Converting house into flats
Discussion
My mum owns a 4 bedroom house in a nice village.
She is struggling with mobility, my suggestion was converting into two separate flats.
Access to top via outside stairs.
I understand planning permission required but how easy is this. Would I need a architect, looking at conversation, things to note, sound deadening , sesperate heating and electricity , fire escape. Changing the bathroom into entrance room, kitchen etc. but can't see any major issues.
She is struggling with mobility, my suggestion was converting into two separate flats.
Access to top via outside stairs.
I understand planning permission required but how easy is this. Would I need a architect, looking at conversation, things to note, sound deadening , sesperate heating and electricity , fire escape. Changing the bathroom into entrance room, kitchen etc. but can't see any major issues.
Whilst I appreciate Sarah Beeny has her knockers, something I remember from one of her programs was it is better to split a house vertically as opposed to horizontally.
Obviously access to upstairs is an issue, but if it is simpler, cheaper, or you'd make the money back on a Stannah Stairlift or normal lift would this be an option?
Actually, if all this is happening and she'd have to stay somewhere else for 3-6 months whilst it's being done, just rent this house and use the income to rent somewhere else permanently?
Obviously access to upstairs is an issue, but if it is simpler, cheaper, or you'd make the money back on a Stannah Stairlift or normal lift would this be an option?
Actually, if all this is happening and she'd have to stay somewhere else for 3-6 months whilst it's being done, just rent this house and use the income to rent somewhere else permanently?
Edited by Moulder on Sunday 26th January 21:17
nuyorican said:
I've lived in such a place. You could literally hear the guy downstairs fart.
That was converted decades ago though, maybe they install concrete floors as standard now. I imagine it would be expensive though.
modern specs for sound proofing/fire regs and insulatiion is very expensive when converting a house into flatsThat was converted decades ago though, maybe they install concrete floors as standard now. I imagine it would be expensive though.
mickythefish said:
I understand planning permission required but how easy is this. Would I need a architect.
When submitting the building regulations application are you confident that you could sign the required declaration to say you are competent to act as the principal designer? And have the necessary skills and knowledge necessary to plan and manage the project sufficiently to ensure the works comply will all regulations? If not then you will need to employ someone who is.As for the conversion itself, then there’s a lot more to it than sound insulation and fire escapes, but that’s the role of your designer. To do it correctly you could quite easily spend into 6-figures. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it.
smokey mow said:
When submitting the building regulations application are you confident that you could sign the required declaration to say you are competent to act as the principal designer? And have the necessary skills and knowledge necessary to plan and manage the project sufficiently to ensure the works comply will all regulations? If not then you will need to employ someone who is.
As for the conversion itself, then there’s a lot more to it than sound insulation and fire escapes, but that’s the role of your designer. To do it correctly you could quite easily spend into 6-figures. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it.
6 figures , not sure I buy that. But probably won't bother tbh.As for the conversion itself, then there’s a lot more to it than sound insulation and fire escapes, but that’s the role of your designer. To do it correctly you could quite easily spend into 6-figures. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it.
mickythefish said:
My mum owns a 4 bedroom house in a nice village.
She is struggling with mobility, my suggestion was converting into two separate flats.
Access to top via outside stairs.
I understand planning permission required but how easy is this. Would I need a architect, looking at conversation, things to note, sound deadening , sesperate heating and electricity , fire escape. Changing the bathroom into entrance room, kitchen etc. but can't see any major issues.
There is a good probability that it won't be worth the effort.She is struggling with mobility, my suggestion was converting into two separate flats.
Access to top via outside stairs.
I understand planning permission required but how easy is this. Would I need a architect, looking at conversation, things to note, sound deadening , sesperate heating and electricity , fire escape. Changing the bathroom into entrance room, kitchen etc. but can't see any major issues.
We did lots of them in the past, when labour and materials were relatively cheap and we didn't have to do sound insulation. We wouldn't do them again, with today's prices and if we had to do the soundproofing.
If selling isn't a consideration, could you just convert the place so that she can live downstairs?
mickythefish said:
6 figures , not sure I buy that. But probably won't bother tbh.
I would be very surprised if it wasn't 100k plus. Architect, building control, strip out what's there, structural work, stairs, soundproofing, insulation, two lots of wiring, two lots of plumbing, radiators, two kitchens, two bathrooms, new windows, new doors, flooring, exterior work to split the garden.Council may also want you to have 2 parking spaces per property.
mickythefish said:
My mum owns a 4 bedroom house in a nice village.
She is struggling with mobility, my suggestion was converting into two separate flats.
Access to top via outside stairs.
I understand planning permission required but how easy is this. Would I need a architect, looking at conversation, things to note, sound deadening , sesperate heating and electricity , fire escape. Changing the bathroom into entrance room, kitchen etc. but can't see any major issues.
Not worth doing - sounds like she needs an accessible bungalow, not a flat above her head which would take many months of dirty noisy work. As others have said it will cost a lot more than you think to do right. Sell the house and get her moved to something suitable.She is struggling with mobility, my suggestion was converting into two separate flats.
Access to top via outside stairs.
I understand planning permission required but how easy is this. Would I need a architect, looking at conversation, things to note, sound deadening , sesperate heating and electricity , fire escape. Changing the bathroom into entrance room, kitchen etc. but can't see any major issues.
First thing is to establish whether you would get planing permission. You can trawl through planning policies for clues, but better to get a local planning consultant on board to advise you.
Secondly, look at the effect of converting from one house to two flats on the value of the property - this will be location specific, so you can trawl through sold prices in the area, or better still, speak to a few local agents. No point in spending £100k to end up with a building that’s worth less than when you started.
Thirdly, and I mean no disrespect, but if you’re somebody who has to seek advice on here about what to do, then you’re going to need a professional on board - a local architect or architectural technologist, who can demonstrate experience of doing similar projects. Yes, it will cost, but your chances of delivering a successful AND compliant project will be many multiples higher.
Having said all that, I agree with others - sell it and buy a bungalow
Secondly, look at the effect of converting from one house to two flats on the value of the property - this will be location specific, so you can trawl through sold prices in the area, or better still, speak to a few local agents. No point in spending £100k to end up with a building that’s worth less than when you started.
Thirdly, and I mean no disrespect, but if you’re somebody who has to seek advice on here about what to do, then you’re going to need a professional on board - a local architect or architectural technologist, who can demonstrate experience of doing similar projects. Yes, it will cost, but your chances of delivering a successful AND compliant project will be many multiples higher.
Having said all that, I agree with others - sell it and buy a bungalow
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