Converting large house into flats or bedsits?
Discussion
Need some assistance from the property gurus please.
If you was to add kitchenettes to a large 5 bed house that already had 3 bathrooms then add lockable doors turning into self contained flats to be rented out individually what are the implications with planning, council etc? Also keeping the occupancy to only 4 or 5 people which would be approx the same as the original house anyway.
Thanks.
If you was to add kitchenettes to a large 5 bed house that already had 3 bathrooms then add lockable doors turning into self contained flats to be rented out individually what are the implications with planning, council etc? Also keeping the occupancy to only 4 or 5 people which would be approx the same as the original house anyway.
Thanks.
Golfman said:
Need some assistance from the property gurus please.
If you was to add kitchenettes to a large 5 bed house that already had 3 bathrooms then add lockable doors turning into self contained flats to be rented out individually what are the implications with planning, council etc? Also keeping the occupancy to only 4 or 5 people which would be approx the same as the original house anyway.
Thanks.
Drop me a PM if you like.If you was to add kitchenettes to a large 5 bed house that already had 3 bathrooms then add lockable doors turning into self contained flats to be rented out individually what are the implications with planning, council etc? Also keeping the occupancy to only 4 or 5 people which would be approx the same as the original house anyway.
Thanks.
Indeed. You will need to advise of change of use, building control will want to approve any changes you make - emergency escape being just one reason for this.
Bearing in mind these will be 'bedsits' as opposes to 'appartments' then the council may not want such properties in a given area. I wouold advise having an informal discussion with the council before comitting to anything.
Bearing in mind these will be 'bedsits' as opposes to 'appartments' then the council may not want such properties in a given area. I wouold advise having an informal discussion with the council before comitting to anything.
groomi said:
Indeed. You will need to advise of change of use, building control will want to approve any changes you make - emergency escape being just one reason for this.
Bearing in mind these will be 'bedsits' as opposes to 'appartments' then the council may not want such properties in a given area. I wouold advise having an informal discussion with the council before comitting to anything.
So bedsits, appartments or flats, is one easier to get permission for than another, or are do the council classify them all as the same thing?Bearing in mind these will be 'bedsits' as opposes to 'appartments' then the council may not want such properties in a given area. I wouold advise having an informal discussion with the council before comitting to anything.
superlightr said:
as above - may be classed as a HMO. and the associated fire/planning regs
Would definitely be a HMO House in Multiple Occupation.As others have said you need to contact the local council and ask for some advice, there are all sorts of implications ranging from planning to Insurance
As most have said you need to speak to the Local Planning Dept. Broadly speaking (from the limited info given) you won't get Planning Consent for five Studio flats/apartments in the exixting building and to comply with the Building Regs you'd havesuch substantial works to do that you may as well knock it down and start again.
A HMO might get all the Consents but it depends on how the Planning Dept has classified the area. The scheme maybe of great benefit to you but your Neighbours might (and quite rightly) have issue with it. For example a potential five fold increase in traffic.
Not trying to put you off. Just realise that the Planning Department will have the Community interest at heart rather than you business interests.
A HMO might get all the Consents but it depends on how the Planning Dept has classified the area. The scheme maybe of great benefit to you but your Neighbours might (and quite rightly) have issue with it. For example a potential five fold increase in traffic.
Not trying to put you off. Just realise that the Planning Department will have the Community interest at heart rather than you business interests.
2 5HAN said:
superlightr said:
as above - may be classed as a HMO. and the associated fire/planning regs
Would definitely be a HMO House in Multiple Occupation.As others have said you need to contact the local council and ask for some advice, there are all sorts of implications ranging from planning to Insurance
HMO guide.
Edited by Adam T on Tuesday 23 December 12:36
Golfman said:
Just trying to get my head around some of this. So if I was to rent each of the bedrooms within a house to individuals it would not be classed as flats, as I would be just “renting the house out” however if each room has its own en-suite shower and a camping stove its now flats?
If you live in the house and rent out the spare rooms, you're taking in lodgers.If you leave the house as is and rent it out, you are renting out a house - whether this can be done with multiple occupiers I don't know.
If you make the rooms self contained, they are bedsits.
If you make self contained suites (ie more than one room) with a shared entrance, then they are apartments.
If you make self contained suites with seperate entrances, then they are flats.
