Loft Conversions – Is There A Better Way?

Many people are realizing that building a professional loft conversion is a lot better than moving home if all you need is one extra room. At this time, house prices are on the decline in big cities like London, so moving house at the moment can be very risky just to get that additional room and you could lose out heavily. (With the additional costs of stamp duty, increased mortgages, conveyencing fees and paying removal companies it can really be expensive|Not forgetting all of the usual moving costs such as a bigger mortgage, stamp duty, normal removal expenses and solicitors fees it can really mount up|Then there are the costs which are always associated with moving home such as removals, the cost of hiring a solicitor, higher mortgage payments and stamp duty}.


So if you need that extra room what do you do? Think about a loft conversion as it will likely increase your house’s value as well as providing the extra room. A leading UK building society (the Alliance and Leicester) conducted a survey recently and discovered that a quality loft conversion can increase your home’s value by up to £40,000.There is also no need to move home with all the upheaval and extra costs associated with moving.


In 2008, the planning laws were changed and this resulted in a huge increase in the number of loft conversions. The laws have been relaxed and now most loft conversions can be carried out under “permitted development” which means that formal planning permission is not required. Building regulations are a separate issue and still very necessary to comply with as the loft conversion will be a room for people to live in.


When considering a loft conversion price will obviously be a factor. It is not wise just to accept the lowest estimate because if the conversion is planned and constructed poorly then the value of your house could actually fall. Temporary staircases are not recommended and estate agents will tell you this really doesn’t add much value. It is well worth paying more now for a totally professional job as you will reap the rewards of significantly increased value in the future.


What kind of advantages does a loft conversion offer over a normal house extension project? There are lots of advantages. Whatever kind of house that you own it is very likely that it will be suitable for a loft conversion. The cost of a loft conversion is also likely to be a lot less than a home extension would be and there is no need to lose valuable outdoor space as well. A lengthy planning permission process will be required for extensions but loft conversions should avoid the need for this with the recent changes in the law. Time required to plan and build a quality loft conversion should be significantly less than that required to plan and build an extension which is a major advantage when you consider that you won’t have parties of construction workers cluttering up your home for what seems like a lifetime .


It is even possible to reduce the world’s carbon footprint by installing solar panels in your loft conversion to aide in the generation of electricity and hot water. This will also reduce your electricity bill. Incentives are available from the government for householders who install solar panels for the generation of electricity and water incentives are on the way.


The final price that you can expect to pay for your loft conversion depends on the structural requirements for the flooring, the size and shape of your loft, whether or not water tanks need to be moved and a whole host of other factors. Regardless of the price a loft conversion should always be worth considering.



There are many advantages to choosing a loft conversion if a quality solution is sought. To find out more about quality loft conversions visit this link loft conversions London.