Rented Apartment and Non Regs complient attic bedroom.

peter_dublin

Hi.

I plan to rent my apartment in approx five years as the OH and I are planning on buying a house at that stage, this year I will be getting the attic converted and will meet all regs except two.

1. Spiral Staircase but a standard one if possible.
2. Total percentage of % Head Height

Now this will be our master bedroom for approx the next 5 years min and it will be approx 40sqm with ensuite and walk in wardrobes etc so planning on doing a proper job of it.

But when it comes to renting the unit can anyone advise how it should be handled, my gut tells me that it should just be locked up as if it doesn't exist. I also fear if I rent it as a storage room then it will be quickly sublet or used as a bedroom once again which worries me for insurance issues.

Has anyone come across this situation and how was it handled.

Thanks
Peter

D3PO

are you sure you can convert the attic ? Normally modifications like this are prohibited from being done in your lease with the Management Company.

Id be surprised if doing this is allowable. and I'd be doubly surprised if there aren't insurance issues as a result.

peter_dublin

D3PO wrote: »

are you sure you can convert the attic ? Normally modifications like this are prohibited from being done in your lease with the Management Company.

Id be surprised if doing this is allowable. and I'd be doubly surprised if there aren't insurance issues as a result.

Hi.

Yes that side is fully agreed upon and completed legally without issue, we have exclusive usage of the attic etc.

D3PO

peter_dublin wrote: »

Hi.

Yes that side is fully agreed upon and completed legally without issue, we have exclusive usage of the attic etc.

well in that case. If renting it you cannot advertise this space as a bedroom as it doesn't meet regs.

Im my mind your best locking it up because you wont get rental value out of it as it will seem overpriced if you charge a higher rent for it as people seeing the rental ad wont realize it has this space.

of course after the fact or during viewings if somebody suggested an interest in using it I guess you could negotiate something but you would need to tell them use of this space could only be for storage as its not a legal bedroom

Not sure what the insurance situation would be, I think you would need to discuss that with them.

peter_dublin

D3PO wrote: »

well in that case. If renting it you cannot advertise this space as a bedroom as it doesn't meet regs.

Im my mind your best locking it up because you wont get rental value out of it as it will seem overpriced if you charge a higher rent for it as people seeing the rental ad wont realize it has this space.

of course after the fact or during viewings if somebody suggested an interest in using it I guess you could negotiate something but you would need to tell them use of this space could only be for storage as its not a legal bedroom

Not sure what the insurance situation would be, I think you would need to discuss that with them.

Thanks for the reply, that indeed seems to be crux of it, even if they use it, you can't rent it as anything other than storage and if they get into it the insurance side becomes dodgy especially if they put a bed up there.

athtrasna

peter_dublin wrote: »

Hi.

Yes that side is fully agreed upon and completed legally without issue, we have exclusive usage of the attic etc.

Exclusive use is one thing but what about putting in a skylight? This involves work on Management Company property ie the roof? I know our MC would never grant permission for that - are you sure it's sorted?

D3PO

athtrasna wrote: »

Exclusive use is one thing but what about putting in a skylight? This involves work on Management Company property ie the roof? I know our MC would never grant permission for that - are you sure it's sorted?

as would the extractor for the en suite. I found it strange that it was sorted but I will take the OP at their word.

Paulw

athtrasna wrote: »

Exclusive use is one thing but what about putting in a skylight? This involves work on Management Company property ie the roof? I know our MC would never grant permission for that - are you sure it's sorted?

Never mind the impact it would have for insurance, and should there be any issues, then the insurance company can refuse to pay out, which would also impact on the mortgage of the property.

valleyoftheunos

Also by not complying with the building regs the OP may encounter difficulty when he does come to sell the property in the future.

peter_dublin

D3PO wrote: »

as would the extractor for the en suite. I found it strange that it was sorted but I will take the OP at their word.

Sky Lights, Vents, all exterior details is fully agreed, it is actually not that unusual a process.

djimi

peter_dublin wrote: »

Sky Lights, Vents, all exterior details is fully agreed, it is actually not that unusual a process.

Its highly unusual for a leaseholder to be granted permission to make those kind of changes to the exterior of an apartment building.

peter_dublin

djimi wrote: »

Its highly unusual for a leaseholder to be granted permission to make those kind of changes to the exterior of an apartment building.

Third time saying this, I have permission, from the management company in wiriting, unusual perhaps but not the question that was asked. My primary concern is how it should be handled when entered on the rental market.

Kosseegan

peter_dublin wrote: »

Third time saying this, I have permission, from the management company in wiriting, unusual perhaps but not the question that was asked. My primary concern is how it should be handled when entered on the rental market.

Leave it as it is. tenants do not enquire about planning permissions. Once it meets the standards for rented houses which is silent as regards planning permission there should be no problem.

djimi

peter_dublin wrote: »

Third time saying this, I have permission, from the management company in wiriting, unusual perhaps but not the question that was asked. My primary concern is how it should be handled when entered on the rental market.

Im not saying you dont have permission; Im simply disagreeing with your statement that getting that sort of permission is not unusual.

If you are worried about the consequences when renting the property out then perhaps writing it into the lease as a special condition that the room must be used for nothing more than storage and cannot be used as a bedroom might suffice? If upon inspection of the property you find that the tenant is in breach of this clause then you could seek to take further action.

Or maybe just strip it down so the tenant would not want to use it as a bedroom? I could probably make another room out of the attic in my rented apartment, but the walls are bare and the floors are bare wooden boards, so I simply wouldnt bother going to the effort of making it habitable.

peter_dublin

Kosseegan wrote: »

Leave it as it is. tenants do not enquire about planning permissions. Once it meets the standards for rented houses which is silent as regards planning permission there should be no problem.

Thanks Kosseegan, that is it really, Looking over daft I see a lot of units / rooms for rent where I really doubt they are compliant with the planning requirements, my primary concerns are those which others here seems to be unsure of, which is the insurance situation and the liability.

Thanks
Peter

Kosseegan

peter_dublin wrote: »

Thanks Kosseegan, that is it really, Looking over daft I see a lot of units / rooms for rent where I really doubt they are compliant with the planning requirements, my primary concerns are those which others here seems to be unsure of, which is the insurance situation and the liability.

Thanks
Peter

Make sure to have a proper landlord insurance policy. There will be building insurance on the building arranged by the block insurer. You will need to arrange your own contents and liability policy.