CHEAPER and less hassle than an extension, converting your attic is a simple way of increasing living space and maximising the value of your home.

Attic conversions range from small jobs - involving the installation of a bedroom for €15,000 - to a €200,000 project adding 74sq m (800sq ft) of space - often main bedroom suites.

Done well, attic conversions can be a big plus to a house, says Pat Mullery of Douglas Newman Good. "Some conversions tend to be pokey with bad light, low ceilings and bad stairs. However, done well with good floor-to-ceiling height, they certainly add value to a house."

Ronan O'Hara of Hamilton Osborne King agrees. When money is put into an attic people will reap the rewards in terms of sale price, he says. Converting your attic really means "converting dead space into useable space".

The only caveat is building regulations, which mean certain requirements must be met before you can refer to your conversion as a bedroom when it comes to selling, he says. To comply with building regulations' classification of "habitable space", two-thirds of the attic conversion must have a height of at least 8ft, says Joe Miller, practice director with the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI).

This is the main stumbling block for most attics. In addition, if you are converting the attic in a two-storey house and effectively turning it into a three-storey residence, fire doors and a properly-wired fire alarm must be installed.

Attention must be paid to planning laws and building regulations when getting work done under the roof, confirms Michael Hogan of Attic Conversion Services. As well as complying with building regulations, you will probably have to get planning permission if you plan to install windows to the front of your house, depending on your local authority. However, rooms with lower roofs can make excellent playrooms or home offices, he says.

When choosing a building contractor, ensure they retain their own architects and engineers and, as a minimum, make sure to get a certificate of compliance, Hogan says.

It's not easy to comply with building regulations, says Simon Ensor of Sherry FitzGerald. Although an attic conversion can be "excellent value for money", if the job entails altering the roof, a once economical job becomes less value for money, he says.

However, a conversion could cover the costs twice over, says Ensor. If the room is not "habitable" this increase in value will not be as significant - but when it works, as in a house he sold in Sandymount which had a superb attic conversion, including 6ft roof windows, it always adds value. Even if you can't refer to your attic conversion as a bedroom, it is still great to have the space as a playroom, den, study or gym.

When converting your attic, make sure the staircase doesn't ruin the space and light on your landing. Avoid spiral staircases. Ideally, the stairs leading up to the converted attic should look like it has been always there, so ensure it blends with the décor and style of the rest of the house.