Staircase Head Height

[KittyKK]

We’re considering making an offer on a lovely Victorian house with 3 storeys. It need the usual work with updating, new bathrooms, extension etc. The main (only) thing putting DH off the project is the low head room on the staircase!!

The staircase from the first floor to second floor is encroaching on the head room of the main staircase (from ground floor to first floor). Anyone over 5’10” (DH is much taller) needs to duck down as they go up the main staircase...

The ceiling height in the downstairs and first floor bedrooms is fabulous (high ceilings as you would expect from this period), the ceiling heights on the second floor bedrooms are absolutely fine (normal for top storey (sloped in far corners of the rooms).

Just not sure how awkward or expensive the stair reconfiguration would be. I need to get an architect involved before we finalise an offer.

In the meantime, any thoughts or advice please?

If it's a dealbreaker, yes, you need to get an architect (or Architectural Technologist) involved.

Staircase reconfiguration is likely to be complicated, and quite possibly impossible/impracticable within the constraints of the space available.

He would get used to ducking! My DH is 6'3 and always has to tilt his head sideways when going downstairs. Our current house (also Victorian!) has this problem but it wasn't a deal breaker. Stairs can be reconfigured but bear in mind that a new staircase will probably take up a much bigger footprint as it will have to conform to building regs..