Rough ideas - garage conversion costs

[squishousdelicious]

I know that actually asking builders would be the best way to get a good idea, but life is in my way right now and I can't handle making actual enquiries! Hoping the good people of Mumsnet will be kind enough to give me the benefit of their experiences.

Looking to buy a house (actually have a choice of 2) which we will want to convert the garage into additional living space. In one property, this would be an office-type space and a utility room. In the other, much the same except that we'd also want a downstairs toilet putting in.

Houses are located in the South, more central than anything (South-west Oxfordshire, to be specific). Very roughly, how much is it likely to cost? Only asking as there's a 30k price difference in the houses and I'm not sure which one is more worth our time...

I am not sure hoe much it will cost to add s utility, but converted s garage to an office/spare bedroom in the current house and it cost around 10k. South east. But that doesn't include flooring and other bits.

We’ve just spent 15k on a double garage conversion in south wales. Just an extra living space so no plumbing etc and doesn’t include flooring or decorating

Not your question, but if size it at a premium for the toilet, you can get toilet/sink combos. Not ideal, but useable and keeps all the pipework in the same area which saves costs.

We converted our garage this year in to a living room, opening it up to our kitchen. We paid around £10,000 for the project. That included flooring too. Yours will probably be more expensive than that because of plumbing. Definitely get a few quotes because they can differ greatly!

We cant get residential planning to convert our single garage into a much needed utility off the kitchen

Why would you require planning? (Genuine question, I thought it would usually come under permitted development?)

Loads of.the neighbouring houses have converted the garages, so I'm very much hoping it wouldn't be an issue.

Thank you for the estimated prices. It sounds like we'd save money by doing the cheaper house overall, despite the fact that'd we would also need to redo the bathroom in it as well!

All i know is we were refused “change of use” (its brick and flint, tile roof but open front) my next door neighbour recently applied to enclose his with wooden doors so he can use it as storage and he was granted that change of use.

my other neighbour was reported for changing 40 year old rotten single glazed windows with identical style double glazed units. Had to fight it legally after council enforcement officer came out then wrote saying it was a breach due to being in an area of outstanding natural beauty. Council eventually backed down as no one here is listed. There seems to be no standard rules with planning its all hocus pokus. My sister did get planning permission to change her garage into a utility shes in Leeds. We are in N. Norfolk

Our conversion was nearly £20,000 a few years ago including flooring and decorating. It was a large double garage. We needed planning permission to go ahead

We are in Scotland so it might be different here but you don’t need planning permission for a garage conversion. You do, however, need to apply to the council for a building warrant and send in architect’s drawings etc It was very straightforward for us. Hopefully it will be for you too 🤞

I think planning depends on area and the development, so ask. But does need to meet building regulations even if permitted development.

My DS pulled out of a purchase with no BR and evidence of shoddy (and in part unsafe) workmanship of a double garage conversion.

I did 2 garage conversion and needed planning for one. Sometimes it's to do with the size of the property and number of parking spots you have. The one where I needed planning counted towards the parking as we only had 1 spot outside and it was a 4-bed property. We ended up doing a part conversation of the garage.

I converted mine to a studio with kitchenette and bathroom, it cost £20k in total and we needed planning. They need to confirm it has correct insulation, waste pipe installation, ventilation and fire prevention so it does need to be signed off by building regulations.
A warning about adding a toilet - we ended up having to install a saniflo which isn't ideal but there was no way to feasibly access the sewer because of the way my neighbours' extension was built. Also the cost of installing the saniflo isn't included in the £20k as my DH did it.

to make an official habitable space is expensive, I know someone who just turned theres into a bedroom annex and it cost about £20k (because it has to be fire safety compliant especially if people are sleeping there).

Rules should be less for non habitable space (kitchen/bathroom/WC/utility etc...)

We plan to turn the one we are buying into an office/storage. I have about £5 budgeted for new flat roof, boarding plastering, carpet and new doors/window. It wont be fancy because its basically just like a garden office. Ours doesn't have attachment ways/doorways that open up into the house or anything though so hopefully will be a lot easier.

You require planning permission as you are taking away a car parking space which I believe falls under planning policy. It's very unusual that council's refuse planning permission for a garage conversion but you will need to submit a set of plans to show the council what you will be doing. We recently converted our garage and it was a really straight forward process, here's the team we used - https://www.christopher-david.co.uk/

Just had our single garage in the SE converted into a bedroom / study. £17k done to a very good standard.