As it becomes increasingly expensive to move, people are opting to improve their homes rather than selling up and upsizing. A loft conversion adds space to your home without sacrificing your garden like with an extension. As well as giving you more room, a loft conversion can add 10-20% to your home’s value, so if you think you might sell up in the future a loft conversion is a great way to increase your living space and increase your chances of selling further down the line.

Weigh up the costs

Loft conversions can range in price from £10,000 to £40,000, depending on the materials your builder uses, your location and the size of the conversion. You should check that your loft conversion will add enough value to your property in relation to the costs. For example, if your home is worth £300,000, the value could balance out with the cost of the loft conversion adding £30,000, but if your home is worth £500,000 you could increase the value to £550,000 and make a profit of at least £20,000.

You can only add value if the loft is suitable

You won’t add value to your home if your loft has had to be modified so much that it is an eyesore from the inside and out. Planning departments don’t like to allow the alteration of the external height of a home, so it’s not worth thinking about having a loft conversion if you are going to have to apply to do this.

Think about storage space

Most people who don’t have converted lofts use theirs for storage. If you don’t think you have enough space to house all of your belongings from the loft after you’ve converted it, there isn’t much point in having the work done. You’ll just spend money without adding much value to your property, as potential buyers like to see that there is enough storage space.

As long as your loft is right for a conversion, you won’t need planning permission unless you’re changing the way the house looks from the outside, you have side-facing windows, you’re in a conservation area or you’re exceeding 50 cubic metres. But rules can often change, so make sure you check the planning portal before you start your loft conversion.