A loft conversion turns unused roof space into a habitable room such as a bedroom, bathroom or office, with a proper staircase, insulation, fire protection and natural light from rooflights or a dormer.
We arrange a loft conversion for homeowners in Romford and the wider London. The job is planned, priced and managed by us and carried out by tradespeople engaged under our contract, so there is one agreement and one contact. On a typical home the work takes 6–10 weeks on site, and guide pricing in London is £39,000–£84,000, VAT included.
- Guide price
- £39,000–£84,000 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 6–10 weeks on site
- Postcodes
- RM1, RM2, RM5, RM7 and RM11
- Planning rules
- England
- Local area
- Greater London
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
How much does a loft conversion cost in Romford?
Budgeting for a loft conversion in Romford? The numbers below include VAT and are adjusted for London, where costs are about 30% above the national guide. The headline range is £39,000–£84,000. Nothing is final until we have measured up at a free survey and agreed the specification with you.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Romford |
|---|---|---|
| Rooflight conversion | Rooflights in the existing slope, a new floor, staircase and insulation, where head height already works. | £26,000–£45,500 |
| Dormer conversion | A rear dormer adding headroom and floor space, often with a bedroom and shower room. | £41,500–£78,000 |
| Hip-to-gable or mansard | Larger structural changes to the roof for the maximum usable space. | £65,000–£110,000 |
The main things that change the figure:
- Conversion type: rooflight, dormer, hip-to-gable or mansard
- Floor area, existing head height and roof structure
- Steelwork and any strengthening of walls below
- Staircase layout, fire doors and the level of finishes
Scope of the work
- Structural calculations and steel beams where needed
- New floor joists strong enough for a habitable room
- Dormer, hip-to-gable or rooflight structure as agreed
- Insulation to walls, roof slope and floor
- Fire doors, mains-linked smoke alarms and a protected escape route
- Electrics, heating and plumbing by qualified trades, with certificates
What are homes like around Romford?
London's housing is dominated by Victorian and Edwardian terraces, often in yellow London stock brick, with Georgian terraces in central districts and mansion blocks across many inner areas. Outer boroughs have large belts of interwar semis, and there are extensive post-war council estates. Many houses have been split into flats, and conservation areas are widespread.
London Clay shrinks and swells with the seasons, and street trees close to houses can contribute to movement, which affects foundation design.
None of this holds for every street in Romford, which is why we look at your actual house before pricing a loft conversion rather than assuming from its age alone.
Permissions for a loft conversion in Romford
The notes below cover England, which is where Romford sits. Rules change and every property is different, so we speak to the council before pricing your job.
In England, many loft conversions are permitted development: up to 40 m³ of extra roof space on a terraced house and 50 m³ on a semi-detached or detached house, no dormer on the front roof slope facing a road, nothing higher than the existing roof, and similar-looking materials. Conservation areas, listed buildings and flats need planning permission.
Building Regulations approval is always needed for a loft conversion: floor strength, a proper staircase, insulation, fire-protected escape route and smoke alarms. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 usually applies on attached houses.
Rules change and every property is different, so we check the planning history and constraints for your address before we quote.
How does the job run?
We look at the job
We arrange a free site survey on a date convenient to you. We measure up, look at the existing structure and access, and discuss your plans for a loft conversion so the price reflects your home.
Written quote
We turn the survey notes into a written quote. The price is fixed for the specification we agree, and the document sets out materials, scope and payment stages in plain language.
Plan and prepare
We handle the paperwork side: checking whether planning permission or building control approval is needed, submitting applications where they are, and scheduling the trades and materials around your dates.
On site to finish
The job proceeds in the order set out in the programme, with dust and debris kept under control. Finally we tidy away, inspect the work together and pass the finished project over to you with its paperwork.
What you can expect from us
Frequently asked questions
Can we stay at home during a loft conversion?
Most people stay at home during a loft conversion, because much of the work happens from scaffolding outside and the roof is opened up from above. The most disruptive point is near the end, when we break through the ceiling to fit the new staircase, which usually takes a few days. We put up dust screens on the landing and plan noisy work for reasonable hours.
Is the price fixed?
Yes, for the specification we agree. Your written quote sets out exactly what is included at a fixed price. It only changes if you ask for something different, or if a problem the survey could not reasonably reveal later needs extra work. In either case we explain the change and confirm it in writing before going ahead.
Do I need planning permission for a loft conversion?
Whether a loft conversion needs planning permission depends on its size and design, your home's location, whether it is listed or in a conservation area, and which UK nation you live in. In England, many conversions fall under permitted development if the added volume is within 40m³ for terraced houses or 50m³ for other houses and nothing extends beyond the front roof slope. We check what applies before quoting.
Do I need planning permission in Romford?
It depends on the work, the size of the project, your property type and whether the building is listed or in a conservation area. Romford is in England, so England's rules apply. Many smaller jobs need no planning application, but some still need building control approval. We check what applies to your address before quoting.
Does the Party Wall Act apply to a loft conversion?
The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies in England and Wales only, and loft conversions on terraced and semi-detached houses often fall within it, because steel beams are usually set into the shared wall. You must serve notice on the neighbour before work starts, and they can agree or appoint a surveyor. Scotland and Northern Ireland have no equivalent Act. We tell you during the survey whether notices are likely.
Nearby towns
We cover every part of Romford, including RM1, RM2, RM5 and RM7, and nearby Hornchurch, Dagenham and Becontree. Wherever you are within that patch, the survey is free and the quote comes to you in writing.