Attic Room Conversion - Purchase

[worsy]

Member of family looking at a 3 bed victorian with an attic conversion. Previous sale fell through as purchaser wanted attic conversion "done properly". Quote from agent. Sounds like potentially converted without building regs which is a risk obviously.

Anything to mitigate (assuming insurance indemnity) or is it a walk away job?

[worsy]

Tuvra said:

Depends what its being used for and what they are planning to keep up there.

If the plan is to convert it into a bedroom I'd take someone from building regulations there. My last house had a partially completed loft which had approved planning. Unfortunately the Builder who owned the house fked the measurements right up. We would of had to rebuild the staircase which ate into other room space and then dropped the entire ceiling below a few inches to accommodate before finishing. It basically meant starting from scratch.

It wasn't worth the time and effort so we were going to board it out and turn it into a "posh loft", luckily another opportunity came up.

I'm happy to consider it a posh loft but the worry is whether the roof has been strengthened to accommodate correctly.

[worsy]

Thanks all. Just been round to see it and mirrors what robsdesk says, however vendor says floor has been done. No regs as fire doors not fitted. Looks like original beams are in place (exposed as feature) and no purling removal undertaken as loft was open design.

Will need an indemnity probably as hidden elements unable to verify but on the plus side the builders are still in business and can verify work undertaken.