Before you get to work on your Bristol loft conversion, there is one extra item you may need to budget for. If your home adjoins another, as a semi or a terrace, you have a party wall. What this means is that you will need to have permission from your neighbours to go ahead with your loft conversion. A verbal agreement is not enough, and even if you have a fantastic relationship with the people next door, you need to do things legally.
Before you get started on your Bristol loft conversion you will need to present your plans to neighbours. They will then have the option to oppose your plans if they want. But, a party wall agreement is the only thing you can get that can stop things from going wrong. A party wall agreement costs money, and can actually add heavily to the overall cost of your new attic room.
Budgeting for your Bristol Loft Conversion
When budgeting for any work you are having done on your home, it is a good idea to add at least 15 percent on top of what you think. This amount of cash will cover your party wall agreement and other unexpected expenses such as insurance you will be forced to take out as you have a party wall. Many homeowners are being railroaded into parting with considerable sums of money, and all because they have an adjoining wall.
Asides the actual money that you will need to pay for an actual agreement, there will be other hidden expenses. These can include a surveyor coming to your neighbours home and taking pictures. This is a bill that you will pay, because you are the one who wishes to extend their loft.
When planning a loft conversion, it is important to use a reliable firm like those we can source for you here at BBN. We can help you with all aspects of your loft conversion. But starting out on the right foot with your neighbours is very important. If the people living next door don’t want you to extend your attic, they will make sure the whole process becomes complex and expensive for you.
Party Wall Act : Conclusion
A party wall act is little more than an insurance policy, and a rip-off one at that. If you fail to adhere to the law, your loft conversion could be stopped. If you don’t have adequate insurance and something goes wrong, then you will be left with no loft room and severely out of pocket too.
When planning for your Bristol loft conversion, also remember to budget for electrical work, fire doors, decorating, carpeting, and furnishing. Adding a room to your home in the loft can prevent you from having to move home. But unfortunately when there is an adjoining wall to the house or houses next door, things can get complex. If you live in a mid-terrace, then you will have not just one set of neighbours to contend with, but two!
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