Garage conversion plans in Hertfordshire

What do garage conversion plans cover?

Garage conversion plans show how a single or double garage becomes part of the home. The drawings usually include the existing and proposed layouts, the changes to the front, such as replacing the up-and-over door with a wall and window, and the construction details that make the space warm, dry and safe to live in.

Typical uses are a bedroom, home office, playroom, utility room or a larger kitchen, and the use shapes the drawings.

Do I need planning permission to convert a garage?

Often not, when the garage is part of the house or sits within its grounds, the conversion stays ancillary to the home, and the outside barely changes. But there are catches worth checking:

• the original planning permission for the house may include a condition keeping the garage for parking
• the council may expect parking to be kept on the drive
• changes to the front elevation might need permission, depending on the house
• using a detached garage as a separate home, or as a let annexe, is a different matter and needs planning permission

Your local council's planning department decides. If you want written confirmation, you can apply for a lawful development certificate. The Planning Portal's garage conversion guide covers the general position.

What do Building Regulations require?

Turning a garage into living space needs Building Regulations approval, because it creates a room people live in. The areas building control looks at include:

• a floor that is damp-proofed and insulated, since garage slabs are often lower than the house
• walls that are insulated and, where the old door opening is filled in, a cavity or damp-proof course that matches the rest of the house
• ventilation and heating suited to a habitable room
• fire safety, especially where the garage is integral to the house and the new room opens off the hallway
• electrics that meet current rules, and windows that give daylight and, for a bedroom, a way out

With the council you apply through full plans or a building notice. A registered building control approver can be used instead, working from an initial notice. The gov.uk guide on how to apply for approval explains each route.

What happens at the front of the house?

The front is what the street sees. Many owners fill the old door opening with brickwork and a window that matches the house, and some keep a recess so the new wall does not look flat. Brick colour, window style and whether the council cares about the change are details to settle on the drawings.

What about the floor level?

Garage floors are frequently a step lower than the rest of the house and sometimes slope towards the door. The drawings need to show how the level is built up, what insulation goes under the screed and how the step at the connection is dealt with, so it is worth getting this detail right at the design stage.

Is there a party wall issue?

Possibly. If your garage is attached to the next-door house or built on the boundary, new foundations, a damp-proof layer or work to the shared wall can fall under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. A notice has to be served well before the work starts, and your neighbour can agree to it or have surveyors settle the terms.

Will converting the garage affect the house sale?

It can affect how buyers see the house. Some buyers value a garage for parking and storage, and others prefer extra living space. If you convert it, hold on to the completion certificate and any planning paperwork, because a solicitor will ask to see them.

Is a lease or covenant likely to get in the way?

On some estates, the deeds, a lease or a covenant stops you altering the house or converting the garage, whatever the planning position. It is worth reading your title documents, or asking a solicitor, before paying for drawings.

What should I include in my enquiry?

• your postcode and whether the garage is attached, integral or detached
• what you want to use the space for
• whether you have a drive or other parking
• whether the house is listed or in a conservation area
• any planning history that you know of

How does the enquiry get passed on?

With your consent, we pass it to one architectural designer who covers your postcode, and to nobody else. If nobody covers your area, we let you know and keep your details to ourselves.