You may be considering converting your loft space into another bedroom or accessible storage space. This is a great investment, as it can give you more room, personalise your home and even increase its value if you plan to sell. There are many things to consider when thinking about loft conversions aside from the uses and aesthetic value, and planning permission should never be a step that is ignored.
Planning Permission
Planning permission is often needed when making alterations to your property. It is applied for through local authorities and is important in making sure your alterations are legal and correct. When planning to convert your loft, contact loft conversion specialists, as they are the experts in the field and will have helped their clients with these applications before. Whether you need to apply for permission or not will depend on your location and type of property, so it is important to establish these things early on and a specialist will be able to advise you on this.
Type of Property
The type of property you have not only affects the planning permission, but also what kind of conversion you can choose. Bungalows, detached and semi-detached home are all great options for loft conversions, as they usually have solid supporting walls, easy access and plenty of roof space. You can even convert the loft space in a mansion apartment, although this can be trickier. Despite this, it is well worth looking into, as additions such as bedroom, terraces and balconies can make a huge difference to the property.
Penalties
Failure to apply for and receive planning permission will result in different types of penalties. You may be fined, and continue to be fined until the problem is rectified. This can obviously have a huge financial impact on you, so even though the application procedure may be costly and can slow down proceedings, the future benefits will definitely outweigh the delays while waiting for approval. Furthermore, when selling the property in the future, realtors and estate agents may ask for any paperwork regarding alterations to the home. If you have added to the property without planning permission, you will not be able to provide this, which will make it incredibly difficult to sell your home.
Permitted Development
If the conversion does not require planning permission, it may be because it is a permitted development. Again, a professional loft conversion architect can help you find out and apply for this. Permitted development is a set of rights that allows you to alter the property without planning permission. You will need a letter of development to prove that this is the case and you may need to reapply each time you want to change something about the property. There are many guidelines and criteria that need to be met in order to qualify, regarding the property and the type of conversion you are planning.
It is always important to consider these legal elements of a loft conversion, as there is no set answer. Whether you need planning permission or not depends on many different elements, so it is always best to seek the advice of experts, as they will have assisted many clients in these areas before and will make sure the work is legal and correct.
Luciana joined our team as a mum blogger in 2020. A dedicated mum to a lively daughter and a dog, Luna, Luciana brings authenticity and passion to every post. Her expertise in parenting and lifestyle topics offers practical, relatable advice for real-life situations.