Do Loft Conversions Live Up To The Hype?

Moving to a new home just to gain an additional room is something that many people do but a well designed and constructed loft conversion can be a really good alternative. 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}.


But you really need another room so what can you do? A loft conversion is a very good idea as it will meet your requirements for that other room and it will add value to your precious home. A leading high street building society – the Alliance and Leicester – discovered that a well planned and built loft conversion can see the value of your property soar by as much as £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. 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 don’t just jump at the lowest quote as a low quality conversion could actually lower your home’s value rather than raise it. Estate agents view conversions with temporary staircases as adding very little value so ensure that you use a quality company who will advise on permanent staircases. Think about the future and the jump in value you will see when it is time to sell and pay for the highest quality loft conversion that you can get now.


Loft conversions have lots of advantages over traditional extensions so what are they? Well there are many. Most houses, regardless of style, 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. Your electricity bill should be reduced also. 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. Overall it should prove to be a sound 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.