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Turning two flats back into a house?

2 replies

WelshMaenad · 01/06/2014 00:31

We're relocating, and I have found a lovely property in the area we want which is currently separated into two flats.

It was clearly all one dwelling for most of it's history and all the neighbouring properties are single family homes (it's an Edwardian terrace, not listed). It currently has a one bedroom flat downstairs with massive kitchen/breakfast, utility and bathroom; and a two bedroom flat upstairs with smaller kitchen and bathroom. The plan in my head is to keep the downstairs bathroom but turn it into a shower/wetroom (DD is disabled and this will be handy) and turn the bedroom back into the dining room. Upstairs, to knock the kitchen and bathroom back into one room, to be a large bathroom, and steal some space somewhere for a staircase to what we plan to turn into a loft conversion - other houses in the street have loft room with a large Velux so we don't foresee any planning problems. Therefore making it a 4 bed/2 bath home.

Has anyone who has attempted such a project got any sage advice? Thoughts on what might be tricky? I have a £40k budget in my head (mate's rates, family friend is builder and I intend taking him if/hen we view it so he can weigh in).

OP posts:
Marmitelover55 · 01/06/2014 08:46

A friend of mind did this and I remember there being special VAT rules for the conversion back to one house. I can't quite remember but either it was 0% or only 5% VAT - but think 0% Smile

InsertUsernameHere · 01/06/2014 18:55

Just finished doing this. It is the reduced rate VAT 5% see hmrc notice 708 for details. To get the 5% everything needs to go through the contractor (you can't buy stuff and claim it back - it has to go in as part of your contractors VAT return). Was quite simple and much less hassle than sorting out utilities. Our property has the council tax already changed to one property - I'm not sure how easy that is. There have been some other threads about doing the 2 to 1 conversion so do a search. We moved out - we couldn't have lived through - but we were doing lots of stuff. Top tip - get to know your neighbours and their uncoverted houses - mine neighbours were kind enough to let me bring round the architect/structural engineer and let me take rubbings to copy things.

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