FTB looking to buy a property that needs extensions - info on likely timescales wanted please?

[housenovice]

Hi all, we're looking at buying a property that needs a loft conversion and a rear extension to have as a dining area (the latter could be a conservatory if quicker/cheaper).

Given everything I've read about current delays with building work, could anyone advise of the minimum (or typical) length of time that work might take?

Assuming that we can't actually book any builders until we actually own the property, but equally can't live in it till at least the loft conversion is done (as we need the extra bedroom), we need to get some sense of how long we might have to continue to pay rent in our current place while waiting for the building work to be done?

Are there still delays of 18 months before building work can even start, as reported a few months ago? Or has that eased up now?

And are delays on loft conversions and conservatories as bad as I've read about with other types of extensions?

We live in the Home Counties, near London, if that is relevant. Thank you!

Have you factored in cost? Timber and steel (ie if you need RSJs) prices are sky rocketing and will make any such work incredibly pricy.

Not worth the money putting in a conservatory IMO, I'd probably do the loft and then move in, then have the extension done. As PP says costs are a huge factor. You might struggle to get someone lined up to do the work before you've moved in.

I second not doing a conservatory but getting a properly insulated heated extension.
Conservatories are awful in winter and hot summer.

Thank you.

Any thoughts on how long in advance you need to book people for loft conversions currently? I remember reading a few months back that there could be 18-month delays for decent builders to do extensions. Is that still the case, and would this apply to loft conversions too? Or would it be feasible to book a firm to do a loft conversion now and get them to have started and finished the work within a few months??

Also, when you say prices have rocketed for work recently, how much would a basic loft conversion cost now in London borders/home counties?

Do you need planning permission or can both be done within permitted development?

It really depends. Our loft took 4 months to complete because we needed the ceilings below lowered, to give us the height. We needed planning permission and party wall notice and one of the neighbours was very very slow.

But we started the process 12 months before the work began. Its been finished about a month. We also needed to move out for the first 6 weeks as upstairs was inaccessible.

We are looking at doing all these same things but we are planning on living in it and all sharing the bedrooms that there are. What do you mean by need?

Are you certain your plans are feasible? It is much better to live somewhere first, you will get a better idea of how you want to live there.

How much was it nyxly?

@housenovice

Thank you.

Any thoughts on how long in advance you need to book people for loft conversions currently? I remember reading a few months back that there could be 18-month delays for decent builders to do extensions. Is that still the case, and would this apply to loft conversions too? Or would it be feasible to book a firm to do a loft conversion now and get them to have started and finished the work within a few months??

Also, when you say prices have rocketed for work recently, how much would a basic loft conversion cost now in London borders/home counties?

My dd is having an extension and renovations done. She has booked her builder - he’s starting next august! Where about do you live?

@whyohwhyohwhyohwhywhy

We are looking at doing all these same things but we are planning on living in it and all sharing the bedrooms that there are. What do you mean by need?

Are you certain your plans are feasible? It is much better to live somewhere first, you will get a better idea of how you want to live there.

No way would I live in the house if it’s having a loft conversion!

Why not? I thought they did most of it from the outside?

@whyohwhyohwhyohwhywhy

How much was it nyxly?

Ours was 35k. Dorma conversation.

But it's only a small mis terrace in Yorkshire where prices are still very cheap compared to the London/home counties.

@EdgeOfTheSky

Do you need planning permission or can both be done within permitted development?

Within permitted development as far as I know.

@Soontobe60

Aaagh! That was what I was dreading.

That's a long delay. Whereabouts in the UK is that?

@whyohwhyohwhyohwhywhy

We are looking at doing all these same things but we are planning on living in it and all sharing the bedrooms that there are. What do you mean by need?

Are you certain your plans are feasible? It is much better to live somewhere first, you will get a better idea of how you want to live there.

We both work from home and ds has GCSEs coming up, plus that would leave one of my dcs without a bedroom.

So would rather move in when the work is done - don't think we could cope with the noise and mess and being minus a room.

[quote housenovice]@Soontobe60

Aaagh! That was what I was dreading.

That's a long delay. Whereabouts in the UK is that?[/quote]
Near Manchester. The cost has also been eye watering because of the high cost of materials!

We've just booked a kitchen extension - for next (late) June

We lived in the house while having loft extension. TBF we didn’t work from home though. Wasn’t that disruptive, most of the work was behind boards.

Wait here, NW for builders and architect is fairly long. Friend had architect say feb for drawings and builder, good one, said start august time. It’s all about a third more expensive than would have been a couple of years ago.

i imagine it will vary wildly depending on where you are but I’ve had a first discussion with an architect and he said generally the plans he has drawn up for people in September will be ready to start the build in spring, assuming a builder is lined up and available by then.

We are in Herts and a friend has had 2 quotes ranging between 100-120k for loft conversion but think it needs a few steels.

My neighbours (SW London) have got planning to do a loft conversion this past summer and are looking to do the work late Spring at the earliest. They haven't found a builder but they figure it would be 6 to 9 months before work starts. They are figuring costs (average mid terrace) at least £70k.