Congratulations for finding our guide for basement conversions. There is quite a bit of information online already about converting your basement but most of the articles I read offered up more questions than answers and I couldn’t find one article that gave you that walk through feel that left you with a well-rounded grasp of whether a basement conversion was in fact a money pit or a decent investment.
I hope our 25-point guide to basement conversion helps to provide you with a better understanding of the process and the merits of investing in a basement conversion.
1: BASEMENT CONVERSION – IS IT A GOOD INVESTMENT?
Location is the number one factor that determines if a basement conversion makes financial sense. For example, if we were to carry out a basement conversion in Clapham London SW4 the value added would be around £6,025 per m2.
If we did the same basement conversion in Sydenham London SE26 the value added would be around £4,885 per m2.
If we went down the country a bit to Weybridge in Surrey that same basement conversion would add around £5,922 per m2.
So, by now you should be getting the hang of it and with a little bit of research you can look at any property anywhere in the UK and calculate the value added per m2 in minutes.
But knowing the value added per m2 is not enough as you also need to know the cost per m2 of doing a basement conversion and for that I can tell you that the current price range is around £4.5k to £6.75k. (July 2020)
Now if you get your calculator out you will be able to work out that a 50 m2 basement conversion in Clapham London SW4 will add around £300k in value.
The same conversion in Sydenham will add around £245k and in Weybridge about £295k.
When it comes to basement conversion costs, I have given you a range of £4.5k to £6.75k per m2 simply because each site is different in complexity and the amount of work to be done to achieve the goal.
Based on the cost figures provided you are looking at somewhere between £225k to £335k to get the job done.
So, if the conversion was straightforward then you might make an instant profit but on the other hand if it was more complex you could be out of pocket by the time the conversion is complete.
But the analysis here is not based on instant profit, it is based on whether a basement conversion is a good investment and to answer that we have to look at property prices and make a determination as to whether property will rise in value over the coming years and if so, by how much.
To get a clearer picture let’s take a look at how property prices have risen in the UK over the past ten years 2010 / 2010.
So, on the whole, property prices have risen by 33% in the UK over the past decade but if we focus on London, we can see that property prices have doubled the national average and hit 66%.
To get an even clearer picture of the property market let’s see which parts of London and the UK have had the highest property growth since the millennium 2000 / 2020.
So by looking back at property price rises over the past 20 years we can see that the London Borough of Newham has topped the chart with a 429% price change. This is closely followed by London Borough of Waltham Forest at 418% and London Borough of Lewisham at 379%.
What all this means is that had we invested in a basement conversion in the London Borough of Newham back in 2000 we would be looking at a Return of Investment (ROI) of 429%.
Had we done the same basement conversion in Brighton & Hove where it is likely the cost of the basement conversion would have been lower, we would have seen a Return of Investment (ROI) of 315%.
Compare that to Gold which had a price rise of 81% over the past decade or Oil which went down by over 100% and you start to understand why people continue to invest in property.
Of course all those figures relate to what would have happened had we carried out a basement conversion during the past 20 years. But what about now?
The answer lies in who you are going to believe with regard to property rise forecasts for the next decade. Here we have a forecast based on Savills and This is Money.
If you research the internet you find varying figures that predict UK property growth over the next five years. Clearly corvid-19 will have a big effect over the next year or so but in the long term we have to look to the main causes of property rising in value such as low interest rates and housing shortages to draw our own conclusions as to where the property values will go in the future.
Do keep in mind that whilst we have National price forecasts of around 50% over the next 5 it is the regional prices you need to be focused on because based on the historical data London will be the place where the real profits lie.
Once thing is certain, if you wish to invest in a basement conversion make sure you select the right location as the location is the key to getting the highest return on your investment.
2: WILL I GET PLANNING APPROVAL?
Would you believe me if I said that up until a few years ago most basement conversions were permitted development? Yes, it is true. Nowadays most basement conversions require a planning application particularly if you are excavating deeper or wider than an existing cellar or basement.
What makes matters a bit tricky is that some of the rules can vary across different planning authorities which means you should really have a word with the local planning officer about your basement ideas before instructing your designer to create basement conversion plans.
3: THE GEO TECHNICAL SURVEY
A geo tech survey is essential to determine soil conditions where you will be digging out.
