Making a loft conversion comply with building regs

[Bellatrix257]

Loft space already has Velux windows and electric sockets but just has a drop down ladder. Would it have to be completely redone to comply with building regs to be used as a bedroom? If so how much would this cost roughly? Or could we just add a proper staircase and how much would that be?

We’re in the north.

For an official bedroom I believe it would need a staircase, enclosed, with fire doors top & bottom.

But as a space you just want to use as a bedroom you can keep what you’ve got.

I think...

(The main difference seems to be how it can be described in sale material. If no proper staircase it can’t be called a bedroom but can be called eg playroom)

Thanks @lapdance for your reply! Don’t suppose you’ve any idea of cost? Thanks

No idea, sorry, Bellatrix - you’re best off getting at least 3 quotes anyway as different builders always have different ideas

Costs could vary quite a bit depending on things like the amount of insulation/ceiling heights/structural requirements. You're probably best off getting round some builders who have experience in loft conversions and making it clear that you'd want to bring it in line with the regulations. It might also be worth a call to Building Control to check whether they'd want to treat it as a completely new project, or whether they might accept just adding compliant access and fire protection. I'm not sure what the guidelines on that would be.

If you don’t have space for a proper staircase, you can consider space saver stairs.
www.google.com/search?client=safari&channel=ipad_bm&source=hp&ei=CvyYW8b0AYiEgAaYg6C4Cw&ins=false&q=space+saver+stairs&oq=space+saver+s&gs_l=mobile-gws-wiz-hp.1.0.0l5.1574.6831..7987...0.0..0.96.994.13......0....1.......3..41j46j0i131j46i131j0i131i10.7DWnVeQ8x_I

Also, there might be a requirement for fire doors between any living space and your main staircase (in addition to fire doors for the attic room)

Just to clarify, I meant downstairs living space.

Chances are it will be expensive. It's not just the access, but also the structure - are the joists thick enough, walls strong enough and foundations deep enough etc - and escape in case of fire.

It's more complex than some people think.

You almost always need to upgrade the structure - ie add a ridge beam and steels in the floor space and beef up the floor joists. The roof members will need upgrading and all of the insulation. You will need 2m headroom on the stairs with adequate landings and will need to provide a protected route to the outside via fire doors on every habitable room.

I agree that this is probably not just a case of buying a £1000 staircase. It's probably the case that they boarded the floor and walls and had the velux put in.
I would contact a loft specialist to look- expect them to take up the floors to see what has been done. They are more familiar with the regs and can advise you about the height, insulation, fire regs etc.
If you do have to start from scratch it could be a £45,000 job

I'm in the NW and I think you are looking at £10-£20k

I’m in the north east. We paid £30k for our loft from start to finish but that included an En suite and it’s huge!

We have an “unofficial” loft conversion installed by the previous owners... velux, fully plastered, reinforced floors and a permanent staircase. However, the staircase is too steep to conform to building regs, there is no hardwired fire alarm/sprinkler system and no fire doors, and therefore the room cannot legally be defined as habitable. It certainly should not be used as a bedroom - I think if we ever came to sell as is, it would could only be described as a “hobby room” in the sales particulars.

We’ve recently had 3 builders round to quote for works necessary to get the room signed off by building control - all 3 said everything would have to be ripped out, without doing so nobody knows if the right insulation has been used, if the right floor reinforcement is in place etc. All of our quotes were in the £35K inc VAT region, but that did include ripping out and moving the existing staircase, adding a dormer roof at the back and hip to gable at the side, plus pluming for an en suite.

Mine is a proper converted loft with building regs for use as a bedroom. It has a proper staircase above the existing staircase, the windows had to be escape velux windows, the insulation had to be a certain standard, the beams and joists had to meet certain regulations and the fire doors are very heavy. Fire alarms on every floor not just the new floor.

Not much help with cost because mine has been done 10 years and had a truss roof but at the time it cost 16k for a straight room, staircase and all electrics, heating etc. No water up there and I had a combi boiler so no tank to move.

W Yorkshire, but I used a loft conversion company from N Yorkshire.

Side issue - if you install a space saving staircase, make sure furniture can be dismantled to go through the gap. (Gets coat)

Get proper advice from someone qualified to give it. You don't want to pay for work which could render your house structurally unsound, or which might be a fire risk.
It's not just a question of how the room would be described in sales particular s, it's about whether it's safe!

You will need to get the local building inspector out as it depends on local requirements. We converted our loft about 5 years ago, there are requirements about minimum head height on the staircase, fire doors on the route to the nearest ground level door (on all bedrooms and living spaces), hard-wired smoke alarms, minimum thickness of insulation on the inside of the loft roof and probably a lot more.

You need to have the building work "signed off" by the Council, if you haven't got the paper then it may cause an issue if you decide to sell your house in the future.

Please don't try to do it on the cheap or under the radar as it's almost certain to come back to bite you at a later date.