NOTE: That is my general understanding, but the council may use different factors.
To expand slightly,
Bedsits don't have their own toilets / bathrooms. They have communal toilets / bathrooms but no communal facilities like a lounge, kitchen or dining room. Each bedsit has it's own lockable front door off the communal areas.
Flats (Apartments is an Estate Agents term) are self contained with cooking and bathing facilities within them. Each flat has it's own lockable front door though they share a communal entrance into and circulation space round the building.
If a flat has its own private entrance off the 'street' then it's a maisonette (another EA term).
A camping stove does not constitute kitchen facilities. Basically, you're on about creating an HMO. Read the link and talk to the Local Planning Dept. Don't forget the Building Regs and the Utilities too.
Bedsits don't have their own toilets / bathrooms. They have communal toilets / bathrooms but no communal facilities like a lounge, kitchen or dining room. Each bedsit has it's own lockable front door off the communal areas.
Flats (Apartments is an Estate Agents term) are self contained with cooking and bathing facilities within them. Each flat has it's own lockable front door though they share a communal entrance into and circulation space round the building.
If a flat has its own private entrance off the 'street' then it's a maisonette (another EA term).
A camping stove does not constitute kitchen facilities. Basically, you're on about creating an HMO. Read the link and talk to the Local Planning Dept. Don't forget the Building Regs and the Utilities too.
Golfman said:
Safety is obviously a main factor, so if all doors are changed to fire doors, and smoke detectors are fitted to each room, if basic access is still exactly the same as before what other issues would there be from a safety point of view?
ah ha ha ahah ha. If only it were so simple. More like new walls, floors, stairs, fire alarm systems with bells and whisles. Its a Major undertaking. with a saluted M.Edited by Golfman on Monday 22 December 17:14
Potentially, yes it could be the case of substantial renewal. I would suspect that Sound Insulation would be prevailing factor over Fire Safety though in what you listed.
Golfman - Have you actually converted the house and got Tenants in already or are you thinking of doing the conversion? If you've already got Tenants in then without getting the correct consents and carrying out the required works then you're liable to prosecution.
If you're planning to carrying out the works then you need to get independant Professional advice. Being blunt you don't seem to have much of a clue with regards to buildings, so seek out the help that's out there.
An Architect who specialises in domestic properties or a Chartered Building Surveyor can give you some formal advice. Speaking to the Planning Department should provide some informal guidance but this can not be relied upon formally. The Local Building Control department can advise what works might be needed but it will still be down to you to demonstrate both understanding and what works you intend to do.
Golfman - Have you actually converted the house and got Tenants in already or are you thinking of doing the conversion? If you've already got Tenants in then without getting the correct consents and carrying out the required works then you're liable to prosecution.
If you're planning to carrying out the works then you need to get independant Professional advice. Being blunt you don't seem to have much of a clue with regards to buildings, so seek out the help that's out there.
An Architect who specialises in domestic properties or a Chartered Building Surveyor can give you some formal advice. Speaking to the Planning Department should provide some informal guidance but this can not be relied upon formally. The Local Building Control department can advise what works might be needed but it will still be down to you to demonstrate both understanding and what works you intend to do.
mk1fan said:
If a flat has its own private entrance off the 'street' then it's a maisonette (another EA term).
A maisonette is a 'multi floor' flat/appartment with its own internal staircase. It is (techically) possible to have a maisonette on the 21st and 22nd floor of a block, for example 
I have just obtained planning permission for converting a large terrace property into 3 self contained flats, all I need is to get the building regs. agreed by the Council, then out to tender.
Why not look on your local council’s planning department’s web site, doing the same will show you present planning applications, the name of local architects, drawings/ plans etc. etc.
Why not look on your local council’s planning department’s web site, doing the same will show you present planning applications, the name of local architects, drawings/ plans etc. etc.
FUBAR said:
mk1fan said:
If a flat has its own private entrance off the 'street' then it's a maisonette (another EA term).
A maisonette is a 'multi floor' flat/appartment with its own internal staircase. It is (techically) possible to have a maisonette on the 21st and 22nd floor of a block, for example As for '(technically)' it's not difficult at all and very straight forward to create a split level apartment on any level - One Hyde Park or St George Wharf being a prime examples.
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