Apartment Attic Conversion

Optimatic

Hi all,

I just have a question to throw out, maybe someone can shed light on this for me. We are currently purchasing an apartment and when we were signing the contracts, we found out that the attic space (a good 400sq ft) above the apartment will be owned by ourselves, as in, we will own apartment 101 with 101A (Attic space) thrown in, it is actually in the deeds we viewed. We had no idea of this, nor did the estate agent, as the owner had passed away and left the property to their children living abroad in Australia whom have no intention to return to Ireland and view the property.
Our Question is, with the attic being a trussed design and having no windows, what would the likelihood of the management company allowing us to convert the space that we'll soon rightly own, into a livable area with velux windows and all the usuals. We're very close to closing the deal and are expecting to have the keys by end of next week.
The apartment, obviously being a top floor apartment, is a style where it is actually built into the roof already with all the windows inset into the tiling so we wouldn't think it much of a stretch to add similar windows just above.
From what I gather, there may not be actual planning permission from the council required but the management company hold the most sway.
Has anyone converted their apartment attic space successfully or has anyone advise on how we should be approaching the management company with this kind of proposal?

Thanks

BryanF

You need a fire safety cert, planning, and structural advice before you go any further

homer911

Before you go making that initial investment, are there any other properties that have done an attic conversion? Talk to them. Talk to the Managment Co. and get their views - they may agree, but may increase your management charge as a result..

Optimatic

As far as I can tell, none of the other apartments on the top floors have converted as there are no additional windows up on the roof added, there are only 5 other apartments on the top floor. What I was thinking of doing was having an engineer take a proper look at it before I approach the management about the prospect. I assume an engineer's report would dispel any thoughts the management might have that the physical aspect of the project may not be sound for the overall apartment block.
Shouldn't an update of the fire cert not be taken care of after the works are completed?

seamus

As the management company ultimately "own" the structure, they can still refuse to allow the work to go ahead. One ground would be that a conversion to a living space increases the fire risk, and therefore will increase the insurance premium.

What most people do in these cases is get themselves onto the board of directors of the management company and then just do whatever the hell they want. Attendances at AGMs are usually very low and very few people care about what the management company is doing because they don't really understand the whole thing.

I lived in a 640-unit development and typical attendance at AGMs was about 30 people, if even. The five-person board of directors basically just did whatever the hell they liked because nobody gave enough of a **** to do anything about it.

BryanF

Optimatic wrote: »

As far as I can tell, none of the other apartments on the top floors have converted as there are no additional windows up on the roof added, there are only 5 other apartments on the top floor. What I was thinking of doing was having an engineer take a proper look at it before I approach the management about the prospect. I assume an engineer's report would dispel any thoughts the management might have that the physical aspect of the project may not be sound for the overall apartment block.
Shouldn't an update of the fire cert not be taken care of after the works are completed?

No ..

fire cert and planning and structural drawings as a min first before works start

Optimatic

Thanks for the insight Seamus, seems like a covert infiltration operation which could take years though. I may go the direct route first and just ask, apparently the comity heads aren't the worst to deal with. Understandably, if the insurance premiums shoot up because of the works, I can't imagine them saying yes.

To Bryan, thanks for the straight answers, its good to know what order we should approach it. Regarding planning though, are you recommending planning authority/council?