Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Converting an integral garage - cost?

6 replies

SpidersAreShitheads · 03/02/2022 02:39

Hi, I've posted on here a few times - we're moving with my mum and we're looking to create a self-contained annexe for her and a family home for us.

Tight budget and spiralling house prices, plus the teeny tiny gardens have made it tricky but we've found what looks like an amazing house. It was actually on the market and SSTC a while ago but looks as if the sale has fallen through.

It's right at the top of our budget, but due to a complicated sequence of events we'll have around £45k for renovations when the sale goes through.

Rather than building an annexe in the garden, there's an integral garage and workshop which is around 45 feet long. My DM wants a fair bit of space so this is perfect. The last 15ft pokes out from the main house, the rest is contained as part of the main structure.

It will need a door and window at the front, door at the rear, insulating throughout (presumably) with new ceiling and floors inside. Drainage and sewage for a bathroom, plus maybe boosting the electricity supply? And the "special supply" for an electric cooker. A shower room, and a small kitchen will need to be fitted. Ideally we'd want a separate boiler too so mum can control her own heating. I also think the last 15ft will need a new roof.

Has anyone converted an integral garage to give me a realistic idea of cost? I'm in the SW. I've tried costing it out online but there's about a million different answers. Obviously I'm going to get a builder in for a quote but just wondering if anyone had done similar and how much they spent?

Also, I know that planning permission isn't needed but I read somewhere that integral garage doesn't require change of use? So presumably just building regs once it's finished up?

I've never had the money to do building work before so this is entirely new territory for me, hence the nervousness!

OP posts:
Penguinsmum · 03/02/2022 09:21

We are doing the same...have had 5 quotes ranging from £26k to £45k. Higher than we expected!

SpidersAreShitheads · 03/02/2022 10:20

Oh blimey @Penguinsmum - £45k, ouch!! I was expecting - hoping! - in the region of maybe £25-30k.

Whereabouts in the country are you? And are you needing any kind of permission for the change of use?

OP posts:
APineForestInWinter · 03/02/2022 10:24

Check with your local council, but if you add a kitchen then you may end up with a second council tax bill, as it's then considered as another home rather than an extension.

TLIMSISNW · 03/02/2022 10:25

We converted a garage into an extra room for around £6k last year.

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 03/02/2022 10:26

If you have a "utility room" rather than another kitchen it's not classed as a second home.
I'm looking to do the same - live with my son and looking to convert the garage but £45k seems very excessive.
I was looking at 10-15 but then i live in the west country.

SpidersAreShitheads · 03/02/2022 10:35

@APineForestInWinter - thank you, yes, that's a good reminder to check! I read about that a while ago when researching annexes but it had slipped my mind. DM definitely wants a proper kitchen so if that means two council tax bills, that's what it will have to be.

@TLIMSISNW - that's a good price! Did you have to insulate/do floors and ceiling/electrics etc?

@Shehasadiamondinthesky - I'm only just slightly north of you, I'm in Gloucestershire. We would need a cooker for DM in our "utility room" so I guess it would have to be classed as a second kitchen? We essentially want to have two separate and independent homes, but just right next to each other so I can be there to help and support her. I couldn't actually live "with" her as she's very noisy and it drives me bonkers!

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread