5 replies to this topic

[Cornish Gems]

This link was found by Meadowsweet and we feel it should be properly bookmarked because this is a subject that has been mentioned before.

Building Cost Calculator

[CabinMan]

Some important considerations on building cost calculator:
The numbers in the link assume your house has full planning permission and that you can reclaim the VAT on the build costs excluding fixture and fittings.

If your home has full planning permission then you will also need to have to meet the new building regulations including the SAP energy rating. Insulation costs which rocketed over 20% last year are a major factor in build costs.

The regs are probably sensible for townies but personally speaking I don't the prospect of living in an insulated plastic bag that does not naturally breath! I have visited two story homes in mid-winter featuring galleried landings that have 130mm log walls with no additional wall insulation. A few sticks of wood in the log burner and it is T-shirt time. One of the owners smoked - yet there was no stale air as the wooden walls naturally breathed and provided a clean environment

A log cabin mobile home which can be up to 20 x 6.8m with a 3m internal ceiling height also benefits from the VAT saving straight away and avoid a burdensome building regulations.
For example we have just completed a 20 x 6.8m cabin to mobile home spec with 130mm log walls (more than warm enough), building regulation insulation in floor and roof for around £700 /m2.+ groundworks, fit out, electrics etc

[surreydodger]

We live in an odd society where it sems the best way to live is by strapping oneself up to the hilt with debt just so as to have a'brick built' home? I travel to the USA a bit and they do not have this problem mainly because they'd don't look at building a house to last longer than their lifetime.

Result, they spend their income on their lifestyle rather than paying for a house to benefit someone who hasn't been born yet (if they ever do atall even!).

[Smudge]

Hi - message for Cabinman (or anyone else who can answer my question) - you say that if your home has full planning permission you will need to meet the new building regulations. Does that apply if you have permission for a temporary dwelling?

We want to get a log cabin, move in at the same time as moving our animals on to the land and then ask for permission for a temporary dwelling for 3 years while we establish the business. Unfortunately we have less than 5 hectares so can't follow the F2F plan.

Thanks,

Smudge

[helend]

Hi Smudge, I haven't looked up anything definitive but off the top of my head I would think caravans and other temp structures would not need to comply with building regs because by definition they aren't actual buildings, despite the fact that you can live in one. They blatently don't comply because there is little insulation, no requirement for double glazing etc etc. even in brand new ones it's minimal. The fact that we choose to live in them is our look out and there are posts on here where people discuss the upgrades they've made to improve thermal qualities and general living standards but that is entirely voluntary as far as I can tell.

No-one has mentioned anyone other than the planning people harassing them while living on site, not the Building inspector.

I may be wrong but I hope not! Maybe on certain other types of structure, like the cabins, you've got the option but the fact that is classed as temporary should surely make it exempt for Bldg Regs.

That said, I read someone's post where they got PP for the permanent agricultural dwelling and were staying in their cabin they'd been in all along because it was so nice. The planning status for want of a better term, changes and at that point it would need to be compliant with BRs but I suspect it already was or could be adapted to suit. We're contemplating doing something similar ourselves off the back of that, we definitely will not be spending 100's of thousands on a bricks and mortar house and saddling ourselves with a huge mortgage at the end of all this, maybe we'll use straw bales we grew ourselves!

It's tricky because BRs are all about where we live, but we don't need ay more hoops to jump through.

I'd make an anonymous call to the council!

Hope that helps!
HD

[CabinMan]

Hi Smudge.
A temporary dwelling is not covered by building regulations. More likely you will choose a cabin built to comply with the Caravan Act.

The Caravan Act defines a caravan as any habitable structure capable of being transported. It must meet certain dimensional tests and for twin units certain construction tests. There is nothing to say that a caravan must comply to any building regulations or standards.

That said, there are some European standards for rating insulation of caravans and motor caravans. The caravan industry rolls these into BS3262 - a standard that also encompasses structural stability, plumbing, heating, gas safety and even the strength of bunk beds but there is nothing in law to say that a caravan must comply.

Bearing in mind that the majority of existing dwelling houses come no where close the new building regs yet are still openly bought/sold and mortgaged I see no difference with a temporary dwelling. Even if your a new build fails to comply to regs, as long as it is not dangerous the worst that can happen (as I understand) is that a notice of non-compliance might be posted at the Land Registry which might have an effect on the sale ability of the property.

If this is a long-term investment and one where you intend the temporary accommodation to become a permanent home, then you should consider a sensible level of insulation in floor and roof and either a twin-wall cabin with insulation or a sufficient log wall thickness that provides adequate natural adequate insulation e.g. min 100mm, 130mm better, and decent windows and doors. Wooden walls naturally breathe and provide a healthy environment. The latest log cabin technology uses engineered hollow log beams with a U value of around 0.6.

Good luck with your plans.