building extra bedroom

[nwtrikette]

can any one tell me if I should have obtained some kind of planning permission to make an extra room?

We have a 3 bedroom house (2 double 1 single). We have taken 3ft off the front bedroom and 3ft off the back bedroom. There was a large cupboard inbetween. Thus making a room of 8 foot wide. There are no proper windows in there as its in the middle but we plan to put in 2 big roof windows.

Will this cause problems if or when we come to sell?

[JudgeJ]

As you are not increasing the size of your house you are unlikely to need planning permission unless you live in a conservation area. However, what you almost certainly need to seek is Building Regulations approval.

This entails submitting your plans to the local Building Control for them to ensure that your improvements comply with current Building Regulations. There are all sorts of regs but the main ones which would probably concern you are the provision of electrics, windows and fire precautions.

Just taking electrics alone, you are now not permitted to carry out any substantial electrical work yourself without it being inspected by the building controller, who will supply you with a certificate. If you fail to do so, you will undoubtedly have problems should you come to sell.

[Ethel]

You will need permission to put the windows in.

Talk to your local council - they are the best to advise you.

Have you removed any supporting walls? Does the new door open safely? Not directly on to a staircase or such like?

Have you interfered with the electrics?

It is far better to do things right now than try and rectify problems later.

It may be that the council are perfectly happy with the work you have done.
Good luck.

[Ethel]

I have just dealt with Building Regs - I have installed an en-suite to the main bedroom.

I didn't need to submit plans - just a Building Notice with the appropriate fee. This fee included all inspections and certificates from the Council - �100 plus VAT.

The council inspected work before and after and gave a certificate of completion.

The form really was very easy to fill in - no drawings required.

[nwtrikette]

The door was already there as it was a large cupboard. We removed 1 stud wall and put up 2 other studded walls. Yes we have had to alter the electrics to put in a lightswitch and a plug socket.

By the sounds of it I really should of looked into it before doing any of the work!!

If we dont use it as a bedroom could we get away with not putting in windows and using it as a study or a large storage area? Or would we still need all the permissions?

[jake-the-peg]

The business about "not being allowed" to do electrics yourself is a commonly held half truth. It boils down (pun intended) to not being allowed outside or in bathrooms or kitchens - basically anywhere that water is involved.

If your new room is an en-suite you might be on a sticky wicket with electrics if you did it yourself - otherwise you should be OK there.

[Goofy]

the electrics regulations came in on Jan 1st so if you did the work before you would be legal - so natch you did!
Other hthan that, talk to the planning dept. You will need a building permit, but if you ask nicely they can issue one in retrospect - if the work is up to standard.