Articles
How Much Does a Loft Conversion Cost in London? (2026 Guide)
How much does a loft conversion cost in London? In 2026, a simple rooflight conversion starts from around £35,000, a rear dormer from £45,000, a hip-to-gable from £55,000 and a mansard from £65,000. Adding an en-suite, needing full planning permission or major...
7 Best Micro Homes For Your Attic Conversion
When it comes to choosing the best Micro Homes for your attic it always helps to see the projects that City Lofts London have already created. Here are seven of the best
Do You Need Planning Permission for a Loft Conversion? (2026 Guide)
Most loft conversions on houses don't need loft conversion planning permission. Rear dormers, hip-to-gable conversions and rooflight lofts usually fall under Permitted Development, as long as they stay within size and design limits. You will normally need full...
Loft Conversion Home Office: How to Create a Workspace That Actually Works
A loft conversion home office gives you something the kitchen table and the spare bedroom never can: a separate floor, away from the noise of the house, with a door you can close at the end of the day. For most London homes it is the quietest, brightest room you can...
Does a Loft Conversion Add Value? (And Is It Better Than Moving?)
Does a loft conversion add value? Yes. A well-designed loft conversion is one of the most reliable ways to add value to a London home. Nationwide's 2025 research found that a loft conversion or extension adding a double bedroom and a bathroom can increase the value of...
Loft Conversion Nursery: Create the Space Your Growing Family Needs
A loft conversion nursery can give a growing family the extra bedroom it needs without moving house. But the best answer isn't always putting the baby in the loft. Often the smarter move is to create a new parents' bedroom and en-suite upstairs, so an existing bedroom...
Loft Conversion Mistakes: 13 Costly Errors and How to Avoid Them
The most expensive loft conversion mistakes happen before any building starts. Choosing the wrong builder, accepting the cheapest quote and getting planning or party wall rules wrong cause more problems than anything else. After that, the biggest risks are poor design...
Living with Elderly Parents: Tips, and How a Loft Conversion Makes Room for Everyone
Living with elderly parents works best when you get three things right. Agree the ground rules early (money, chores, visitors and care). Give every generation a space of its own, ideally with its own bathroom. And plan the house for how needs will change over the next...
Loft Conversions for Adult Children Living at Home
A loft conversion for adult children gives a grown-up son or daughter their own floor of the house: a bedroom, an en-suite and space to work, away from the rest of the family. It's often the simplest way to give everyone privacy while they save for a deposit, and the...
Buying a House for a Loft Conversion: 15 Things to Check Before You Offer
If you're buying a house for a loft conversion, check three things before you make an offer: that the loft has enough head height, that the roof structure can be converted at a sensible cost, and that the house still has its permitted development rights (or a...
Fibreglass vs Rubberoid Roof: Which Is Best for a Flat Roof?
In the fibreglass vs rubberoid roof debate, both fibreglass (GRP) and rubber (EPDM) are excellent long-life choices for a flat roof, and both far outlast old-style felt. Fibreglass is tougher and better if the roof will be walked on. Rubber is quieter, quicker to lay...
City Lofts London Awarded Best of Houzz 2023
City Lofts London Awarded Best of Houzz 2023 The annual people’s choice award recognises professionals among the Houzz community who stand out in both talent and customer service [London, UK], 15 February, 2023 – City Lofts London has won a “Best of Houzz” award for...
House extension mistakes to avoid before the build starts
The most expensive house extension mistakes happen before a single brick is laid: an unclear brief, a budget with no contingency, or skipped planning and party wall checks. Once work starts, most problems come from how homeowners and builders work together. We have...
How to Choose a Builder (and Work Well With Them Once You Have)
How to choose a builder comes down to four things: pick a specialist for your type of project, check their insurance, references and finished work, compare detailed written quotes, and agree everything in a written contract before work starts. Get those right and most...
