floor massionate in Heston. I have a loft that is a very good size and clear. I'm planning to convert it into a guestroon. So it would need skylights on the roof and some decoration inside. Do I need to have planning permission for this? If so, what is the liklihood of council rejecting the application? Any advice/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Dealing with the council always scares me!!

my limited understanding of this is that yes you probably do need permission but that it is likely you will get it as it is not particularly outrageous in terms of things that you could do. don't be scared of the council as they are in the end there to help you.

tom

Hallo Aarti, I hope this post is not now after the event. For what you have described you do NOT require planning permission, as long as the skylights are flush with the roof slope. If you build a dormer (vertical) window it still does not require planning permission if its located on the rear slope and cannot be seen from the front.

However, if you build a new dormer window at the front (or side) then this WILL require planning permission. Also if your property is located in a designated conservation area then any dormer window will require planning permission.

Of course, any conversion of the loft space into living/habitable acomodation WILL require permission from the local authority Building Control dept. This is because you are altering the geometry of the structure, by removing support struts within the roof, in order to create the new room. Also the `live' load of persons subsequently using the new room, constitutes a significant additional load. The existing ceiling joists are unlikely to provide adequate support.

The new staircase access may require considerable internal alteration and must be constructed to ensure that the rise plus tread `going' of each stair falls between 550mm - 700mm. You will need to supply the Building Control with structural calculations for new beams, structural posts etc.

I am an architectural technician based in Chiswick in west London and have dealt with L.B Hounslow on loft conversion applications. Please contact me if you have any further queries.

Regards John Lidstone spcplans@aol.com

I looked at buying a flat in Fulham last week, they had made the loft into another bedroom without ever getting permission.

On the pariculars the agents described the space as having the potential into making it another bedroom with successful planning permission to cover themselves although on the plans, it said Master Bedroom.

He said that it could be used as a bedroom without problems, although if you ever wanted to sell it as a 2 bedroom flat, you couldn't. It would never say 2 bedrooms on the deeds, unless planning was granted. Is this correct?

The ceiling was pretty low, but it did have a skylight flush with the roof, so from a safety point of view, I'm not sure where it stands.

They take out indemnity insurance which apparently makes everything above board. In fact the landlord advertises it as 2 bedrooms and has done so for 8 years.

Any ideas on the law on this one anyone?

Phil