Maximise the functional space of your home with a loft conversion, conducted by the experts at London Elite Trades, anywhere in London or the Greater London area.
With house prices rising to unprecedented levels in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, a loft conversion or loft extension may present the best value option for more space.
Alternatively, it may be seen as an investment, as the right loft conversion will add significant value to your property. London Elite Trades have over ten years’ experience conducting loft conversions and loft extensions in London and the Greater London area.
As a result, we have witnessed their benefits first-hand, while simultaneously developing our skills to create bespoke loft conversions for a swathe of individual clients.
London Elite Trades offer a range of options when it comes to loft conversions and loft extensions. They include Side Dormers, Gable Ends, Hipped Gable Ends and Velux conversions. Contact us today for more information.
• Loft Conversions
• Loft Extensions
• Mansards
• Dormas
• Structural
• Roofs
• Velux Windows
• Sky Lights
Rear Dormer
• Recommended for semi-detached and terrace properties.
• Generally does not require planning permission.
• Creates additional floor space and head height.
• Cheapest, easiest and most versatile.
Front Dormer
• Generally recommended for detached properties or unique properties.
• Requires planning permission as it changes the uniform of the street.
• Can be finished in tile, slate, plastic, wood or lead.
• Pitched roof finish favoured by the local authorities.
Side Dormer
• Accommodate the legal required head height for the new staircase.
• Majority constructed to the side elevation of a property.
• Not feasible for terrace properties.
• Can accommodate large window units for added light.
Gable End
• Creates full head height and additional floor space.
• Often used to accommodate the new staircase or a second room.
• Can generally be constructed under permitted development regulations.
• Alongside a rear dormer to maximise the space to its fullest potential.
Hipped Gable End
• Same format as the gable end conversions.
• A more sympathetic addition to properties than full gable ends.
• Favoured over full gable ends, where planning permission is required.
• Can be finished in tile, slate, lead, wood or plastic.
Velux
• Cheapest and easiest method of converting unusable loft space.
• Roofline remains unaltered.
• Planning permission not required unless in a conservation area.
• Creates added light and air flow into the loft.
The purpose of building regulations is to ensure that anyone wishing to design, construct or alter a building does so to a set of national standards.
All loft conversions require full plans to be submitted together with a set of appropriate structural calculations, which will be scrutinised by the local authority building control department and the engineers section.
All properties have to comply with a rigorous set of fire regulations when building an additional storey. The construction of a loft conversion must be 0.5-hour fire resistant from the rest of the house, which is why a fire-check lobby at the head, or occasionally at the bottom of the stairs, is mandatory.
With the enforcement of a new building law, passed in April 2007, it is now not necessary to provide a means of escape in the loft through a fire escape for Velux conversions, but to replace or upgrade all existing habitable room doors to fire doors. These will be checked for compliance at the final building inspector visit.
The local authority building surveyor will call several times during the course of the work to ensure that all requirements are adhered to. Following final inspection your Local Authority will issue a completion certificate which we recommend you keep safely, along with any other relevant documentation, in readiness for when or if you sell your property.
Do bear in mind that Building & Fire Regulations provide for a minimum standard of compliance only. London Elite Trades choose to use higher-grade materials at particular stages of our work to ensure that your loft is built and finished to much higher standards than those required merely to meet Building & Fire Regulations.
We incorporate all local authority fees in our initial quote and any communication in relation to the build will be undertaken by our staff, leaving our customers’ to relax in the knowledge their loft conversion is in safe hands.
Local Council’s are governed by a very definitive set of key rules and legislations which affect the construction, conversion type and outcome of your build. Although it may seem like a lot of meaningless red tape it is vital to secure the correct planning permission before work commences- as non-compliance may result in an illegal construction and order of reversal.
London Elite Trades have extensive knowledge in the planning process and are happy to inform and assist our customers throughout. We also incorporate submission of all plans and applications to the Council on your behalf to insure compliance and also to relieve you of any unnecessary confusion and stress.
Official regulations affect the type of conversions available to you, according to the type of house you wish to convert and the area you live in. However, a large proportion of properties do not require planning permission for a loft conversion as the majority of properties have permitted development rights.
Planning permission takes between eight to ten weeks for the Council to reach a final decision and issue approval, required amendments or the disapproval of the application. The process of planning permission includes posting the proposed details of the build in the local paper and on the wall outside the property and/or a lamp post and issuing plans and notification to neighbours or surrounding properties.
In the event planning permission is refused, you have the right of appeal to the Department of Environment, although such appeals can be both costly and time consuming. However, with the knowledge of an experienced architect and design team a refusal and appeal is easily avoided, our architects have many years experience and we do have architects employed by us that have even worked within the planning department of the local Council.
Permitted development is issued for all properties except;
• Flats
• Dwellings situated in a conservation area
• Buildings at a junction to two public highways
Detached and semi-detached properties are issued 70 cubic metres development rights and terrace houses 50 cubic metres, which allows the construction of these measurements out of the roofline.
The cubic metre allowance takes into consideration any existing extensions built after 1948 and conservatories and garages within 5 metres of the existing property. These constructions will all contribute to the deduction of the allocated allowance which may in turn result in planning permission to obtain the required conversion.
Permitted development rights allow homeowners to benefit from the widest range of design options.
Most of our conversions fall into 2 different categories. Converting the existing space is called a “Velux” conversion and a conversion where the size of the loft is extended is called a “Dormer” Conversion.
Typically a Velux conversion will take 2-3 weeks to complete and a Dormer conversion would take approximately 4-5 weeks.
As a rough guide, prices start at approx £15,000 for a normal 3 bedroom house, Dormer conversions will start at around £20,000. Final prices will depend on the size and complexity of the conversion.
Yes, this is no problem at all.
Yes you will need planning permission and yes we can help and guide you through the process.
Yes all our conversions come with a 10-year guarantee for both labour and materials used.
Yes it will need to be a minimum of 8ft or 2.4m.
Yes our plumbers will move your tank or install a new one if required.
The existing hatch will be blocked off and then plastered over.
We will our best to keep you updated with the development as it progresses. Ultimately everything we do can be modified or changed to suit your requirements, however if this is something significant and differs from the original agreement, then we may need to charge extra for this work. However, many times in the past we have modified the work without charge, which is part of the reason we have many referrals.
Most of our conversions are carried out in London and the surrounding counties. We cover everywhere from Sussex and as far north as Hertfordshire.
You can either contact us by telephone or drop us an email and we will arrange a convenient time to call round and discuss your options and offer free advice.
Most attic conversions do not require planning permission unless –
• You live in a conservation area or your house is a listed building;
• You want to put in dormer windows facing the road or if the position of a dormer window would invade your neighbour’s privacy;
• Any part of the conversion (including a dormer window) will be higher than the existing roof;
Your house has already been extended to the limit of its permitted development (15% of its original size). You may still be able to add a loft conversion even if you have had some extension work done.
Normally this will take approx 8 weeks – but this does depend on your local council’s workload.
