Loft conversions are becoming ever more popular. Creating an extra living space in your home can make a big difference to enjoying your home, and it can add value to the property. Loft conversion in a terraced house can in some ways be more complicated than other types of homes but in other ways, it can make the construction work simpler. And it is in most cases possible to convert a terraced loft in a variety of different ways.
Converting a terraced loft can provide you with a variety of benefits, over and above the benefits of converting other types of properties.
Terraced houses usually have quite a small footprint. Extending outwards can be impossible because they are surrounded by other properties. So a loft conversion can be the perfect way of adding extra space.
Because a loft conversion does have a big impact on the amount of available space in terraced properties, they can add a lot more value than a similar conversion in a non-terraced property.
Find out more: How Much Value Does A Loft Conversion Add
In some cases, converting the loft space of a terraced house can be easier than for other types of properties.
We'll come to the difficulties associated with party walls a little later on but they can also have some benefits.
Having a party wall on one or both sides adds structure to the loft space. For a conversion on a detached property, this structure would have to be built from scratch or redesigned to create the new space.
A classic terraced house will have a relatively steep roof pitch. Converting the loft into a usable space can be easier because the existing roof will allow for a lot of headroom. This is especially important if you are opting for a roof light conversion which won't add any head height to the loft.
While converting a terraced loft can have a lot of benefits, there are some unique challenges associated with it.
A party wall is a wall that you share with another property. In a mid-terraced house, you will share a party wall with your neighbours on both sides. In an end-of-terrace house, you will share one party wall with the neighbour you are joined to.
Loft conversions will alter the party walls. Because of this, your neighbours will need to be involved.
You must send a Party Wall Notice to each of your neighbours between two months and a year before work is due to begin. This is in writing and you can use a template from the government website.
If you have a reasonable relationship with your neighbours, then you can have a chat with them before sending them the written notice.
After you have served your neighbour with the notice, they will have 14 days to respond. Their response can be:
If your neighbour refuses their consent, then you will need to appoint a surveyor to craft a Party Wall Agreement/Award.
The surveyor will examine your property and create a legal document that says:
Your neighbour can also appoint their own surveyor.
Aside from party wall issues, having a close neighbour can be challenging in terms of abiding by Right to Light regulations. Your neighbours must not have their access to natural light impeded by your extensions.
Uncover more: Do I Need A Party Wall Agreement For Loft Conversion
Most of the time, you won't need planning permission for a loft conversion, even for terraced houses. This is because the work will come under a Permitted Development Order. This is an order that grants planning permission for certain types of modifications without requiring the approval of the local planning authority.
The rules on what prevents a loft conversion from coming under permitted development can be quite complex but the most common issues are:
The property itself also needs to be eligible for permitted development. For example, a listed building and properties that are located in conservation areas may need planning permission for any type of extension or external alterations.
Dig deeper: Do You Need Planning Permission For Loft Conversions
The staircase can be a difficult aspect of a loft conversion to manage for terraced houses, simply because there is less space to work with.
There are strict building regulations for loft conversions. Many of these are related to fire safety. Part of which is ensuring that people are safely able to escape from a house in the event of a fire.
For a loft conversion to meet these regulations for fire safety, there need to be stairs that lead to the outside through a protected escape route. This is a route that can protect people from fire for at least 30 minutes.
This can be challenging in a terraced house with limited space.
In some cases, the staircase to the loft can simply be a continuation of the existing staircase that leads to a covered entranceway.
In other cases, however, this will not be possible. Especially with other constraints on the staircase design, such as:
To create a valid staircase that fits within building regulations, you could have a new loft staircase that is at a right angle to the existing staircase. Or another creative solution.
In some cases, the new staircase may exit into a living space. In this case, a partition wall will need to be constructed to make the entranceway protected.
Despite the challenges, there are a variety of loft conversion options for terraced homes.
This is the simplest, and cheapest, loft conversion option. The roof's existing slope is retained and roof lights are added.
Roof light windows allow a lot of natural light into the attic space but the space itself is unchanged. This can be an option for terraced properties, especially Victorian terraced houses with large sloping roofs because there is already a lot of headroom available.
£20,000 - £30,000
A dormer conversion is the most popular type for terraced houses, especially rear dormers. A box-shaped structure is created that projects from the existing roof lines. Vertical windows and walls are created which add extra space and light.
For terraced houses with ground floor extensions into the rear garden, it is often possible to create an L-shaped dormer conversion which creates even more space again.
£30,000 - £60,000
Hip-to-gable loft conversions are perfect for end-of-terraced properties. With these houses, the roof line is often hipped. The hipped end of the roof is extended vertically to form a gable plus a rear dormer.
This option maximises both floor and head space and makes the best use of the differing roof structure of an end-of-terrace property.
£40,000 - £65,000
A mansard loft conversion will need full planning permission. More than a conversion or extension, a mansard loft conversion essentially creates an extra storey to the property. This is done by changing the sloping side of the roof to an almost vertical side.
To create this type of loft space, a large amount of time and financial investment is needed but the results can be worth it. It creates a vast amount of space and a truly livable extra storey to your home. Of all the loft spaces you could create, this is the biggest and most impressive.
£45,000 - £70,000
If you want to convert your loft, the Loft Crew can help. We understand the challenges of converting terraced house lofts and can design and create the perfect loft space for your needs.
It is possible to convert a loft into a terraced house and, in most cases, planning permission will not be needed. You will need to obtain the consent of your neighbours with a Party Wall Agreement and creating a staircase that is in line with fire safety building regulations can sometimes be a challenge. But they can add a lot of value, both financially and in terms of quality of life.
