Bedroom Loft Conversion Borehamwood

Creating an extra bedroom is by far the most common reason for considering a loft conversion, particularly in areas where house prices are already high and the cost of moving to a bigger home is prohibitive, such as the London suburbs and adjacent towns including Borehamwood, Watford, Radlett and so on.

Loft Conversion Barnet, North London

There is a huge variety of housing, old and new in Borehamwood, from Victorian and Edwardian terraces, 1930’s semis and a steady wave of newer styles from the 50’s to the present day as the town has steadily grown, despite lying within the green belt.

While significantly cheaper than other north London suburbs, such as Edgware and Barnet, house prices in Borehamwood are considerably higher than elsewhere in the UK, and as much as double or even triple the current national average of just over £200,000.

At the time of writing, an average sized 3 bedroom house can be bought for anything between £395,000 for a mid-terrace to well over £600,000 for a detached property.

So when a homeowner decides they need extra space – whether for a home office, hobby room or additional bedroom – it makes good sense to explore the idea of a loft conversion as a cost-effective alternative to moving house. In fact, the savings in stamp duty (£10,000 for a £400,000 house – which is at the modest end of house prices in Borehamwood) and estate agents commission (another £4,000) can make a significant contribution towards paying for a conversion.

The Appeal of Borehamwood

Although it is technically within the county of Hertfordshire, Borehamwood lies just inside the M25 and has the feel of a London suburb in many ways, due to its proximity to the capital. However it also retains its identity as a separate town, complete with High Street, cinema, theatre, Hertfordshire postcode and its own Football Club. In addition there is a shopping centre boasting some prestigious national brands.

The area has great appeal for central London commuters who can reach the capital in around 30 minutes from Elstree & Borehamwood station via what is now the Thameslink railway – although there has been a station on the site since 1868. In addition, the town is just a short distance from the M25, the M1 and the A1, making road access into London or further north very easy.

All these factors mean that the town is not just a temporary residence for commuters, but is a place where people want to stay for the long term and into retirement. While this sends a positive message about the town, it does mean that the turnover in housing is somewhat slower than in other areas, which contributes to a shortage of affordable properties for younger families. In particular, many growing families find that they do not really have the option of buying a bigger house, but nevertheless have an urgent need to accommodate new family members or perhaps provide a home for elderly relatives.

Types of Loft Conversion in Borehamwood

While a bedroom loft conversion has as its primary purpose to create extra sleeping space, there is often scope to achieve a lot more. For instance, simply including a small ensuite WC or shower room can create either a new master bedroom (especially if there is currently no ensuite facility within the main house) or a semi-separate space for guests and older children.

Add in a kitchen facility with water, power and appliances, and you can potentially create a self-contained annexe, suitable for grownup children, grandparents or perhaps a nanny, au pair or live-in carer. Of course, if your attic conversion is likely to be used as living space, rather than simply a bedroom, then the design needs to take this into account. In particular, issues such as headroom, the amount of natural light and provision of essential services such as TV and phone points, all need to be considered.

These issues in turn affect the type of loft conversion that is most appropriate. For instance, a straightforward bedroom conversion, with no additional facilities can typically leave the existing roofline intact, and involve the installation of one or more Velux windows. As well as being a cheaper alternative, this type of conversion also (typically) does not require planning permission, which can mean a quicker result.

If you want to improve headroom within the new space, you may need to consider a dormer conversion or even a full Mansard conversion. Both of these involve extending beyond the existing sloping roofline and the inclusion of full size vertical windows which can also improve natural light levels.

How Modern Attics Can Help

While having a choice is a good thing, it can be daunting trying to fully understand the options and their implications in terms of costs, timescales and so on.

That’s why Modern Attics offer a free survey to assess your home’s suitability for an attic extension and tell you about the options that apply to your particular property, based on your needs and preferences.

In addition, we can advise you on any legal issues that may need to be addressed – such as obtaining party wall consent if your property is a terrace or semi-detached, applying for planning permission etc.

As a local company, based in Finchley, we are fully familiar with the planning authorities in the north London area and we include all necessary legal and admin issues as part of any project that we undertake, from submitting a planning application to arranging a skip licence.

Bedroom Loft Conversion Borehamwood – To arrange a free loft survey please complete our Enquiry Form, or call us on 020 7254 5222.