When you are considering carrying out a loft conversion you need look no further than Loft London and the hundreds of satisfied clients we have worked with. There are some queries that come up more often than others and in case one of them is a question you've always wanted answered we've set some of them out here for you.
Naturally the first thing that most people will need to know is how much a loft conversion is going to cost. The answer to this is in the region of around £30 to 50,000 although this is very much dependent on the type of conversion and the work that needs to be done. There are several different types of loft conversion, all of which we have undertaken many times for our clients and when you have a free site survey from us, your surveyor will give you a quote for the type of loft conversion that you have in mind. Whether you're thinking of a dormer loft conversion or a Velux conversion we will be able to give you an accurate idea of costings for a project that will be bespoke to your requirements.
After the cost the second most ask question is how long is the conversion going to take? Like the question of cost, the time for the project is also going to vary slightly depending on what you need to have done and the current layout of the property to be worked on. As a ballpark figure however our experience tells us that a conversion will be completed in around 8 weeks give or take two weeks depending on the specifications. Again, your surveyor will be able to give you a more accurate guide to the length of the project at the time that the survey is done.
Anticipating your new loft conversion is very exciting, and the third question we are usually asked is how soon can you start work? Well the good news about that is that we should be able to start work with you within two to four weeks based on the fact that you already have your plans and structural designs on any party wall notices that are needed in place. If these are not already in place, then work on a basis of around two to three months to get all the necessary paperwork in order, before the construction phase of the project.
The answer to this question is generally it will take between four to five weeks for a client to give final approval to the plans that have been drawn up. If you are in a hurry, Loft London will do everything we can to expedite this but we always ensure that we are delivering an excellent service so we will never rush things.
Having a loft conversion is a great way to avoid having to move house and in general plans for a loft conversion will take around eight weeks for approval although this time will vary from borough to borough. Revisions will sometimes be required if the approver decides that they need to adjust or to add something. In this instance the approval might take a bit longer but you will be kept informed at every step of the process.
After one of the Loft London team has visited your property to do the free site survey you will receive your comprehensive quote by email within a week. If you have not received it within that time please contact us and our team will help you with this. Once you have your quote the amount you've been quoted will be fixed but can be adjusted if you decide there is anything else you want to add to the project. We also offer our price matching service so that if you find the same conversion offer elsewhere for less, we will match that cost. Speak to our team for any more information you require.
When your property is connected to another on either side, such as in terraced or semi-detached housing, if you intend to do a loft conversion you will need to inform your neighbours of that fact and give them details of the dates and times of the build. The agreement is put in place so that the neighbours and yourself have recourse to some action if any issues arise during the build. Your neighbour is well within their rights to insist that you have a party wall agreement before any work commences. At Loft London we will help you with all the information you need to complete this process with the help of our certified party wall surveyors.
Provided that your home is not a flat , listed building or in a conservation area you should be allowed permitted development (PD). What this means is that you can develop the space in your loft without having to apply for planning permission. There are set parameters within which this work can be completed i.e. Fifty cubic metres for detached and semi-detached properties and 40 cubic metres for terraced properties.
When you apply for planning permission you will be asking the council to deem your proposed works as acceptable. They can reject your application and your neighbours can complain and apply for it to be rejected and where planning permission is concerned you will have to follow local development planning rules. With permitted development you are merely requesting the council to confirm that your planned works fits with the development permitted. Once they have done this, they will issue you with a lawful development letter. By law you do not need to have the lawful development letter before you start the work which means that even if you have not had a letter back from the council regarding your permitted development you can still start work on your loft conversion.
When you apply for planning permission you will be asking the council to deem your proposed works as acceptable. They can reject your application and your neighbours can complain and apply for it to be rejected and where planning permission is concerned you will have to follow local development planning rules. With permitted development you are merely requesting the council to confirm that your planned works fits with the development permitted. Once they have done this, they will issue you with a lawful development letter. By law you do not need to have the lawful development letter before you start the work which means that even if you have not had a letter back from the council regarding your permitted development you can still start work on your loft conversion.
