Builing regs and loft conversions - can we avoid them?

[pavlovthecat]

We just want to put some stairs up and make the floor safe, which I beleive would involve a couple of additional beams, then board over, then couple velux windows, lighting and power.

Do we need building regs for this? We don't want a fully converted loft that can be marketed as a bedroom or anything so fancy, just a space that we can chill out in of an evening.

How might we be able to get around it? Would the council 'know'?

We had our loft conversion in the last house. Building regs do help to sell the property.

Get te structural work done by a good builder, they will need to put in steel beams and it would be good for them to do the windows for you and sort the roof out. They can also get the staircase done for you. We paid about 18k for the full conversion to have it all finished. Staircase, windows, electrics, plumbing, flooring, plasterboard and plastering. We only painted and carpeted ourselves. We had a huge area done ourselves, 2 bedrooms and ensuite and finishing off the staircase in the bedroom downstairs. Plus they finished the work in 8 weeks.

We didn't go with a prof. loft company other people did in our area and were ripped off a bit, and were still waiting to be signed off after a year of work, when we had our finished in no time.

Pop - is is essential to get steel beams in? See, two people have said no we don't need them, we need cross beams, or support beams or something inserted, but not full notsteel beams. Then a full loft conversion co told us we needed full steel put in, and this is what seems to be putting the price up.

In reality, we are not intending on selling the flat. We are staying put ourselves for a while and renting it out when are ready to move on.

pop - were they using a company called Luxus? Avoid like the plague, although they're not calling themselves that anymore.