4: DRAINAGE SURVEY
Another important survey to reveal any drains, pipes and sewers below your property.
Your project may need approval from the local water authority so now is a good time to make the application.
5: TOPOGRAPHICAL SURVEY
The topographical survey is all about measurements. This is required for accurate measurements and mapping out of the site to produce accurate plans for your basement conversion.
6: ARBORICULTURAL SURVEY
Another requirement to determine plant life underneath the property. It is also used to determine if nearby trees will be affected by the development.
7: BASEMENT IMPACT ASSESSMENT (BIA)
A basement impact assessment is now a requirement by most councils. This is to provide a wider picture to the council during the planning approval processs with regard to hydrogeological conditions, risk of surface water flooding and slope stability. These are just some of the concerns that will be looked at for the assessment.
8: FLOOD RISK ASSESSMENT
Not always required. Your local planning authority will advice on whether you need one done.
9: CONCEPT & DESIGN BRIEF
Now it starts to get interesting. This is where you meet with designers to explore your ideas and to create a design concept for the project.
10: DESIGN PLANS & DRAWINGS
Basic layout and design plans are created for the project.
11: PRE-APPLICATION PLANNING ADVICE
Always a great idea for unusual projects or where certain matters are unclear. The process will take about 8 weeks and you will need the design plans to communicate the design.
12: ARCHITECTURAL DRAWING FOR A PLANNING APPLICATION
Have your designer or technician prepare a full package of finished plans and drawings for a planning application.
13: PLANNING APPLICATION
Submit the planning application. Use your designer to submit the application as there will be requirements other than plans that most homeowners won’t have a clue about. Have the planning application monitored during the process.
14: STRUCTURAL DESIGN & CALCULATIONS
Some people wait until they get planning approval before calling the engineers for a structural design plan and structural calculations for the project. Either way, it will need to be done before making a full plans application to building control.
15: TANKING & WATERPROOFING DESIGN
One of the most important aspects of the conversion. Make sure you use companies with basement conversion experience to prepare your waterproofing design plans.
16: PARTY WALL AGREEMENTS
A party wall agreement will be required with the neighbours. If the property next door is flats you will need a PWA with each leaseholder and the freeholder.
17: INTERIOR DESIGN
Basements need specialists for the interior design. Lighting and decorative finishes need to be chosen carefully to provide light throughout the basement.
18: PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Now is the time you decide if you have the necessary time and skills to project manage your conversion. Get quotes for project management and make a decision.
19: DETAILED SPECIFICATION & SCHEDULE (PRICED)
I would have drafted this much earlier to get an indication of costs but now that I have done all the surveys and prepared the plans, I can create accurate budgets for the project.
20: NEIGHBOUR CONSULTATION
This is a winning idea and no matter how well you get on with the neighbours you should always attempt to have an informal discussion over the project to inform them of your plans.
You’re not asking for their blessing, but you are letting them now what you are doing and apologising up front for the dust noise and inconvenience they will experience during the build. Consider washing their cars each week during the build process as a damage limitation measure.
21: BUILD PHASE 1 - BASEMENT SHELL
This is where it gets noisy and dirty. The build phase can last up to 5/6 months depending on the size and complexity of the project.
22: TESTING - TEST TEST TEST
Once the shell is built and waterproofed, test everything you possibly can before fitting out.
23: BUILD PHASE 2 – COMPLETE FITOUT
Now things are starting to be fun as the fitout phase can be really enjoyable as you watch your plans and ideas take shape and become reality.
24: CERTIFICATION
Everything has to be signed off because you will need the paperwork when you sell. Get guarantees and warranties from everybody involved. You also need relevant certificates for gas and electrical work. And of course, you will need a completion certificate from building control.
25: HAND OVER
The day has finally come and hopefully it was well worth waiting for. Handover is when the main contractor responsible gives you all the keys and you take control of your new basement conversion.
Congratulations, you made it…
SUMMARY
As you can see from the guide a basement conversion is a serious investment in time and money and needs to be considered carefully before undertaking.
Draw Plans are London based Architectural Technicians with a combined experience of over 100 years so if you want a basement conversion partner that has the experience and won’t break the bank then get in touch today for an informal chat on your next basement conversion project. 020 3921 0745