Pros and cons of a garage conversion

With house prices where they are, most people would rather make better use of the home they have than move. Converting the garage is a popular way to do that. It is not right for every house, so here is both sides.

Pros

1. More living space. An extra bedroom, a home office, a gym or a playroom, without changing the footprint of the house or losing any garden.
2. Cost. The structure already exists, so you are not paying for foundations or a roof. It is far cheaper than an extension and a fraction of the cost of moving.
3. Value. Done well, with building control sign-off, extra usable floor space adds to the sale price. Done badly, it does the opposite, so the finish needs to match the rest of the house.
4. Flexibility. A garage is a blank box. Guest suite, studio, annexe with its own door: it can be whatever the household needs now and something else later.

Cons

1. Losing the parking and storage. If the garage is where the bikes, tools and Christmas decorations live, they need a new home. A shed or a good declutter usually solves it, but think it through first.
2. Rules. Most garage conversions are permitted development, but some estates have conditions requiring the garage to remain as parking, and conservation areas are stricter. Building regulations apply regardless: insulation, ventilation, fire safety and damp proofing all have to be met.
3. The building itself. Garages are built to keep a car dry, not a person warm. Expect to add a proper floor, insulation to walls and roof, heating and a window where the door was. That is where most of the cost sits.
4. Resale. Some buyers want a garage, particularly where street parking is tight. It is worth asking a local agent what sells in your road before you commit.

For most houses with off-street parking elsewhere, a garage conversion is a sensible way to gain a room for a modest cost. We will tell you honestly at the first visit whether yours is one of them.