Hello
I was hoping for some advice/experiences of others, my first ever forum post, info found on here so far has been the best available so I was hoping someone could help.

I am purchasing my first property, offer accepted, survey done leading to a slight re-negotiation on price. The property is a repossession so dealing with a bank (but this has in no way made it a cheaper purchase, and definitely not easier) This is a property for me to live in, but of course do have to consider I will have to sell myself one day.

The previous owner has recently attempted an attic conversion: 2 velux windows, a permanent staircase and insulation of the attic which has been fully plastered, but no correct structural alternations apart from a wooden beam on the lower level eg. not strengthened joists. I have always been aware this would not satisfactory for a habitable space. My surveyor advised me the conversion is not to building regs and I have looked into it myself and none were applied for. Having had advice and a quote from a loft converter (carpenter with regs experience and an architect on team) The cost of full conversion would be £15-20k which is well out of my budget and pushes the cost of the property beyond the ceiling price of the street, I am not reliant on this being habitable space so would just want it for storage but I am concerned about what I could be responsible for if I purchased.

Several books and sites lead me too believe I would need building approval for the stair and velux already in place (could be massively costly as would need to undo some of the work to prove its done right). Whereas my builder said I didn’t that its just effectively “posh storage” so doesn’t need anything approved. As the property is owned by a bank, I cant really get them to do the work prior to exchange and indemnity policies don’t seem to have a positive review.

So I mainly need to know do I need regs for the stair and windows already converted. Surely as the property is structurally altered it would??

Many thanks in advance (firstly for reading all that!) and on any advice available

My understanding is that your builder is right. As long as you don't use it - or try to sell it - as a 'habitable room' and just consider it glorified storage, you don't have responsibility for putting it right or getting regs done for it. That will impact on the price you get for the property when you sell - but presumably it is only being listed to you as 'storage' so you are not paying for it as an additional habitable room, in which case not a problem.

We bought our house 2 years ago - and have a very similar "loft conversion" to the house your trying to buy - except we can only access it from a loft ladder - its plastered walls and has a nice velux window, plug sockets, tv ariel socket and a proper light fitting.

We had the house surveyed when we bought it and the surveyor said boarded out loft room with window to be used for storage purposes only. We didnt come accross any problems with rules and regulations when buying the property because its not classed as a proper room, its just storage!

We view it that we have a 3 bed house, but with the added benefit of a sort of room in the loft, my daughter uses it as a chill out room occasionally and stores all her bits and bobs up there - it suits us.