Move Or Get A Loft Conversion?

Quality loft conversions can be a really good alternative to moving house if you are looking for an extra room. London and the south east house prices are very fickle often declining, 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? 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. 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.This also means of course that you don’t have to move house and you can save a considerable amount.


A recent 2008 relaxation of the planning laws has lead to many people undertaking loft conversions. What it means is that the majority of loft conversions don’t require formal planning permission but instead can be constructed under a term called “permitted development”. 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. But don’t just jump at the lowest quote as a low quality conversion could actually lower your home’s value rather than raise it. Don’t accept any proposal with a temporary staircase as this will add little value in the eyes of your local estate agent. 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.


Loft conversions have lots of advantages over traditional extensions so what are they? The advantages are numerous. A loft conversion will be fine for the majority of house types and styles. 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. Local government planning permission will almost certainly be required for an extension whereas a loft conversion shouldn’t under permitted development. Another major advantage is that loft conversions often take less time to plan and build which means that you are not sharing your home with local builders for weeks on end .


With an installation of solar panels you will be helping the environment by using the panels to generate electricity and hot water too. 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. 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.