What Fees Do You have to Pay When Having a Loft Conversion?

The idea of pursuing a loft conversion is often met with concerns over the cost. Here at AKB Loft Conversions, we aim to be as transparent as possible to our customers. We detail the full cost of your loft conversion, for the entire work that we, as our company, undertake. However, sometimes it is necessary to acquire paperwork from external authorities, bodies or companies to ensure the work complies with current UK legislation. Unfortunately, these can sometimes require a fee. This article is going to help you understand any extra fees you may be required to pay to external bodies as a result of pursuing a loft conversion.

Certificate of lawfulness

A certificate of lawfulness is, essentially, proof from the planning authority that you are authorised to undertake work on the building without any needs of obtaining planning permission. Officially, this certificate grants you immunity from any future enforcement. Think of it like insurance, to settle any disputes that may occur in reference to the lawfulness of operational development on your property.

Fees for a certificate of lawfulness can vary depending on application. However, you will likely be looking at around £195 for the certificate.

Planning permission

Planning permission is not usually needed when converting a loft, but this is not always the case. Planning permission is only not required so long as the loft conversion follows these conditions:

• A volume allowance of 40 cubic metres additional roof space for terraced houses.
• A volume allowance of 50 cubic metres additional roof space for detached and semi-detached houses.
• No extension beyond the plane of the existing roof slope of the principal elevation that fronts the highway.
• No extension to be higher than the highest part of the roof.
• Materials to be similar in appearance to the existing house.
• No verandas, balconies or raised platforms.
• Side-facing windows to be obscure-glazed; any opening to be 1.7m above the floor.
• Roof extensions not to be permitted development in designated areas.
• Roof extensions, apart from hip to gable ones, to be set back, as far as practicable, at least 20 cm from the original eaves.
• The roof enlargement cannot overhang the outer face of the wall of the original house.

A planning permission application costs £172 in England and £166 in Wales. This fee is paid to your local council.

Building Regulations

You may also need to obtain building regulation approval when having your loft converted. The Building Regulation Approval bodies assess the health and safety standards of the work being carried out. They will take a look at how the loft conversion fares in areas such as power and fuel conservation, disability access and standards of general safety. Their results will be certified and you will need to keep these for when you wish to sell your home in the future.

This is different from planning permission, which seeks to ensure that the development of a building doesn’t compromise the integrity of surrounding buildings, the road or town in which it is situated.

The cost of building regulations approval also varies with application, however, you are probably looking at somewhere around £250.

Why is it important to comply with these authorities?

It’s vitally important you check up on which certificates/paperwork you’ll need for your loft conversion. Failing to do so can have serious consequences, including heavy fines or prosecution.

Here at AKB Loft Conversions, we believe in offering every one of our customers high quality loft conversions at fair, affordable prices. Our team are upfront about all necessary costs, and are more than happy to answer any questions you may have. Get in touch today to speak to one of our expert team — we’re always happy to hear from you.