EXPERTS EXPLAIN: Ask our experts for advice on your property problems
Student unions best for listing digs accommodation
Q We live in Dún Laoghaire and have two rooms free. We would love to rent them out, say, Monday to Friday – like digs. Have you any idea how I might go about doing this? Property websites don’t seem to have a digs section.
A Digs accommodation is generally not an area covered by property websites but they do feature prominently in the accommodation sections of college and university sites. Students attending nearby colleges to you such as the Institute of Art, Design Technology (IADT) in Dún Laoghaire and UCD regularly use digs during the week while studying.
This type of accommodation is most popular with first-year and international students, although interest has declined slightly with the development of campus student quarters.
During the summer months there is also the option of taking in foreign language students. UCD Students Union points out that a lot of their students live in Dún Laoghaire as the 46A bus route provides an excellent service to both Belfield and the city centre and they recommend that students live adjacent to this and other routes serving the college.
If you would like to make your rooms available as digs you should contact the welfare officers of student unions in your area to put your property on accommodation lists, which are regularly distributed to students.
Some issues you might want to consider first though include whether or not you will be expected to provide meals, car parking, how much you are going to charge, privacy, boundaries, rules, etc.
August is the best time to start renting out digs as that is when students begin thinking about a return to college or university.
* James Rogers is the site and communications editor of property website MyHome.ie
Important to know reason behind refusal for attic conversion plans before resubmitting
Q My local council rejected my plans for an attic conversion during the boom. I merely wanted to build out to the existing back of my house but was turned down due to “overlooking”. Would I have a better chance of getting the same plans approved now that the economy is in trouble?
A The planning authority makes decisions on whether to grant or refuse planning permission on planning grounds, which include impact of a proposed development on existing buildings. It is unlikely their view would alter because of economic circumstances in the country.
It is important before considering resubmitting that you understand fully the reason for refusal, and consider whether there might be a different way of designing the attic conversion to eliminate the overlooking.
Not all attic conversions require planning permission. The installation of roof windows to the roof slope at the rear of the house does not require planning permission, unless the property is a protected structure.
However, it is very important to note that even if planning permission is not required, building regulations will apply to the conversion. Fire safety in relation to an attic conversion can be tricky, as there are a number of factors to consider, including providing a safe means of escape for anyone in the new attic room in the event of a fire.
Because of these issues, I would always recommend professional assistance with an attic conversion, from an architect, architectural technologist or chartered building surveyor. They will be able to guide you through the planning issues and the building regulations to ensure that your attic conversion is fully compliant. Please note that a non-compliant attic conversion can result in problems when you come to sell the house.
* Krystyna Rawicz is a chartered building surveyor and member of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland, scsi.ie
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This column is a readers’ service. Advice given is general and individual advice should always be sought