Contingency and Tolerance in Construction: How Much to Allow for Your Loft or Extension
Contingency in construction is money you set aside for problems nobody could see before work started, such as rot in the timbers, asbestos or hidden structural defects. The usual guide is 10–20% of the build cost; with a fixed quote, thorough surveys and good...
Snagging List: How to Snag Your Building Project Effectively
A snagging list is a single document listing every small defect you find when your builder hands your home back, from a scuffed skirting board to a door that won't close properly. Your builder uses it to fix everything before the final payment. Done well, it takes two...
Turn a Leaky Roof into a Loft Conversion
There are many costs that are associated with owning a home and each month alone presents a whole range of bills that have to be paid. However, homes can cost more money, especially when things go wrong and that is specifically true for the roof of your home.
“Go to an attic conversion specialist, because there’s no disconnect between the design and the actual physical build”- Deepak, our Sales Manager, interviewed by Houzz
“A loft surveyor takes a design brief from the client and surveys the property internally and externally” – Deepak, City Lofts London Surveyor. Find out more about lofts conversion in London
We have been awarded best of houzz 2019, again!
Awarded by the community of over 40 million monthly users, annual BOH badge highlights home renovation & design professionals with Top ratings and most popular home designs
Essential Items You Need After Your Loft Has Been Converted
Going through the process of having your loft converted will be one of the best decisions you ever make. You can have your input into the design and the layout and ensure that it is a space that fits your needs in every possible way. However, once the work has been completed, you now have the fun of deciding on the fittings and fixtures you need. This is the exciting part of the process and that part where you really can put your own stamp on your new space.
7 Christmas Decoration Ideas For Your Loft
Christmas is a magical time of year and what makes it even better is the fact that many of us choose to decorate our homes. We spend a lot of time decorating our living rooms, our windows as well as the external area of our home but why not extend that into other areas of our homes such as our loft conversion. Just because the loft is positioned in the highest point of the property and often not seen by many, it doesn’t mean that it has to remain neglected when it comes to embracing all things Christmas. So, why not make the right moves and choose to decorate your loft, so it really does feel like Christmas every time you enter it. With that in mind, what decorations would you require to turn your loft into a magical Christmas experience during December?
Mansard vs Dormer Loft Conversion: Which Is Right for Your Home?
Choosing to convert your loft will enable you to make use of space that is often left redundant in many homes. Often, loft space is vast and that means that homeowners have the chance to increase the size of their property without making any real structural changes in the same way that other forms of building work do. When it comes to loft conversions, homeowners have options and that means that you can choose the kind of conversion that fits your needs.
Seven Stunning and Inspirational Loft Conversion Ideas
it’s time to think about having your loft converted into a bright, airy additional living space instead. With this in mind, we’ve put together a few bite-sized ideas, together with seven case studies to help you make up your mind.
Hampton Builder Wins (another) Award For Best Customer Service
PRESS RELEASE 22.01.18: City Lofts London of Hampton Wick Awarded Best Of Houzz 2018, Customer Service Category Over 40 Million Monthly Unique Users Nominated Best Home Improvement and Design Professionals in the UK and Around the World London, January 19, 2018 –...
Press Release: City Lofts named London’s Heavenly Builder
16.05.17 PRESS RELEASE, Ridgemount PR (Mortlake) Deepak & Kulveer of City Lofts have been named the most Heavenly Builder in the London Region as part of the Federation of Master Builders’ (FMB) Master Builder Awards 2017. Now in its 13th year, the Master...
Loft Conversion Plans: Drawings, Architects and Approvals Explained
Loft conversion plans are the drawings and calculations that show exactly what will be built and prove it meets planning rules and Building Regulations. You need them before any building work starts. They come in three sets: planning drawings for the council, Building...
Officially the UK’s most customer-friendly Contractors
City Lofts London, Awarded Best Of Houzz 2017, Over 40 Million Monthly Unique Users Nominated Best Home Improvement and Design Professionals in the UK and Around the World London, England, 20th January 2017 – City Lofts London has won “Best Of Customer Service” on...
