David Knight from roof window retailer Roof Windows 4 You tells us how you can add an extra bedroom to your home to increase its value.
Across the UK, adding extra accommodation to a three-bedroom house could increase its value by around 43%, according to research conducted by Safestore. But, if you’re wanting to take advantage of this extra value, how do you go about it? From loft conversions to summerhouses, I’ll be outlining just some of the ways you can add an extra bedroom to your home.
Break up existing rooms
If you’re lucky enough to have large rooms in your home, you might be open to sacrificing a little space to add an extra bedroom to your existing interior. This is probably your easiest and simplest option if you can do it, because it requires no planning permission and, unlike with a full extension which will require you to build a new room from scratch, your external walls are already there.
Build into your garage
If you aren’t using your garage to its full potential, why not convert it into another bedroom? This option will require some added costs for fireproofing, ventilation, insulation, and structural support. But the good news is that, unless you live in a protected area, these changes can usually be made without seeking planning permission first.
Because this extra bedroom will be more exposed to the street than the rest of your bedrooms, you’ll likely want more privacy. You can achieve this by installing roof windows and skylights, rather than vertical windows. This will let in the natural sunlight, but people passing by won’t be able to see in. However, this is dependent of the layout of your house and will only be an option if there isn’t a room above your garage.
Convert your loft space
If you haven’t already converted your loft, all that extra space isn’t doing as much for you as it could be. So, you could add value to your property by transforming your loft into another bedroom. But, that’s not to say that you can’t still use it for storage, because you could utilise spare wardrobe space and concealed cupboards to rehome all those memories and extras from your loft.
A loft conversion or extension is considered permitted development, which means that going down this route will require no planning permission, unless it extends beyond certain limits or conditions. To be considered permitted development, your extension must:
- Have no more than 40 cubic metres of additional space in a terraced house and 50 cubic metres in a detached or semi-detached house. This allowance includes any extensions made already by you or a previous owner.
- Not extend further than the existing roof slope on the side of your house that faces the road.
- Not extend above the highest part of the existing roof.
- Use similar materials to those already used in your home.
- Not have a veranda, balcony, or raised platform.
- Have obscure glazed side-facing windows that do not open. Any windows that will open should be placed 1.7m above the floor.
- Be set back at least 20cm from the original eaves.
- Not go beyond the outer wall of the original house.
If your planned loft conversion will go against any of these conditions, you will need to seek planning permission before any work is carried out.
Adding roof windows to your loft conversion will let in natural sunlight and provide you with views of your local area. Having a great view and lots of natural light will make your home more attractive to potential buyers.
Add an extension
Adding an extra room to your property by way of an extension can be a little bit trickier, as well as more expensive. You’ll also need to get planning permission if your extension will go beyond certain limits, which are:
- The ground area of the extension is no more than half the total area of the whole property.
- No part of the extension should be higher than the highest part of the existing roof.
- The eaves of the extension should not be higher than the eaves of the original building. They should also be no more than 3m high if part of the extension is within 2m of the boundary of the property.
- The extension should not extend further than any wall that is facing the road.
- The materials used in the extension should be similar to those used in the rest of the house.
- Any upper floor window that’s within 15m of the boundary of another property should be obscure glazed and non-opening. If the window will open, it should be placed at least 1.7m from the floor.
- If it’s a side extension, it should be no more than half the width of the original property and should be no higher than 4m.
- Single storey extensions should be no higher than 4m. It should also not extend beyond the rear of the original property by 3m. For detached houses, up to 4m can be allowed.
- Multi-storey projects should not extend more than 3m beyond the rear of the original house.
- If you live in a protected area, the extension should not be clad with stone, pebbledash, plastic, timber, or tile. It should also be no more than one storey or 4m high, and no part of it should extend further than the front or side of the house.
If you’re unsure whether your extension needs planning permission, your local planning office should be able to give you advice.
Build a guest house
Building a guest house in your garden is a great way to add an extra bedroom without extending your main property. Usually, summerhouses and guest houses don’t need planning permission if they take up less than 30 square metres of space and are less than 2.5 metres tall. But they do need insulation, fireproofing, and ventilation before they can be deemed habitable.
This option also gives you the opportunity to add a small kitchen and bathroom, which can make your home even more attractive to potential buyers.
These are just some of the ways you can add an extra bedroom to your house to help increase its value when it’s time to sell up.
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Daniel Peacock