With Occasional Accommodation - What does this mean?
Discussion
I have seen this listed on an estate agents site "With Occasional Dormer Accommodation" what exactly does this mean?
The only conclusion I can come to is that its a dodgy conversion that the last owners have put in? The property does have a Loft/dormer conversion (its a bungalow).
This house has been on the market for nearly a year now in a pretty good location so I am wondering if someone has made a bodge up of the conversion.
We will be arranging to view it next week but it would be good to know a little more about the Occasional accommodation before viewing.
The only conclusion I can come to is that its a dodgy conversion that the last owners have put in? The property does have a Loft/dormer conversion (its a bungalow).
This house has been on the market for nearly a year now in a pretty good location so I am wondering if someone has made a bodge up of the conversion.
We will be arranging to view it next week but it would be good to know a little more about the Occasional accommodation before viewing.
It usually means that the extra room does not meet building regulations to be legally described as a bedroom. This is usually the case when an extra room has been created by doing a basic conversion but without putting in stuff required for fire regs like an escape window etc. Doesnt stop you using it as a bedroom just stops you selling it as a bedroom.
Thanks for the replys, it sounds like we were on the right track thinking its just an extention without permission.
We are looking for a house that does neeed work and we would be putting in a dormer level anyway so I guess its halfway there.
I dont think it will be a bodge as next door seem to have exactly the same conversion so I think this extention may have been put in many many years ago.
The mrs will be going to view it this week (its 45 miles away in Lytham St.annes which is where we are originally from) and she will be taking pics so I should be able to stick some pics on here just incase anyone else does a simlar search and finds this topic.
We are looking for a house that does neeed work and we would be putting in a dormer level anyway so I guess its halfway there.
I dont think it will be a bodge as next door seem to have exactly the same conversion so I think this extention may have been put in many many years ago.
The mrs will be going to view it this week (its 45 miles away in Lytham St.annes which is where we are originally from) and she will be taking pics so I should be able to stick some pics on here just incase anyone else does a simlar search and finds this topic.
Generally if its been converted without building regs then it will have to be stripped bare.If it had been done to the same standard as the regs then why wouldn't it have them.Try and check the thickness of the loft floor as you go up the stairs, if its around 6" then your walking on the ceiling joists, if it looks substantial then new floor joists may have been fitted, this doesn't mean it's structurally sound though or that its been fireproofed.Lofts that I have converted that have been previously used as rooms have ended up costing the customer more due to the stripping out costs.The local authority should be able to tell you if the work has had building regs approval.
If it should have but doesn't have buildign regs approval, then it's not 'occasional' accomodation, it's a storage space.
It's obviously specualtion but I would expect occasional accomodation to be a spare bedroom that you'd be happy to stay in occasionally, but wouldn't want to use every day. Either too small, a funny layout or too much ceiling too low due to the roof slope.
However, given that estate agents described my bathroom-in-a-cupboard as a 'family bathroom' because it has room for a bath (though the narrow door doesn't open properly without hitting it!), I would keep an open mind and if you like it, make your offer reflect what you find. Make sure you explain why you're knocking them down on price too, if they can see and agree with your logic they're more likely to accept the offer.
It's obviously specualtion but I would expect occasional accomodation to be a spare bedroom that you'd be happy to stay in occasionally, but wouldn't want to use every day. Either too small, a funny layout or too much ceiling too low due to the roof slope.
However, given that estate agents described my bathroom-in-a-cupboard as a 'family bathroom' because it has room for a bath (though the narrow door doesn't open properly without hitting it!), I would keep an open mind and if you like it, make your offer reflect what you find. Make sure you explain why you're knocking them down on price too, if they can see and agree with your logic they're more likely to accept the offer.
Wacky Racer said:
Maybe the "conversion" has not had the relevent permissions, fire/planning/building regs etc.
Almost certainly this, which comes with a hefty dose of buyer beware.If it's a boarded-out loft and they are even hinting it can be used as accommodation, ask for the completion certificate for the conversion. It'll be fun to watch them squirm.
edit - bear in mind that what passed regs 25 years ago probably won't pass today...
Edited by shtu on Monday 14th January 16:03
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