Loft conversions: Your responsibilities for health and safety
If you’re considering a loft conversion, you may be asking the following questions: How much is a loft conversion? Do you need planning permission for a loft conversion?
Don’t worry, our party wall surveyors in London and Kent are here to help. This blog will break down the rules and regulations of loft conversions, as well as a case study to provide further context.
Loft conversion rules
Our building surveyors in Kent were approached for advice by a customer who was considering converting their loft into a third bedroom. She had so many questions about the potential of a loft conversion, and it made us realise just how tricky it is for non-building professionals to understand all the ins and outs of this type of work. For more information, take a look at our blog on loft conversion rules.
The key thing is that any work on a loft or extension is going to need a building survey (for more information, take a look at our blog on what we look for in a loft survey) – either for party wall purposes or structural. However, what struck me was that she had no knowledge whatsoever of a homeowner’s duties to the health and safety of those working on the project.
Construction (design and management) regulations 2015
Most people are aware of the Health and Safety Executive, and that builders and other professionals must adhere to the numerous regulations in place. However, there is a little thing called the ‘The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015’ (CDM), which places responsibility well and truly in the hands of the homeowner of an extension (or major piece of work is being carried out on their property). The images below are something you don’t want to see on your property…
Regulations homeowners need to consider
So, what is the CDM and what does it mean for the humble homeowner who’s having a bit of work done? The idea of the CDM is that whatever your role in construction, be it contractor, labourer, project manager, you have a part to play in the health and safety of all on site.
The CDM helps all involved in a big project to plan work and manage risks from the beginning to ensure the right people are involved, and to communicate effectively across the project.
Homeowner responsibilities
If you’re having construction work done on your own home, or on the home of a family member, you are a classed as a ‘domestic client.’ If you’re a landlord working on a property associated with your letting business, you are classed as a commercial client, and this brings a whole raft of different responsibilities. For the purpose of this blog, we’ll stick with domestic clients for now.
So, as a domestic client, your duties under CDM 2015 are usually passed on to others who are carrying out the construction work on your behalf (such as designers and contractors). Those carrying out the work will also have duties of their own. But it’s your responsibility to make sure this is all in place – and in writing!
You must have what is a called a ‘principal designer’. This doesn’t mean it needs to be your designer or architect – it could be the main building contractor, or it could even be your surveyor.
Any designer in charge of coordinating and managing a project is assumed to be the principal designer. However, if they do not have a written agreement with the domestic client to confirm they are taking on the client duties, those duties automatically pass to the principal contractor.
Key takeaways
If your loft extension project is going to last more than 30 days and have more than 20 workers on site at any given point, or it is going to exceed more than 500 person days of construction work, you will need to notify the HSE as it is classed as ‘notifiable work’. Here are some helpful resources:
- Full details on CDM can be found on the HSE website.
- You might also like to read our article on the small builder and health and safety.
Get loft conversion advice from the Collier Stevens team
If you’re planning a home extension or loft conversion in the near future, our building surveyors in Kent and London are here to help. Get in touch with us for further support, be it a full building survey or party wall agreements.
Steven Way
Steven Way BSc MIHEEM MFPWS MRICS is the Practice Principal and is a Chartered Building Surveyor. With over 35 years as a practicing surveyor, Steve has a wealth of experience and expertise in both residential and commercial building surveying, party wall advice and disabled access auditing. He has also built his reputation as an expert witness.