Loft conversion on a 3 flat building - need others OK?

[Ken Figenus]

I own the top flat on a 3 storey building (Hackney) and a third of the freehold. As they have slackened the planning hurdles I was considering flipping the (rather wasteful) V roof to an Apex style and thus creating a lovely penthouse loft conversion. I've read up about party wall issues (its terraced) but would I also need some form of permission from the other lower flat owners? I know them, we get on, and I manage the freehold via a company for us all so it may even be straightforward if I do.

Just thinking and of course will take paid advice if I progress!

Cheers

[anonymous-user]

Do you own the roofspace?

[loafer123]

Depends upon the demise in your lease. Do you have sole access to the loft? Are you responsible for maintaining the roof outside the service charge.

That being said, a lot of people have made a lot of money adding an extra floor on blocks. Perhaps, even if you don't own the roof, you should get together with your co-owners, build an additional flat on the top, and make some money...

[Du1point8]

offer to take ownership of the roof maintenance and in return you get the loft space to do with as you please.

[Ken Figenus]

Interesting points - thanks a lot guys. I have sole access to the roof/loftspace but when we refurbished it externally 9 years ago we naturally split the cost. The loftspace is currently storage space for the top flat occupier only. We dont pay a service charge . I actually manage and issue the leases but will check the lease but dont remember any mention of loft conversions.

Cheers - could be a go-er!

[Little Lofty]

To convert the forth floor of a house is a pita, different regs apply to a loft conversion 7.5 m above ground level, I know this as I converted mine. Strictly speaking it should have an external escape or a protected escape route with sprinklers, I'm not sure how this will effect flats as you may already have one of these escape methods in place, worth checking though.

[Du1point8]

Little Lofty said:

To convert the forth floor of a house is a pita, different regs apply to a loft conversion 7.5 m above ground level, I know this as I converted mine. Strictly speaking it should have an external escape or a protected escape route with sprinklers, I'm not sure how this will effect flats as you may already have one of these escape methods in place, worth checking though.

I assume when he says 3 storey, its ground, 1st, 2nd... don't need any external escapes for that, or at least none of the loft conversions I have seen in london at that height or one story higher has them.

[Little Lofty]

That would still take the loft above 7.5m, unless the building has very low ceilings. I live in a modern 3 story townhouse and my loft floor is around 8m above ground. The LABC allowed me to install extra smokes and fire doors to compensate for the lack of external escape/sprinklers.

[Ken Figenus]

[MOVED: It really is a business - not my home, doesnt have a garden and I aint doing a DIY loft conversion! Whatevs!]

Thanks for the input Lofty - are you in the trade mate? I don't actually have an issue with an external fire escape - tenants safety is more important than a few grand for this.

[Ken Figenus]

Du point its actually a basement, ground, 1st and 2nd floor but they are all duplex giving 3 units total. HMO regs will kick in too but that's fine as I have the landlord accreditation.

I called Hackney planning for some topline advice a few weeks ago but they were totally unhelpful so thanks for the advice guys.