Queens Park Loft Conversion
Read the full transcript of this Queens Park loft conversion and watch the full before and after video, at the end of the case study. Please introduce yourselves… I'm Jane, and I'm Brent. Thomas. And this is our house…. Why did you opt for a loft conversion? This was...
Willesden Loft Conversion
Read the full transcript of this Willesden loft conversion and watch the full before and after video, at the end of the case study. Tell us about yourself and the project… Hi, I'm Simon Morgan and we're here in my house to talk about the work City Lofts did for me. I...
Whitton Loft Conversion
Read the full transcript of this Whitton loft conversion and watch the full before and after video, at the end of the case study. Describe the work carried out… Okay, so we converted a loft and we added a bedroom and an en-suite. Why did you want a loft conversion?...
Oxhey Loft Conversion
Read the full transcript of this Oxhey loft conversion and watch the full before and after video, at the end of the case study. Why did you need a loft conversion? There were two reasons I would say. One was the requirement that we wanted an en-suite master bedroom,...
Mapesbury Park Loft Conversion
Read the full transcript of this Mapesbury loft conversion and watch the full before and after video, at the end of the case study. Please introduce yourself… Renee Laub. What work did you have carried out? The alteration was already done, the physical alteration was...
Kensal Rise Loft Conversion Full Transcript
Read the full transcript of this Kensal Rise loft conversion and watch the full before and after video, at the end of the case study. Please introduce yourself… My name's Alex I've recently had a loft conversion and extension with City Lofts. Tell us about the...
Leytonstone Loft Conversion
Read the full transcript of this Leytonstone loft conversion and watch the full before and after video, at the end of the case study. Why did you want a loft conversion? I had wanted a two bedroom house, really, but couldn’t afford to actually move to a two bedroom...
Fulham Loft Conversion Full Transcript
Read the full transcript of this Fulham loft conversion and watch the full before and after video, at the end of the case study. Please introduce yourself… My name's Tim Donovan and my property is in Gowan Avenue in Fulham in London. Why did you want a loft...
Acton Loft Conversion Full Transcript
Read the full transcript of this Acton loft conversion, and watch the full before and after video at the end of the case study. Introduce yourself… Hi, my name's Han. I run a graphic design company in central London. Describe the work carried out… Well it was a mid...
PRESS RELEASE – BUILD Magazine Announces The 2016 Construction and Engineering Awards Winners.
' United Kingdom, 26 October 2016 - BUILD Magazine has announced winners of the 2016 Construction and Engineering Awards. The construction and engineering industries are the hidden heroes of the building landscape: they change the face of the world around us, but are...
Estimate vs Quote: What’s the Difference When You’re Hiring a Builder?
Estimate vs quote comes down to one thing: certainty on price. A quote is a fixed price for a clearly described job, and the builder can't normally charge you more unless you agree to extra work. An estimate is the builder's best guess, and the...
Loft Conversions in Conservation Areas: What’s Allowed and How to Get Approval
Here’s how to get a loft conversion if you happen to live within a conservation area
Party Wall Notice for a Loft Conversion: What Happens If You Don’t Serve One?
If you live in a terraced or semi-detached house, you'll almost certainly need to serve a party wall notice for a loft conversion, because the steel beams usually sit in the wall you share with your neighbour. You must serve it at least two months before that work...
Loft Conversions in Flats: What You Need to Know
Yes, you can do a loft conversion in a flat, but it takes more steps than in a house. You'll usually need to buy the loft space from the freeholder, get their written consent, apply for full planning permission and meet stricter fire safety rules. Done properly, it...
Types of Loft Conversion
Ok folks, so by now you know what a loft conversion is, right? We know it’s the process of taking a dusty old attic space and transforming a stunning, light-filled room that will turbo-boost the value of your home. But did you know there are different types of...
Loft Extensions: What is a Loft Extension?
