Awkward middle bedroom w/out window - how to use

[CHGri]

Hi guys, any ideas on what to do with the middle bedroom in this floorplan? Considering properties on the market and wondering if you could do something with this or worth finding something else.

Wondered if you could split the middle bedroom in half and make a small lower portion storage for the bay window bedroom - then make the rest into wardrobe/ensuite for back bedroom?

Could you do something like this? You'd keep 4 bedrooms and there's the length for an ensuite at the right of the big bedroom. And it's next to current bathroom for possible easier plumbing?

I’d turn the bathroom into a bedroom so it can have window, and have the bathroom with no window. Possibly a bigger landing with office space.

Are they actually listing that as a bedroom, because i thought UK building regulations require a window in any room listed as a bedroom?

I would definitely look into whether this is actually valid because you may find yourself with a property you can only legitimately list as a 3-bed.

I didn't think bedrooms without windows were legal? Has that changed?

It's not a bedroom without a window, it's a cupboard.

You can't use a windowless room as a bedroom. It's a massive fire safety issue.

That can not legally be called a bedroom on marketing purposes as a habitable room must have a window for fire escape

How did they get building regs sign off for that extension? They probably didn't.

Our extension created a middle bedroom and we put velux windows in it. Absolutely flooded with light now even if you can’t see out. It’s going to be a dressing room for us so that doesn’t really matter.

Could a window be made? What is above it, is a Velux an option?

I'd do what @PickleSarnie has suggested and add a velux if you can. Or switch the bathroom into that space and shrink it to make the existing bathroom a larger bedroom.

I believe a bedroom must have a window that can open to use as a fire escape. So that is not officially a bedroom and the house should be priced as 2 bed not 3 bed.

it would be fine to divide it into en-suite and dressing room.

This.

I missed the fact it had no window 😖

It looks like they've altered their house without getting building regs. Or, it's just used as storage / study / playroom and they are trying to maximise sale value by claiming it's a bedroom. It isn't.

Possibly.

Did you change the layout yourself or buy it like this because in England this legally cannot be a bedroom as its both a through room and has no means of external exit for a fire.

Having it as a bathroom and storage would fix those issue though.

The bay window bedroom as the main bedroom with the en-suite the 8x8 room. Put a door into the middle bedroom from the main bedroom to build a walk-in wardrobe. Open up the middle room by taking away the doors. Create a cooridor through the bathroom to create a new bedroom overlooking the back, bigger than the one you are losing at the front.
End up a 3 bed with an en-suite.
Downside, the bathroom may lose the bath depending on how wide you can make the cooridor so the en-suite option may be better with the current configuration so everyone can access a bath.

Apparently, you can list as bedroom if the room has double escape routes. In this case, with two doors, one can argue it’s the case. The language is a bit loose.
But the bathroom definitely needs to be moved. Or you could just make one mug bedroom with a closet…
Consider the building works in your offer. It can be an interesting canvas as the space is quite good. But you will need some one to design that for you.

Thank you guys, interesting ideas! We want to leave room for possible loft conversation so velux windows may not be viable. I think they've probs classed it as a dressing room/gym - v odd lay out! I think the back bedroom was an extension and they just didn't think about what would happen to the middle bedroom. I think there could defs be room to bid under asking price considering the Tetris taking place with the floorplan 😅

I might think about Jack and Jill the windowless room into an ensuite for whichever you decide is the master bedroom and a shared bathroom from the corridor instead of a dressing room and then up to loft could be existing bathroom to continue the flight of stairs but bedroom/office (if big enough) until you decide to go ahead with that.

Have you actually seen the house or are you just looking at the plan? If the latter, it might well be an error. Very odd not to have a window there.

If they’re marketing that as a 4 bedroom house they shouldn’t be. Any surveyor would consider that 3 bedroom

The middle (windowless) room has the only access to the back bedroom - so presumably it's some sort of dressing room.

If you haven't bought it already i would not, there is no way this has been done legally

Before you start moving plumbing, also worth having a think about the overall layout of your house. Where is the kitchen downstairs? And if you did a loft conversion, where would the bathroom go upstairs? Its far easier if you have these rooms on top of each other as the plumbing can just go straight up. If it has to start zig zagging through the house, you can add unnecessary costs really quickly and it can be massively disruptive in terms of walls needing chanelling / floorboards lifting etc. Not to say you shouldn't do it, but if you are, at least go into with your eyes open.

It depends on how long it’s been a bedroom.

If it’s decades old, there regs would not have applied. If it’s recent, they would have had to mitigate the window issue by alternative ventilation and an alternative fire strategy regarding means of escape.