Does anyone know if housing associations allow you to convert lofts?

[OaAKp]

I have 3 boys in 1 room. 2 older teens. 1 preteen.

It's just not feasible anymore. Overcrowded but HA can't do anything.

Been on rehousing / house exchange list for years. With nothing.

Single living room so can't convert 2nd living into bedroom.

The ONLY space we have is the loft but I'm not sure if we would even be allowed.

I'm happy to pay for it to be done properly, if I can afford it, via HA.

DP says we should just board it out for eldest DS, because he thinks they will say no.

But what if they need to access the loft at some point. It just seems stupid that 3 kids are sharing a room when there's so much loft space with just boxes :(

when you say fund it via the ha do you mean they pay and you pay back or do you have the money to pay it ip front? It’s usually about 30 grand, give or take a few. You need to make sure it’s structurally sound.

‘’]the other way is maybe a separate building in the garden like a summer house.

i really would not suggest doing anything structural without approval

Your tenancy agreement should cover what improvements you're allowed to make, and there should be a process for this.
When I was a council tenant, I converted my studio into a one-bedroom flat. I provided the drawings and details of all building work, and got permission.
What you can do may depend on which room you access the loft from. When I did my conversion, the fire regulations stipulated that all bedrooms had to be off the hall/lobby (ie they weren't what is called 'remote rooms'). My neighbour was turned down as he planned a bedroom off the sitting room.

You can’t do that to property you don’t own.

If you can afford thousands of pounds of improvements, why don't you rent somewhere bigger or use those thousands of pounds as a deposit to buy/shared ownership? Or are you planning on borrowing the money? Which seems silly when you don't own the place.

Also confused why you'd move DP and their child in if it means your own children are overcrowded, but clearly that ship has sailed.

Could you put something on the back of the house ground floor instead. Could the rooms be better used.
I have slept in the lounge for the last 10 years because of over crowding it's a struggle.

Not sure to be honest, I had a new bathroom in mine but doing structural work is different.

You've sort of brought this on yourself though, why would you move in your partner and his child if it meant your 3 children all sharing one room? Very unfair to them.

I'll borrow it.

I may not own it but it's been my home for 20 years and it will be my home for 20byears more. I don't mind paying it if it means my kids are more comfortable for the next xyz years.

They all shared a room by choice back then. They wanted to. And they love their sister. We're a family. Just because my daughter didn't come from my body doesn't mean she isn't just as important as my other kids.
. Would you be saying the same if she was my bio kid and they had the same dad?give over.,

The housing association my dad is with paid for and carried out an extension on one of the neighbouring properties as the family were classed as overcrowded but there were no bigger homes to move them to. It's worth asking.

Thankyou. I will give them a call tomorrow.

Would you qualify for a disability grant to add a downstairs extension

I would question why someone chose to have 4 biological children if it meant 3 children sharing a room, absolutely.

Sounds like you’ve intentionally made yourself over crowded which is why they won’t help, you’ve moved your DH and child in knowing that it would be over crowded, my council would class this as intentional so has no duty to help you.

Definitely worth talking to the HA. They may be glad to help you do something that would increase the value of the property, especially if you want/are able to contribute to the cost.

My housing association has an "as long as it doesn't cost us a penny" policy.

We had a 1st floor extension for an extra bedroom also a downstairs wetroom (dfg) and we asked if we could change the back living room window to patio doors (just because) and they said as long as you pay for it.

Thankyou that's very helpful.

Please don't do it on the sly, what if there was a fire you'd never be able to live with yourself if your kids couldn't escape.

Have you thought about a 'garden room' (assuming you have a garden?) they come with heating, lighting plumbing etc.

Didn't think about any of this before you had the kids no?

If you can borrow 50k+ to safely do a loft conversion then maybe borrow the 50k and move to a property big enough?

Sofa bed in the living room for DPs daughter, double bed in the box room for you and DP, split the other 2 rooms between the 3 boys?

One of those double beds with a single bunk above it and DPs daughter goes in that in your room?

Garden room?

I wouldn't just chuck one of my the kids into the loft with no proper fire proofing etc

My HA has guidelines about loft conversions. Permission has to be granted from them and then it would be at your own expense and via approved contractors.

speak to your housing officer about the possibility.

I know someone who asked that exact question about 10 years ago. They were told no.

Surely you cannot just cut a hole in someone else's property to put a window in ! Just no ! Criminal damage. Can't believe you are even thinking of doing this to a property that does not belong to you.

Oh shut up.

Don't do it without permission. You'll need to put it right at your expense or