for many, working from home has brought many benefits. That life work balance has improved, spending more time with family, less time in the car (which in turn has helped the environment) and a more focused approach to our working day.

But the space issue has never really gone away. Namely because the thought of packing up and moving to another larger property isn’t worth thinking about, either because of the cost or the stress of the whole moving problem (or in most cases, both).

But why are we talking about space? Simple… your home is the key to finding more space.

Building Property Extensions to Help You Find More Room

At Seaj Algassim Construction, we specialize in providing high end property extensions to help you get the most out of your existing property.

When it comes to finding more space in your existing property, there are plenty of options including:

• Converting an existing room from a bedroom or a living room (for example) into a home office
• Adding an additional internal room through a property extension
• Creating additional space with a loft conversion or dormer
• Utilizing an external building (such as a garage or a utility room) and converting
• Creating a new external building (an external home office is ideal where external space is available and internal space at a premium)

Depending on your choice, you could create a specific working space from as little as a few hundred pounds (think a new paintjob, some shelving and a tidy up) to many thousands of pounds.

But What Other Benefits Does Having a Stand-Alone Home Office Give Me?

The space that it grants is not the only advantage that you’re going to get if you build your own office. It could also give you:

Focus

Yes, working from the couch or the kitchen table is fine, but when the kids come home from school and the hundreds of other interruptions that come with it kick in, it can be really distracting! Having your own room allows you to focus on the job in hand.

More space to move

We’re not just talking about the room itself, but having a dedicated room means that, in all likelihood you’ve not got all of your paper work sat on top of each other, scrabbling for pens that have fell of the table and all the other issues that working in a cramped space causes.

 Quiet

How often have we seen a zoom call where someone is distracted – perhaps by the door bell ringing, a child, family member or whatever. The noise can also be really annoying! Having a quiet space to take calls and video meetings is perfect!

Added property value

So, like you, many other people are working from home. Having a home office can increase your property value because people, like you, need that space, quiet and focus. It’s a win-win situation for everyone!

A room for you

Having a dedicated office may not just be used for an office. It’s fine for the 9 to 5, but once the laptops shut you could use it as a studio, a den or just somewhere to collect your thoughts and chill!

So… how can Seaj Algassim help?

Simple! By working with you we can discuss the possibilities your current property has with being extended, whether that be internally or externally.

We can project manage the updates from beginning to end… and have done so for many other happy customers across the UK… helping them work from home in an environment that is better for them!

To find out more about the options you have available, simply give us a call today on +44 7933 425120 or visit our contact page and send us an email.

When it comes to extending your property, there are plenty of rules and regulations out there which you need to know before you start your project, and Seaj Algassim can advise and help with any property extension plans you may have.

The UK Government made significant changes to these laws in August 2020, and in today’s post we’re going to list these changes so you can understand the legal requirements before proceeding in extending your home. It’s essential to read the rules fully though, as there are different conditions dependent on what style your home is (detached, semi-detached, terrace etc.).

Understanding “Permitted Developments”

What is a “Permitted Development “? A permitted development is a development to a property which allows certain changes to be made with the need for planning permission.

Changes to the planning permission laws has made extending your home far easier, and without the need for drawn out timescales which have been part of planning permissions in the past.

The Government sees these changes as a good option to homeowners to help with the growing need for affordable living, allowing houses to be extended to accommodate additional family or simply to add additional space where required.

So… what changes have been made to planning permission and what can you now do without having planning permission granted?

Kitchen Extensions

If you have a detached property, you can now extend up to a maximum of four meters to the rear of your property – if you have terraced or semi-detached property, the limit is set at three meters.

It’s important to note however that the extension must not make take up more than half of the available outside space, and that any extension must be in keeping with the original property – i.e., all materials must be used so that the extension looks original and not stand out.

Loft Extensions

Perfect for the increase in Working from Home options, having a loft extension could give you a new office, additional storage or add an additional bedroom.

If you have a detached or semi-detached property then the limit is 50 cubic meters. Terraced properties have a 40 cubic meter limit.

2 Storey Rear Extension

As long as you leave at least a seven-meter gap to the back of your garden then extend up to three meters. There are no restrictions on the property type.

 Outbuildings

As the loft extension above, creating an outbuilding may be an ideal solution for a home office but equally could be just as good as a gym or additional storage. All outbuildings must be a single storey and CANNOT be used as a full-time bedroom. With outbuildings, there are additional conditions which apply – specifically to do with the height of the building and the footprint.

Side Extension

If you’ve got a detached property, then you can now extend your home sideways without planning permission – but the extension must only be a single storey and cannot be more than half the width of the original property.

As the kitchen extension above, the side extension must match the existing look of the original property.

One thing to note is that there are restrictions on height for a side extension dependent on how close you are to the boundary of your property and a neighbor.

Side Return

You can now extend the back of your property to its full width – as long as it’s not higher than four meters or more than half the original property width.

Front Porch

Front porches are a great storage space for shoes, wellies, umbrellas etc. and are often forgotten about when people consider extending their property. They are also useful for adding an extra “layer” of protection from the elements. As long as they are kept to a three-square meter space, with a height up to three meters then it may be a great addition to your home.

Note though that a new front porch cannot be within two meters of your boundary.

Swimming Pool

If you’re lucky enough to be considering adding a swimming pool to your property, then as long as it can’t be seen from the front and doesn’t take up more than half the back garden, then you no longer need planning permission.

Still unsure? Then contact us today to find out how we can help!

Although some of the updates are fairly self-explanatory the Government does advise that it’s always best to check before with someone who has experience in extensions before proceeding with the project. Seaj Algassim Construction can help you with your queries and can advise if you will need planning permission on any property updates you have in mind. If you do need permission, we can also assist and advise with that too.

To find out more give one of our team a call today on +44 7933 425120 or visit our contact page to send us a message.