Neighbour's open plan room onto Fire escape stairs

[saddlers]

Bear in mind that a flat can have an open layout as long as the travel distances do not exceed 9m. There is no need for a protected entrance hall in flats of a limited size, this may explain the arrangement.

The concession you refer to is made in respect of means of escape within the flat in question.  It does adversely affect the means of escape from other parts of the building.

Look at diagrams 7 and 9 in ADB and paras 2.20 and 2.21.  There is nothing in ADB that would allow the layout you speak of.  Removal of the internal screen and door should have been the subject of a building regs application and would have been turned down.  If you get in touch with your local authority building control they will have enforcement officers who would be interested in putting the situation right.

Stu

Stu,
I was talking about the internal layouts within the flat itself. The areas you are quoting are guidance for the common areas. Diagram 3 in ADB does most definitely allow an open plan flat to have a bedsit arrangement as long as the internal travel distances do not exceed 9m and as others have commented the bedroom is not an inner room (separated from the open plan area by a door). If the alteration has resulted in this situation, the layout is still potentially compliant.

[slubberdegullion]

Absolutely.

Stu

[terry martin]

unfortunately, Building control will not be able to do anything. they have a time limit of 12 months in which to enforce changes retrospectively. after this period there is nothing they can do. unless of course the work required planning consent, then the local council would have 10 years, i think?.

however, as Midland Retty said, call the local fire Authority. they could maybe do something under the Regulatory Reform Order. however, anything they do would only be in relation to the protection of the common parts, i.e. a fire alarm