A loft conversion adds living space without taking up any of your garden and without changing the footprint of the house. It is one of the most popular ways to add a bedroom, home office or bathroom in London homes.
Types of loft conversion
- Rooflight conversions, which keep the existing roof shape and add windows in the slope
- Dormer conversions, which add headroom and floor space at the back of the roof
- Hip-to-gable conversions, which extend the sloping side of a hipped roof to make a vertical wall
- Mansard conversions, which change the roof slope to create a large, near-vertical floor of rooms
The right choice depends on the shape of your roof, the headroom you have, your budget and what your local planning authority will allow. We will look at the roof and explain the realistic options.
What a loft conversion involves
- Strengthening the floor and adding steel or timber beams where they are needed
- Forming the new roof structure, windows and insulation
- Building a staircase that meets the regulations for safe access
- Fire safety measures, including protection of the escape route
- Electrics, heating, plastering and finishes
Planning permission and Building Regulations for loft conversions
Many loft conversions in England fall within permitted development rights, but not all do. Flats, homes in conservation areas and properties where those rights have been removed usually need planning permission. Every loft conversion needs Building Regulations approval, and if you share a wall with a neighbour the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 may apply. We will explain what is likely to apply to your home.
How a loft conversion project runs
The usual order of work, from survey and structural design through the roof, stairs and finishing, is set out in our stage-by-stage guide to a loft conversion. For what drives the price, see loft conversion cost in London, and for the choice of design, loft conversion types.
Approvals, and lofts in flats
Every loft conversion needs Building Regulations approval, and many houses can avoid a planning application: read whether yours needs planning permission or how a lawful development certificate proves it. Flats are treated differently, as loft conversions in flats explains.
Questions about loft conversions
Is my loft suitable for a conversion?
It depends on the headroom, the roof structure and the shape of the roof. We will look at the loft and explain the realistic options.
How do I find out for certain whether I need planning permission?
Your local planning authority has the final say, so the certain route is to apply to them for a Lawful Development Certificate, which formally confirms whether your design needs permission. We can also give you our view once we have looked at your roof.
Will I need a new staircase?
Usually yes. A loft conversion normally needs a fixed staircase that meets the regulations for safe access and escape, and we will discuss where it can go.
Talk to us about your loft conversion
Tell us about your property and the space you have in mind. Request a quote or ask for a site visit.