So for us urbanites in the concrete metropolis it’s seems a pretty obvious enquiry, but for completeness here’s a quick lowdown on exactly what a loft extension is, and what a loft extension is not: What a loft extension is not: The decade from the late 1970’s to late...
10 Amazing Loft Conversion Ideas
10 Amazing Loft Conversion Ideas... So maybe you’re thinking about getting a loft conversion done, or perhaps have already started. Good design is key to giving your household the facilities and space the family needs, and also in making your investment in a loft...
Is My Loft Suitable for a Conversion? 5 Things to Check First
5 things to know before starting a loft conversion
How loft conversions are helping fix London’s housing crisis
London’s housing crisis is severe and immediate, particularly for growing families who cannot move home. Successive governments have failed to help but the solution has been here all along; convert disused the attics of properties across London into additional living space to ease overcrowding.
Market Update December 2014, Loft Conversions
Current loft conversion in progress The boys have just started work on a new loft in Kensal Green in NW London. The property is a classic Victorian mid-terraced family home and falls within a conservation zone, so we’re working to some stringent design guidelines to...
City Lofts Market Update, October 2014
Jobs in progress So what have we been up to this month? As a goliath project in Swiss Cottage draws to a close after 8 months, and the finishing touches are made to a loft conversion in Fulham, the City Lofts team take their tool boxes, drills and spirit levels and...
*Press Release* City Lofts London in the news AGAIN
This time providing expert commentary on a feature article in loft conversions on Houzz.co.uk https://www.houzz.co.uk/ideabooks/32468387/list/lofts-what-to-consider-when-planning-a-loft-conversion City Lofts London – award-winning builders www.CityLoftsLondon.com...
City Lofts London’s Insider Guide To Wood Flooring
When it comes to wood flooring, a lot of people cant see the wood for the trees (sorry, couldn’t help myself). So here’s a very simple guide on what you need to know. If you’re thinking about laying down wood flooring, you have 3 options: 1. Laminate 2. Hardwood 3....
Letter to the Editor of The Guardian Newspaper, on London’s housing crisis
The Guardian Editor, Alan Rusbridger The Guardian Newspaper Kings place 90 York Way London N1 9GU 21st August 2014 RE: Response to G2’s article on Basements Dear Mr Rusbridger I read intently Tim Dowling’s well-researched article on basements from yesterday’s...
Loft Conversions vs Extensions: The Ultimate Home Improvement
Loft conversion vs extension? For most London houses, a loft conversion is the cheaper way to add a bedroom and bathroom, adds more value for the money, keeps your garden and is less disruptive to live with. An extension is the better choice when what you really need...
Convert Your Thinking: Creative Ideas For Your Loft Conversion
Loft conversions have become the go-to home improvement extension. Hardly surprising really when it adds up to 25% to your property and creates more space in the family home. An attic converted into a bedroom with an en-suite combo is therefore and ideal solution! But...
Building Regulations and Fire Precautions You Should Know When Converting Attic Space
Loft conversion building regulations apply to every loft conversion that creates a usable room, even when you don't need planning permission. They make sure the new room is structurally safe, has a safe escape route in a fire, has a proper staircase, and is well...
A Cost-Effective Solution To Battle Britain’s Crowded Homes Crisis
More than half the homes in Britain are too small for families to live in according to research by Cambridge University. Shocking studies show that 'rabbit-hutch' Britain is failing to house its growing population and as a result millions are living in overcrowded...
Loft Conversions for Landlords: Adding Rental Income and Value in 2026
A loft conversion for landlords is one of the most cost-effective ways to improve a rental property: it adds a bedroom (often with an en-suite), which increases the rent you can charge and the value of the property, without buying another house. The key is to build it...
What To Look For In A Loft Conversion Contractor
A loft conversion is one of the most profitable investments you will make. To get the best ROI however, you need to make the most of your attic space and employ an experienced loft conversion specialist you can rely on to do the job properly. Hiring a specialist...
