Moving house can be a stressful and expensive experience. Aside from the hassle of packing and moving all your belongings, you have to front a variety of legal fees, including stamp duty, conveyancing costs and estate agent fees.
What if there were a better way to get the space you need without having to move?
Extending your home can be a far more affordable and convenient alternative to moving house. Instead of starting afresh in a new area, you can stay in the neighbourhood you love and create a home that is perfectly suited to your needs.
With this in mind, we have put together a short but comprehensive guide to home extensions in the UK. We will share everything you need to know, including types of extensions, permitted development rights, building regulations, dealing with your neighbours and finding the right construction company.
Types of Home Extensions
The first thing to consider before you even think about forming a plan is the type of home extension that you want to build. Make sure you think about your needs, budget and the style of your property before deciding which route to take. Are you looking to add an extra room or extend an existing functional space? How much extra space do you need? What sort of design would blend in naturally with your current home?
There are a few options when it comes to home extensions:
- Rear extension: This is perhaps the most common type of extension that you’ll find in the UK. A rear extension is also fairly straightforward to build. You can construct this type of extension to create a new, functional space in your home, such as a kitchen, dining room or living room.
- Side extension: This type of extension can be a good option if you have limited space at the back of your property.
- Wrap-around extension: Where you create a new L-shaped space by combining a rear extension with a side extension. This type of extension is most commonly used to extend a modest kitchen into a large open-plan kitchen-dining-living area.
- Double-storey extension: A double-storey extension is a great way to add significant space to your home on two levels.
- Loft or basement conversions: Loft and basement conversions are a good option if you have unused space in your attic or cellar.
Permitted Development Rights
Once you’ve decided what type of home extension you want, the next thing to consider is whether you will need planning permission from your local council, or if the extension will come under permitted development rights.
Permitted development rights (PDRs) are part of a government scheme that allows homeowners to make certain changes to their properties without the need to apply for planning permission.
A wide range of home improvement projects can potentially be covered by permitted development rights, including:
- Extensions: Rear extensions (up to 8m deep), side extensions (up to 4m deep) and double-storey extensions (up to 3m deep).
- Loft conversions: Full-height loft conversions and dormer conversions (up to 1.5m high).
- Roof alterations: Minor roof alterations. For example, adding a new chimney or skylight.
- Windows and doors: Most window and door replacements are permitted, as long as the original size and shape of the openings are not changed.
- Outbuildings and garden rooms: Detached outbuildings up to 2.5m high and garden rooms up to 4m high.
Building Regulations
Regardless of whether or not you have to apply for planning permission, you do need to ensure that your home extension complies with all UK building regulations. The regulations that you will need to follow will depend on the specifics of your project. However, generally speaking, all home extensions must meet the following basic requirements:
- Structural safety: The extension must be structurally sound and able to withstand all anticipated loads.
- Fire safety: The extension design must minimise the risk of fire spreading and allow people to escape safely in the event of a fire.
- Energy efficiency: The extension must be energy efficient and meet the minimum standards for insulation and heating.
- Ventilation: The extension must be well-ventilated to prevent condensation and mould growth.
It’s always a good idea to consult with a qualified building surveyor or architect during the extension planning stage. That way, you can be sure that your project meets all standards and legal requirements and avoid any nasty surprises further down the line.
Tips for Dealing with Your Neighbours
Another important aspect to consider is your neighbours. After all, building an extension can be a noisy and lengthy project, so construction is bound to have an impact on the quality of life of your neighbours.
Here are a few tips for dealing with your neighbours when you build a home extension:
- Give your neighbours fair warning. The sooner you let your neighbours know about your plans, the more time they will have to get used to the idea and to ask any questions they may have. The same goes for any planned work that is likely to be noisy or disruptive.
- Be considerate of their needs. Try to minimise the impact of construction on your neighbours as much as possible. For example, you could avoid drilling at certain times of the day and instruct your contractors to keep the area as clean and tidy as possible so that the building site isn’t too much of an eyesore.
- Communicate regularly. Keep your neighbours regularly updated on progress and let them know as soon as possible if your plans change at all.
- Be prepared for objections. Your neighbours might object to your extension on the grounds of noise, disruption or loss of privacy. If this happens, try to address their concerns and to negotiate a solution that is acceptable to everyone.
Finding the Right Construction Company
Last, but by no means least, it’s essential that you pick the right team to build your new home extension. After all, the construction company you hire will be responsible for the quality of your new build and for ensuring that the extension is completed on time and within budget, so you need to make sure you select a company that is experienced, reputable, trustworthy and reliable.
Here are a few tips to help you find the right construction company:
- Get recommendations from family and friends. Word-of-mouth is one of the best ways to find a reputable construction company. Ask around to see if anyone you know has recently built a home extension and whether or not they would recommend the team they used.
- Check online reviews. There’s a myriad of websites that you can use to consult construction company reviews and ratings. These sites can be a great way to get an objective idea of the quality of a company's work.
- Look for companies that are accredited by trade associations. Trade associations, such as the Federation of Master Builders, vet their members to ensure that they meet certain standards.
- Get quotes from multiple companies. Once you have shortlisted a few companies, get quotes from each one. Make sure you compare the quotes carefully and don't just focus on price - also consider the company's experience and reputation.
- Check that the construction company you choose is insured and that they have the necessary licenses and experience.
- Meet with the companies in person. Finally, once you have reviewed your quotes, meet with each company in person. This will give you a chance to ask questions about their experience and find out whether they understand your goals and can make your home extension plans a reality.