Can a loft conversion be classed as a bedroom?

Loft Conversion Regulations

Whether you’re planning to turn your loft into a bedroom or another type of room, there are some basic building regulations that the conversion will need to comply with before it can be classed as an additional room in your home. Most of these relate to the safety and stability of the loft itself and include factors such as the structural integrity of the ceiling and loft floor, any changes that are made to the outside of your home as a result, the insulation that is required in the walls and floor, adding a suitable fire escape route, and making sure that suitable stairway access is installed. 

Bedroom Loft Conversion Regulations

Once you have ensured that your loft conversion follows the various necessary regulations, there are some extra bedroom regulations for a loft conversion that must be followed in order to class the completed space as a new bedroom in your home. These include:

Headroom – you will need to make sure that there is enough room for somebody to get in and out of a bed in the room without hitting their head on the ceiling, which could include making alterations to the overall height of the room or the roof pitch. You should also ensure that there is a minimum headroom space of two metres along the fire escape route. 

Insulation – there should be at least 50mm of insulation along the roof along with sufficient insulation for the floors and walls, which will need to be taken into consideration when making headroom calculations. 

Fire safety – the type of loft conversion that you decide to get will have an impact on the fire safety requirements that you will need to follow. It is a good idea to get in touch with a local building control specialist or your local council to find out exactly what your loft conversion will need to comply with. Taller buildings tend to have stricter fire safety requirements. You will also need to add a fire safety door that opens fully and allows easy access in and out of the loft bedroom. 

Loft staircase – unlike when using the loft room for storage, when it’s being converted into a bedroom, you will also need to consider adding a proper staircase to access the loft. Typical loft ladders are not suitable for use with a bedroom loft conversion. 

Does a Loft Bedroom Add Value?

A loft conversion bedroom in your home that is compliant with all the necessary building regulations can certainly add a lot of value to your home. And, as long as your loft conversion is in line with the specific guidelines for bedrooms, then you will be able to upgrade your house to a property with more bedrooms and include this in the sale listing, which can attract more buyers and increase your asking price. 

In order for your loft conversion to be classed as an additional bedroom in your home, you will need to meet certain regulations.