Hello everyone,
I hope this is the right subforum for my question. If not, please let me know.
We are planning to convert a basement room into a living space due to lack of space in our single-family house. The house was built in 1960, with an extension added in 1978. The basement room to be converted belongs to the extension and should be accessible from the ground floor via a staircase.
Unfortunately, the basement room has a ceiling height of only 2.15 m (7 ft 1 in). Connections are available or prepared (electricity, heating, water). According to the building plans, windows were supposed to be installed but were not (for whatever reason).
A lower ceiling height would not bother us, as we intend to use the basement room as a bedroom. However, according to the regional building regulations in Rhineland-Palatinate, the minimum ceiling height must be 2.45 m (8 ft 0 in), as far as I know.
Is it possible to carry out our plan without excavating the basement further?
Thank you in advance for your answers.
I hope this is the right subforum for my question. If not, please let me know.
We are planning to convert a basement room into a living space due to lack of space in our single-family house. The house was built in 1960, with an extension added in 1978. The basement room to be converted belongs to the extension and should be accessible from the ground floor via a staircase.
Unfortunately, the basement room has a ceiling height of only 2.15 m (7 ft 1 in). Connections are available or prepared (electricity, heating, water). According to the building plans, windows were supposed to be installed but were not (for whatever reason).
A lower ceiling height would not bother us, as we intend to use the basement room as a bedroom. However, according to the regional building regulations in Rhineland-Palatinate, the minimum ceiling height must be 2.45 m (8 ft 0 in), as far as I know.
Is it possible to carry out our plan without excavating the basement further?
Thank you in advance for your answers.
That's why I'm asking. Maybe the building authority? What does the insurance say (for example, in case of fire), and so on. Or do the regulations only apply to new construction projects?
Another question came to mind: Would I be allowed to rent out this "basement apartment" in 15 years? (Children moved out, less space needed)
Another question came to mind: Would I be allowed to rent out this "basement apartment" in 15 years? (Children moved out, less space needed)
Just search for “common room”!
Certainly, no one can forbid you from converting a basement room and sleeping there.
However, you don’t have a second means of escape, nor any ventilation option at all (no windows, as I understand).
Where are your body odors supposed to go? (Sweat alone can release up to one liter per person.) I would see a risk of mold developing.
And if you are caught in a fire near the stairs, it’s possible that your children might not receive any life insurance payout, as negligence could be suspected.
I am not an expert on this, but these are issues you should consider.
Best regards,
Yvonne
Certainly, no one can forbid you from converting a basement room and sleeping there.
However, you don’t have a second means of escape, nor any ventilation option at all (no windows, as I understand).
Where are your body odors supposed to go? (Sweat alone can release up to one liter per person.) I would see a risk of mold developing.
And if you are caught in a fire near the stairs, it’s possible that your children might not receive any life insurance payout, as negligence could be suspected.
I am not an expert on this, but these are issues you should consider.
Best regards,
Yvonne
Hello Yovonne,
thank you very much for your reply and input. An emergency escape route is available: an exterior staircase leads from the garden to the basement room. We would install windows. My main question is therefore: am I allowed to convert a basement room with a ceiling height that is too low into a living space?
Best regards
thank you very much for your reply and input. An emergency escape route is available: an exterior staircase leads from the garden to the basement room. We would install windows. My main question is therefore: am I allowed to convert a basement room with a ceiling height that is too low into a living space?
Best regards
It won’t qualify as living space by definition, since the ceiling height is too low.
So build it the way you want and use it whichever way you prefer.
But you can forget about renting it out, as it’s not considered living space.
However, no one can stop you from sleeping in your own basement.
So build it the way you want and use it whichever way you prefer.
But you can forget about renting it out, as it’s not considered living space.
However, no one can stop you from sleeping in your own basement.
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