Manky conservatory

[PirateWeasel]

Our house has a hideous and very broken conservatory built across the back of it. It's over 20 years old, very cheap and naff plastic, it leaks, has no heating or electricity, and I think there are creatures living in the insulation. We use it as a shed because it's unfit for anything else. I want to rip it down and make more space in the garden in the process, but DH thinks it will devalue the house. But surely nobody would pay extra for something that you can't even use as a proper room and makes the whole back garden look scruffy?

You are right, take it down, it would actually devalue your property.

It might refurb cheaply. If it functioned better would you use it?

Rip it down. It would have to be in decent Nick and usable to add value. As it's not, then it will be doing the opposite, devaluing.

think about if you were looking for a house to buy and were looking at yours and saw the manky conservatory at the back what would your own reaction be, leave it there and offer less on the house or rip it down and do something else with the space left there

Presumably you already have the walls and foundation, and only need to replace the glazing? We have recently done that and it wasn't that expensive. We went for a glass roof: it lets in more light to the house and seems (early days yet!) to cure the to-hot/too-cold problem that you get with plastic rooves.

Get a no-obligation conservatory refurb. company (or two) to come and have a look. It might help inform your decisions.

Thanks everyone. It really is beyond rescue. There are no walls, just plastic panelling. The roof is corrugated clear plastic. The only part we could reuse would be the foundations. Unfortunately we just haven't got the funds to replace so it's either got to go altogether or stay as it is. Reading your comments I think we'll be justified in just getting rid as it would probably be a black mark against a sale as it stands. That's if demolition and removal don't cost a fortune!

Offer it for sale (or free) to collector if the dismantle it. Somebody might have a use for it!

Get rid 20 years is the normal lifetime for a bolt on conservatory

Agreed. 20 years - it's had it by the sounds of it.

Knock it down!

If you did have the funds however, replacing it with a solid roof conservatory would mean you would get more value from it.

Some years ago we had a very satisfying time demolishing our decrepit conservatory. Get rid of it, it’s wonderful therapy especially if you really hate it.
We then had a lovely patio area.

Removing it is not going to devalue your property, quite the opposite if anything.

If you are thinking about selling anytime soon, then consider if there’s any merit in leaving the foundations & base there or not.

My heart used to sink if a conservatory was listed when I was looking to buy a house. I hate them and so do lots of other people, would much prefer more garden space so I would get rid asap.