Hi - I trying to help my nephew with a flat he is keen on in North London. It is on the second floor of a Edwardian villa, the house itself is a semi with two substantial chimney's. The flat in question is in the attic space, with one of the chimney breasts removed. It also has two dormers.
Previously is was bedrooms so was perhaps a bedsit, with the dormers perhaps added in the 60's/70's. In 1986 the hosue was converted via a full planning application to four flats and helpfully there are some building regs instructions on the plans.
Existing joists were 200mm which were doubled for partition walls. Then under the joists they build a 450mm deep suspended ceiling with 25mm sound insulation and 2x 9.5mm plasterboard.
The chimney was supported by 75 x 75 angle brackets.
There is no mention of insulation to the rafters, the flat has an energy rating of only 54. Given that it was pre existing bedrooms it is hard to know what insulation if any is actually there?
Assuming the work was done correctly and it has a completion certificate, what do you people think about the standards of the regs back then?
To me this flat looks like it will be freezing/boiling. The other thing is the dormers, if they need work I am not sure who pays, the flatholder or the building's management company which is run by the four flats?
As for the survey, how do you get to see the joists when it is all vinyl flooring? I am not sure if the angle brackets can be got to either. I would be quite worried about both tbh.
To me there do seem a lot of potential problems but perhaps I am overthinking it? Any advice or thoughts appreciated.
Previously is was bedrooms so was perhaps a bedsit, with the dormers perhaps added in the 60's/70's. In 1986 the hosue was converted via a full planning application to four flats and helpfully there are some building regs instructions on the plans.
Existing joists were 200mm which were doubled for partition walls. Then under the joists they build a 450mm deep suspended ceiling with 25mm sound insulation and 2x 9.5mm plasterboard.
The chimney was supported by 75 x 75 angle brackets.
There is no mention of insulation to the rafters, the flat has an energy rating of only 54. Given that it was pre existing bedrooms it is hard to know what insulation if any is actually there?
Assuming the work was done correctly and it has a completion certificate, what do you people think about the standards of the regs back then?
To me this flat looks like it will be freezing/boiling. The other thing is the dormers, if they need work I am not sure who pays, the flatholder or the building's management company which is run by the four flats?
As for the survey, how do you get to see the joists when it is all vinyl flooring? I am not sure if the angle brackets can be got to either. I would be quite worried about both tbh.
To me there do seem a lot of potential problems but perhaps I am overthinking it? Any advice or thoughts appreciated.
