Home improvements
Home improvements in Edinburgh
Planning an improvement project: what is involved, what usually needs consent in Scotland, and what to ask before anyone starts work.
- Kitchen renovation
Replanning layout, units, worktops and services in the room most homes are refitted around.
- Bathroom renovation
Refitting a bathroom or en suite, from replacing a suite to reworking waste, ventilation and waterproofing.
- Loft conversion
Turning roof space into usable rooms, from a simple rooflight loft to a full dormer conversion.
- Garage conversion
Converting an attached or integral garage into a habitable room, gym or home office.
- House extension
Adding floor space to a house, from a single-storey side extension to a two-storey addition.
- Rear extension
Extending the back of a house, typically to enlarge a kitchen or create open-plan living space.
- Conservatory or garden room
Adding a lightweight glazed room or a fully insulated garden building for year-round use.
How this works
Tell us what is happening with your property and where it is. We explain the options in plain language, and — only if you give us permission — pass your details to independent local businesses so they can quote. You are never charged for that, and you are under no obligation to use anyone we introduce.
About Lothian Property
An independent starting point, not an estate agency
Lothian Property is an independent property information and introduction service. We are not an estate agency. We help homeowners understand their property, their options and their local market, and — where appropriate and only with your permission — introduce them to independent estate agents and other property professionals who can assist.
How Lothian Property worksCommon questions
- Which home improvements need a building warrant in Scotland?
- Structural alterations, most extensions, new drainage, loft conversions and some heating and ventilation changes generally require a warrant, followed by a completion certificate. Your local authority's building standards service confirms for a specific project.
- Do improvements add their cost back onto a Scottish home's value?
- Rarely pound for pound. Improvements that fix a functional weakness — an extra bathroom, usable heating, a workable kitchen layout — tend to hold value better than high-spec finishes done immediately before a sale.
- What paperwork should I keep after an improvement project?
- Warrant and completion certificate, electrical and gas certificates, product guarantees and the contractor's final specification. Missing paperwork for past work is a frequent cause of delay at missives stage.