loft conversion yes or no Re-generate an old or tired space and give it a fresh breath of life. Click here for answers, information and tips

[armytouch]

Hi, i am writing on behalf of my sister who has just boarded out her loft, plasterboarded her rafters inside loft space with hold in insulation and placed a velux window in roof.
The council have been round and told her that she needs to remove the plasterboarding from the rafters because she didnt ask for planning permission to convert her loft.
The stairs leading to the loft are normal pull down ladders not stairs, its a flat window not a dorma window,its not used as a room its used for storage.
Can anyone please clarify why shes been told to remove the plasterboarding?
As far as i was aware you dont require planning permission unless you fully convert the loft space to live in, staircase or change the shape of the roofline.
thanks for your views

[eljaybee]

It won't be due to planning permission it will be due to building regulations.

The reason why they ask for the plasterboard to be removed is that once boarded and plasterboarded then the area can easily be used as a room as it is a clean warm space. Most people think that the it's only when creating a bedroom that you need permission, but it isn't. The space you described can easily be used as a room but would not be safe to do so. Believe me I have seen it done. A family did the same as you described then had another child so decided to decorate the roof area and put one of their children in there - with the retractable loft ladder!!!! The ladder would be raised at night and the loft hatch replaced - for safety so that the child didn't fall!!! but can you imagine if there was a fire!!!!!

Now I'm not saying that your sister would do this but the council cannot be sure and also have to think about what if the property was sold???? Thus they say remove the plasterboard thus the area is not a clean room like area.

[TheDoctor5]

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