Neighbours garage conversion

[njg575]

Hi there

My neighbours have a pre existing attached garage that has been partly converted into living space (cheap polycarbonate skylights that leak and some insulation but no flooring) but the garage door is still there and can be opened and shut - its a real mess inside. The father is an obsessive DIYer and therefore I wonder if he's tried to bring a cheap solution to his housing issue.

They have 5 kids in a 3 bed semi and my concern is that we have seen some of the kids coming out of the garage in their nightwear i.e sleeping in there.

I have recently found out 2 of the kids are foster kids. Is it legal for them to sleep in the partially converted garage?

It might have buildings regs in which case it would be fine. Is there a windows at the back or a door through to house?

To be a habitable bedroom, the conversion needs to meet building regs; but there’s nothing as such to prevent the kids from “camping out” occasionally in the garage conversion, which is what they may have been doing. Equally, if it’s an attached garage they might have just accessed it through an internal door and weren’t sleeping in it at all.

If the parents are foster caters then the house will have been fully assessed for suitability to house the number of people living there, they wouldn’t have been approved to foster unless there was adequate space. The foster children will also have ongoing involvement with social workers - they aren’t going to be able to conceal it if they’re making the children sleep in a leaking garage.

The garage doesn't have an internal door - they have to go out of a back door into the garden to get back into the house. We see them walk out of the garage in their sleepwear most mornings - if we're looking that is. There are no windows and the 'skylights' are not openable. The father does all building work himself but he's a not a professional.

I do find it very odd to have people sleeping in a partially habitiable garage. Its been going on for a few months.

I've been told that foster kids need to have their own room (?)

I would report to the planning department at the council and to social services. Better to be safe than sorry.

I would doubt they are foster carers with such a set up. It would not be permitted. Foster children can only share in very particular circumstances. They would not be allowed to sleep in a leaky garage room.