If you need more space but do not want to extend outward on to your garden, there is a lot to be said for making better use of your loft or basement.

The benefits of converting a loft or basement

Due to uncertainty over house prices and the high hidden costs of moving, such as solicitors fees, estate agents fees etc., loft conversions and basement conversions are becoming increasingly popular. Many people choose to have a loft conversion or basement conversion because they want more space but like the house or area they are already in and, although they want more space they do not want to move.

The space in a loft or attic can be as much as 30% of the total floor area of the home. It usually only contains a cold water storage cistern and chimney stack. In almost all cases it is wasted space that can be turned into habitable space. If the attic is used for storage there is no need to lose all of this storage space as some attic space can be retained.

As the main fabric of the building is already there, a loft conversion or cellar conversion is often cheaper than extending your home outwards and could increase the value of your home by 10% to 20%. Read How Much Do Loft & Basement Conversions Cost? to get a better idea of the expense involved.

Another potential benefit is that you often do not need planning permission for a loft conversion or basement conversion.

Basement Conversions

A basement conversion is more straightforward if there is an existing cellar, but this is not always necessary and an extra room can often be built even when there is no existing basement.