Do Loft Conversions Live Up To The Hype?

Quality loft conversions can be a really good alternative to moving house if you are looking for an 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}.


What do you do if you really need that additional living space? Well a loft conversion is well worth considering as it will give you that additional living space and increase the value of your property at the same time. In a recent survey conducted by the Alliance and Leicester building society it was revealed that a professional loft conversion can add as much as £40,000 to the value of your house. You also have the benefit of not moving house and all of the costs that come with that.


A recent 2008 relaxation of the planning laws has lead to many people undertaking 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. This should not be confused with building regulations as these still need to be adhered to as the conversion will be used for additional living space.


Prices will vary from different contractors when estimating your loft conversion. But you need to be careful here as an inferior conversion will not add value to your home and may even decrease it. Temporary staircases are not recommended and estate agents will tell you this really doesn’t add much value. Paying for a professionally designed and constructed job may seem painful now but it will pay back in spades when you come to sell your property.


What are the advantages of a loft conversion over a traditional home extension? There are lots of advantages. Most houses, regardless of style, will be suitable for a loft conversion. A loft conversion should be much less expensive than a traditional extension plus you won’t have to give up any of your nice garden space. Local government planning permission will almost certainly be required for an extension whereas a loft conversion shouldn’t under permitted development. The design, planning and construction time for a loft conversion should be considerably less than a traditional home extension would take .


You can go a step further with your loft conversion and help the environment by installing solar panels to generate electricity, heat your water or both. This will also decrease your fuel bills too. The government are offering incentives to people who use solar electricity and a scheme for solar water will be available soon.


The cost of your loft conversion will depend on a number of factors such as the size of your loft, structural requirements, whether existing water tanks need to be moved or replaced, floor structure requirements and so on. Whatever the final price it should always be a good investment.



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.