Minimum Stairway Width in c.1920s small terraced house

C3PO

I’ve just gone Sale Agreed on a tiny end of terrace house in a town in the South East. The house was originally built in circa 1920. The staircase, which I think is fairly recent, is only 650mm wide. From what I can see in the Technical Document Part K the minimum required width for stairs is 800mm? I’m not worried about this myself as I live alone and I’m not borrowing money but I would be concerned that I may have a problem if I try to sell the house in the future and I know my solicitor will likely look for a “Certificate of Compliance” from the vendor. Is this likely to be forthcoming?

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058306066/minimum-stairway-width-in-c-1920s-small-terraced-house

The house was built when building regs did not exist.

Repairs to the existing width of the stairs are allowed. I would not expect to see a TGDK stairs in a house of that vintage.

C3PO

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120888589#Comment_120888589

Thanks Gumbo - would the fact that the house has had a significant recent renovation affect this? At what stage does the requirement to match latest regs kick in?

Peregrinus

In general, building regulations apply to new buildings and to extensions and material alterations to existing buildings. So in your 1920s house, if you were putting in a new flight to stairs to the attic, the new flight would have to be compliant. Or, if you were doing renovation which involved relocating or reconstructing the existing staircase, you would have to make it compliant. But simply leaving it untouched, as it was constructed, is fine, even if you are doing other work in the house. So if you put on an extension, the extension must be compliant. But if the work doesn't involve touching the existing staircase, then the existing staircase remains fine as it is.

(This might be different if the building underwent a change of use - no longer a private home but offices, say, or a boarding house. But that's not the csae here.)

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120889520#Comment_120889520

I would tend to agree with the above.

No new or greater contravention of the existing stairs.

If you built a new stairs in a new location, that would have to be compliant IMO.

C3PO

Thanks Gents

Mellor

If they didn't upgrade the stairs when it was replaced it was likely as it structural ope issue and like for like was compliant.