Different loft conversions will be most suitable to different types of property, and our site survey will be happy to advise you on what is most suitable to your home. As a Quick guide you could cheque your own Ridge height using a standard tape measure and that will give you an idea as to whether you have enough space for a conversion. however the best way to be sure of what is possible is to invite one of our surveyors to give you a free no obligation quote.
Yes we do please visit www.renovation.london
Yes, we will be able to help you through our extensive network of tradespeople to carry out other domestic building work. If you are considering having a new bathroom or kitchen or a house refurbishment ask us to quote for this at the same time. While you are having a loft conversion it is the perfect time to think about reinventing the whole of the rest of your home and compared to actually moving house, can be a very cost effective solution
If we need to lower ceilings then any disruption will be kept to a minimum because the work will be done in the loft space and any heavy work will be carried out from scaffolding will be erected outside of your property.
We know that there are a lot of people doing the same work as we are but we do come with full insurance policies in place and with documentation that you can request to see at any time through our customer service team.
Because Loft London have completed projects all over London it is very likely that we will have done some work in your area. We will be happy to share the feedback of customers for whom we have worked and if they are agreeable you may even be able to visit a conversion. Please ask our customer service team if this is what you want to do.
Loft London work from North to South and East to West London and in the surrounding areas as well. Please contact customer services if you have any doubt about your area.
Your quotation will be valid for six months.
It can be daunting thinking about a loft conversion project and many people can be at a bit of a loss of where to start. The temptation is to concentrate on the room that will be produced and how you want that decorated but before any of that can happen you need to make sure but you have the correct type of planning permission if you need it, and to ensure that you choose the right type of conversion for your property. At Loft London we are here to help you through the process from start to finish and with that in mind we have put together some useful points that you need to consider before you start the project.
There are a lot of different styles of loft conversion and our Loft London advisors will always be on hand to visit you and to take the correct measurements and give advice on what options will be the best for your space. There are some questions that we often get asked so they might be a good place to start with our guide.
Answer: in most cases loft conversion we will fall under the heading of permitted development, so that planning permission is not needed. However it should be noted that this may not be the case where a property is listed or in a conservation area and there can be regional variations as to the strictness with which planning is applied. At loft London we can help you to navigate your way through the requirements with your local planning office.
Answer: what are called permitted development rights are actually a relaxed version of planning permission that can allow homeowners to carry out some development on their property without needing to make a planning application and can therefore get the work done faster. Certain parameters have to be in place however and for those developments that exceed the permitted 40 cubic metres for a loft on a property in a terraced road and 50 cubic metres for a detached or semi-detached property, traditional planning permission will be needed.
Answer: If your development does not require planning permission then it will normally be about two to four weeks before we start the construction phase although other considerations such as party wall agreements will also need to be satisfied before work can begin. if planning permission is required for your property then it can be anything between 8 to 12 weeks before building work can start, again as long as all required paperwork is in place.
Answer: The party wall agreement comes into play when your property is connected to another on either side. If this is the case, your neighbour or both neighbours will need to be informed and they will both need to approve the work that is proposed. This is done through a party wall notice that would be put in place at least two months prior to the date when the build is due to start. The purpose of the party wall agreement is so that you and any neighbour who is party to it know what will happen if a problem arises. At Loft London we will be happy to advise you on the process and also to put you in touch with one of the party wall surveyors that we work with.
A loft conversion is a great way to give yourself more space in your home without having to undergo the upheaval of a house move. Call us today and our Loft London advisors will be able to answer all your questions and you can also have a visit from our team to carry out a free site survey.
Take a look at our Gallery of conversions to get some inspiration for your own loft conversion. Then give us a ring to organise an initial remote consultation so that we can get started on designing that perfect loft conversion for you.
