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.
Whatever type of house you own in Bath, we start by looking at how a loft conversion would fit it rather than offering a standard package. We cover BA1 and BA2 and neighbouring places such as Keynsham, Trowbridge and Kingswood. One named person looks after you from survey to handover, and nothing is booked until you hold our figure in writing, fixed for the work described.
- Guide price
- £30,500–£66,000 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 6–10 weeks on site
- Postcodes
- BA1 and BA2
- Planning rules
- England
- Local area
- Bath and North East Somerset
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
What should you budget for a loft conversion in Bath?
Prices for a loft conversion vary from house to house, but in Bath most projects fall within £30,500–£66,000 including VAT. That reflects costs in the South West, about 2% above the national guide. Treat the table as a budgeting aid; the written figure follows a survey we carry out for free.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Bath |
|---|---|---|
| Rooflight conversion | Rooflights in the existing slope, a new floor, staircase and insulation, where head height already works. | £20,500–£35,500 |
| Dormer conversion | A rear dormer adding headroom and floor space, often with a bedroom and shower room. | £32,500–£61,000 |
| Hip-to-gable or mansard | Larger structural changes to the roof for the maximum usable space. | £51,000–£87,000 |
What moves the price up or down:
- Floor area, existing head height and roof structure
- Steelwork and any strengthening of walls below
- Adding a shower room or en-suite in the roof
- Staircase layout, fire doors and the level of finishes
What’s included?
- 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
- Staircase designed to fit your landing and meet regulations
- Insulation to walls, roof slope and floor
- Electrics, heating and plumbing by qualified trades, with certificates
Building in Bath
Somerset's building stone varies widely: Bath stone in Bath, golden Ham stone around Yeovil, blue lias in villages on the Levels and Mendip stone in the north. Weston-super-Mare has Victorian villas and terraces, Taunton and Bridgwater have brick terraces and post-war estates, and new housing continues to spread around the larger towns.
Stone properties often need lime pointing, stone repairs and windows that respect conservation areas, especially in Bath. Brick terraces suit loft rooms and extensions, and estate homes commonly take garage conversions.
For a loft conversion in Bath, this means checking things like wall construction, roof structure and existing services before we put a figure on paper.
Permissions for a loft conversion in Bath
As Bath is in England, read the following with that system of planning and building control in mind. We check what applies to your house with the council before you receive a quote.
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?
A visit to your home
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
The quote arrives in writing, not over the phone. It covers the full scope, the finishes you've chosen, any exclusions and the payment schedule, with a fixed price tied to that specification.
Booking the work
Once you accept, we agree start dates, order materials and deal with any planning, building control or neighbour notices the job needs. You'll know who is coming and when before work begins.
The work itself
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
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.
Where will the new staircase go?
The new staircase usually sits above the existing stairs, rising from the landing so it uses space that is already circulation. Sometimes it needs to come from a small bedroom or box room, which reduces that room's size. Building regulations set rules on headroom, step size and handrails, with some flexibility for lofts. We look at options at the survey and show you how each affects the floor below.
Which postcodes in Bath do you cover?
We cover BA1 and BA2, along with the rest of Somerset. If your postcode is not listed, get in touch anyway: our coverage is UK-wide, and we can usually arrange a survey wherever you live. Enter your postcode in the guide-price tool or contact form and we will confirm.
What happens at the survey?
We visit your home at a time that suits you, look at the area involved, take measurements and check access, condition and any services that might be affected. We talk through what you want from a loft conversion, explain the options and answer questions. There is no charge and no obligation; afterwards we send a written quote.
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.
Also covering areas around Bath
We survey and quote throughout Bath's BA1 and BA2 postcodes and in surrounding places such as Keynsham, Trowbridge and Kingswood. The process and pricing approach are identical in each of them.