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Home insurance - tips & advice - home improvements
Home extensions come in all shapes and sizes, from extra bedrooms, kitchens and bathrooms to that most straightforward of extensions, the conservatory. But whatever you want to add to your property, there are certain steps to take to ensure it all goes smoothly.
Do I need planning permission?
Not usually, unless any of the following is true:
- It will come to within 2 metres of the property boundary
- It is more than 4 metres high
- It alters or raises the roof of your property
- It exceeds more than half the garden area
- It is a listed building or in a conservation area
- You exceed your development limit (50-70 cubic metres, dependent on local regulations) – this is the amount by which a property may be extended.
Bear in mind that previous extensions will have eaten into this limit.
- The extension projects further than the existing wall of the house, facing a public highway.
Always check with your local council’s Building Control department.
What about Building Regulations?
This depends on your Local Authority and what kind of extension you are building. Local Authorities will often have their own Extension and Alterations to Existing Dwellings regulations. For example, an extension to the side of your house may have to be a certain distance from the neighbours, maintain their privacy and not block out sunlight.
Rear conservatories are often exempt as long as you meet certain criteria, e.g. sited at ground level, the quality of glass, or separation from the rest of the property by a door. Kitchens, however, often need approval.
Like planning permission, Building Regulations will need to be checked with Building Control. If you are using a surveyor, architect or specialist company, they will probably see this process through for you, but you should always keep track of progress.
Measuring up
Before you bring in builders, architects or a company to do the work, it’s worth doing some measuring up yourself to make sure you have enough room for your requirements. Mark out the area for the extension with string and stakes to measure.
Always calculate your internal floor area, which is probably what you’re really interested in – suppliers tend to base quotes on external size, which includes the width of the wall.
Leave the stakes and string up and use this to get quotes from possible suppliers when they visit.
Booking builders…. or doing it yourself
How will you create your extension?
- Do the work yourself.
- Commission builders, surveyors, architects, electricians and so on as you need them.
- Employ a specialist company.
It’s a matter of realistically weighing up your own abilities and budget. If it’s a conservatory you want, there are numerous conservatory building companies who will do a job from beginning to end but may cost you a little more. Whether it’s a specialist company or local builders you are employing, remember:
- Cheapest is not always best – sometimes you get what you pay for
- Get quotes from several companies
- Ask if you can see previous work they have completed
- Get a contract in writing regarding cost and timescale
- Find out if the company uses subcontractors, and if so, who?
If you’re employing builders and so on yourself, ask around for reliable people and be stringent in quality control, cost and time.
Meeting building regulations
One key aspect to consider with extensions is how to stay in keeping with the existing style of your property. An unsightly or highly contrasting extension could put off potential future buyers and, in rare circumstances, breach local regulations (for example, for listed buildings). Consider:
Discuss with contractors how they will match the style. For example, some companies offer a brick matching service. Also, think from the start how you will get water, drainage, electricity or gas (as needed) to the extension and discuss this with contractors.
Inform Insurers
Be sure to keep your insurance company up to date, as the extension will affect the price of your home insurance (along with your house price).
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