The legislation that govern loft conversions  can be divided into two broad areas:

• Building Regulations – relates to all building work to the house’s interior
• Planning Permission – relates to all building work on the house’s exterior

More information relating to loft conversions visit the Government Planning Website by clicking on the links below:

• Planning Portal – Loft Conversion
• Planning Portal – House Guide

Map of the London Boroughs

Westminster City Council          2
Kensington and Chelsea London Borough Council        3
Hammersmith and Fulham London Borough Council         4
Wandsworth London Borough Council          5
Lambeth London Borough Council          6
Southwark London Borough Council          7
Tower Hamlets London Borough Council          8
Hackney London Borough Council          9
Islington London Borough Council         10
Camden London Borough Council          11
Brent London Borough Council          12
Ealing London Borough Council          13
Hounslow London Borough Council          14
Richmond upon Thames London Borough Council          15
Royal Kingston upon Thames London Borough Council         16
Merton London Borough Council               17
Sutton London Borough Council               18
Croydon London Borough Council         19
Bromley London Borough Council          20
Lewisham London Borough Council          21
Royal Greenwich London Borough Council          22
Bexley London Borough Council          23
Havering London Borough Council          24
Barking and Dagenham London Borough Council          25
Redbridge London Borough Council          26
Newham London Borough Council          27
Waltham Forest London Borough Council          28
Haringey London Borough Council          29
Enfield London Borough Council        30
Barnet London Borough Council        31
Harrow London Borough Council          32
Hillingdon London Borough Council   33

Building Regulations – Party Wall

Any work on walls that you have in common with your neighbours, when converting a loft in a semi-detached or terrace house, needs to conform to the regulations in the ‘The Party Wall etc Act 1996′.

The Act requires ‘builder owners’ to inform their neighbours of any works being done on a party wall. The Party Wall Act assumes that most neighbours will agree to the works, and in fact neighbours cannot stop you carrying out the loft conversion, but can influence how and when the work is carried out.

If your neighbour disputes the work you intend to carry out, and so refuses to fill out the counterpart on a Party Structure Notice, then they will need to hire a surveyor who will ensure that any work on the wall is of a suitable standard and act as an independent arbitrator serving the best interests of both yourself and your neighbour. The surveyor will put together a schedule of conditions that need to be maintained on both sides of the wall and return when the job is complete to ensure that these have been met.

It is common for your neighbours to have no issue with the renovations you intend if you explain the proposed job to them clearly and with plenty of notice so we recommend approaching your neighbours in an informal manner as early as possible in the process.

• Planning Portal – The Party Wall etc. Act 1996

Loft Windows

Flush Fitting Loft Windows

Velux windows and similar flush fitting windows for roofs may be allowed without planning permission as they do not materially alter the roof outline

Dormer Loft Windows

Altering the outline of your roof by building a dormer window opening or similar roof alteration to increase the usable loft living space will require planning consent from the local authority and compliance with any additional local bye-laws and caveats