Removing stair banister... problems when selling ?
Discussion
I went into a neighbours house the other day to help them and saw they had removed their stair banister. The visual difference was massive as it gave the impression the hall was much wider and less restricted without it.
I quite fancy doing the same but being the guy I am, I always think long term and wonder if it will be an issue when selling if the surveyor pulls it up. From our own personal point of view there are no wobbly elderly people or young kids in the house. The top section of landing is only protecting 2 steps height and the bottom 5 steps.
Ultimately we would like to have it done at some point in glass but IF we removed and didn’t replace, is it a legal issue when selling ?
Some pics
I quite fancy doing the same but being the guy I am, I always think long term and wonder if it will be an issue when selling if the surveyor pulls it up. From our own personal point of view there are no wobbly elderly people or young kids in the house. The top section of landing is only protecting 2 steps height and the bottom 5 steps.
Ultimately we would like to have it done at some point in glass but IF we removed and didn’t replace, is it a legal issue when selling ?
Some pics
My survey picked up that our very old banister had spindles spaced wider than 100mm so didn't meet regs. I'd expect it would be picked up by a survey, but it's a minor thing that your buyer saw when they looked at the house, so unlikely to cause you problems directly.
I mean minor in terms of the sales process, it's obviously not minor if a third party falls down your stairs, breaks their neck and you get sued to pay for their care for the rest of their life and your insurer refuses to cover because you removed a legally required safety feature. That would be fairly major.
That said, you need a single handrail all the way down, you only need two if the stairs are wider. You also need to guard the fall on the left at the bottom. You don't need all those spindles that don't serve any purpose, so you can easily modify what you have to get a better look without compromising on safety.
I mean minor in terms of the sales process, it's obviously not minor if a third party falls down your stairs, breaks their neck and you get sued to pay for their care for the rest of their life and your insurer refuses to cover because you removed a legally required safety feature. That would be fairly major.
That said, you need a single handrail all the way down, you only need two if the stairs are wider. You also need to guard the fall on the left at the bottom. You don't need all those spindles that don't serve any purpose, so you can easily modify what you have to get a better look without compromising on safety.
paulrockliffe said:
I mean minor in terms of the sales process, it's obviously not minor if a third party falls down your stairs, breaks their neck and you get sued to pay for their care for the rest of their life and your insurer refuses to cover because you removed a legally required safety feature. That would be fairly major.
That said, you need a single handrail all the way down, you only need two if the stairs are wider.
In terms of a handrail being a “legally required safety feature”, could you expand on this? That said, you need a single handrail all the way down, you only need two if the stairs are wider.
I have no handrail in my 1930’s property, what LAW am I breaking?
Removed ours in our old house similar to OPs - zero issues when we sold - not mentioned at all by the agents, buyers or surveyor and really opened the hallway up
Now considering the local council were also looking to buy it off us to put into council stock they never mentioned it either.
Now considering the local council were also looking to buy it off us to put into council stock they never mentioned it either.
Should probably update and say we did remove the lot, no one has died yet , and the first thing everyone has commented is how much more open and roomy it is.
We will reinstate with glass or similar when we eventually decide to sell, for the moment that's not on the horizon for 10-15 years at least.
We will reinstate with glass or similar when we eventually decide to sell, for the moment that's not on the horizon for 10-15 years at least.
In our last house I replaced the original crap ranch style with spindles. Stairs and landing. Why? Simple safety plus it suited the style/age of the house. We saw open stairs on tv but thought they were a bit niche depending on the general style and decor.
We Thought about style, glass/spindles/ metal but in the end settled on wooden spindles with unpainted hemlock handrail and newels in clear satin varnish.
If I was buying a house that had simply removed handrail/newels I would drop the offer price to match. I’d also like the surveyor to inspect for how it was done and where else in the house had mods been done and to what standard. There are too many DIY bodges out there!
We Thought about style, glass/spindles/ metal but in the end settled on wooden spindles with unpainted hemlock handrail and newels in clear satin varnish.
If I was buying a house that had simply removed handrail/newels I would drop the offer price to match. I’d also like the surveyor to inspect for how it was done and where else in the house had mods been done and to what standard. There are too many DIY bodges out there!
fastbikes76 said:
No offence but it does seem like a bit of a death trap. If the stairs started where they should have, flush with the wall on the left, it wouldn't be an issue. But then again there wouldn't have been a bannister to begin with 
Guess I went full circle there.Considering people naturally take a 'straight line' between two points I can see someone doing themselves a mischief.
Little Lofty said:
bristolbaron said:
In terms of a handrail being a “legally required safety feature”, could you expand on this?
I have no handrail in my 1930’s property, what LAW am I breaking?
I think they come under Part K of the building regs, which covers protection from falling. I have no handrail in my 1930’s property, what LAW am I breaking?
Pastie Bloater said:
fastbikes76 said:
No offence but it does seem like a bit of a death trap. If the stairs started where they should have, flush with the wall on the left, it wouldn't be an issue. But then again there wouldn't have been a bannister to begin with Guess I went full circle there.Considering people naturally take a 'straight line' between two points I can see someone doing themselves a mischief.
Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff