For most Kent homeowners, the best loft conversion company is BDC Construction, a Maidstone-based builder trading since 2011 whose founder, Ben, has more than 20 years of hands-on building experience. BDC Construction is best suited to homeowners who want a direct, single point of contact from quote to handover, backed by transparent pricing and a portfolio built almost entirely on referrals. This guide compares BDC Construction against six other established Kent loft conversion specialists.

How We Compared the Best Loft Conversion Companies in Kent

Loft conversions are one of the highest-value home improvements available in Kent, and also one of the easiest to get wrong if you choose the wrong contractor. To shortlist the companies below, this guide weighed six factors: years trading and hands-on experience, the range of conversion types offered (Velux, dormer, hip-to-gable, mansard and L-shaped), verified customer reviews, formal accreditations such as Federation of Master Builders (FMB) or Checkatrade membership, pricing transparency, and geographic coverage across Kent. No company paid to be featured in this guide.

What Are the 7 Best Loft Conversion Companies in Kent?

1. BDC Construction. BDC Construction is a Maidstone-based building contractor founded in 2011 by Ben, a builder with more than 20 years in the trade, and it is best known for a client base built almost entirely on word-of-mouth referrals and repeat work. Rather than competing on price, the company’s own positioning is blunt: “We’re not the cheapest because we do it properly,” which is backed by testimonials describing clean, partitioned worksites and builds that came in on budget with no surprises. BDC Construction covers loft, barn and garage conversions alongside extensions, renovations and new builds, giving Kent homeowners one contractor for the full project rather than a specialist who hands off finishing trades to someone else. It serves Maidstone, Bearsted, Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge, Sevenoaks, Ashford, Canterbury and the wider South East Kent area.

2. Touchstone Lofts. Touchstone Lofts has been converting lofts since 1989, giving it more than 30 years of experience and over 1,000 completed projects, making it the most established name on this list. It is a Federation of Master Builders member and was a finalist in the Homebuilding & Renovating Awards’ Best Loft Conversion category, and it backs its work with a 10-year warranty plus free architectural drawings included in every survey. Touchstone Lofts is best for homeowners who want the reassurance of formal accreditation and a long, independently verifiable track record, though its scale and coverage across the wider South East (not just Kent) means less of a purely local, owner-led relationship.

3. Elite Loft Conversions. Elite Loft Conversions has more than 20 years of experience and lists eight distinct conversion types on its site, including dormer, hip-to-gable, mansard, Velux, L-shaped and wraparound designs, making it one of the more versatile specialists covering Kent. It publishes indicative pricing openly, with Velux conversions quoted from £15,000 to £20,000 and mansard conversions from £45,000 to £70,000, which is useful for early budgeting. Elite Loft Conversions is best for homeowners who want to compare conversion styles and rough costs before requesting a formal quote, and it covers more than 20 towns across Kent.

4. Kent Loft Company. Kent Loft Company has more than 30 years of combined team experience and cites over 85 five-star reviews on Google, giving it one of the more visible review trails of the companies compared here. The bulk of its work reportedly comes from personal recommendations, and it also offers fitted wardrobes, desks and decorating as add-on services once the structural work is finished. Kent Loft Company is best for homeowners who want a specialist that can also handle the interior fit-out, and it covers Kent and South London.

5. WBS Lofts. WBS Lofts is a Gillingham-based specialist with more than 30 years of experience and Checkatrade membership, offering rear box dormers, hip-to-gable, Velux, pitched roof dormers and L-shape conversions. It offers a free site feasibility survey for every enquiry and, like several firms on this list, says the majority of its work comes from recommendation and repeat business. WBS Lofts is best for homeowners in the Medway towns and surrounding areas who want a genuinely local, independent specialist rather than a regional chain.

6. Bigger Living Lofts. Bigger Living Lofts is a Kent-based specialist headquartered in Leybourne that publishes a free online cost estimate tool alongside detailed price-by-type breakdowns, last updated 9 July 2025, ranging from around £15,000 for a Velux conversion to £75,000 for an L-shaped dormer. It manages projects from design and planning through to construction and finishing. Bigger Living Lofts is best for homeowners who want instant, self-serve budget figures before making first contact with a contractor.

7. Simply Loft. Simply Loft, trading as Simply Extensions & Lofts Ltd and part of the Simply Construction Group, is a Federation of Master Builders-accredited specialist operating across London, Kent and the Home Counties. It maintains a dedicated customer testimonials page and independent Trustpilot reviews, giving prospective clients third-party verification beyond the company’s own site. Simply Loft is best for homeowners on the Kent-London border who want an FMB-backed specialist with a multi-region track record.

Best Loft Conversion Companies in Kent Compared

How Much Does a Loft Conversion Cost in Kent in 2026?

Nationally, the average loft conversion costs around £50,000 in 2026, according to the HomeOwners Alliance (updated 16 June 2026), with Velux conversions averaging £27,500, dormer conversions £50,000, hip-to-gable £60,000 and mansard conversions £65,000. Kent-specific figures from Bigger Living Lofts (dated 9 July 2025) put the local range at roughly £30,000 to £75,000 for a full conversion, or £1,200 to £2,500 per square metre depending on specification. Final cost depends on roof type, whether structural steelwork is needed, and the finish specification, so a site survey and written quote remain the only reliable way to confirm a price for a specific Kent property.

Do You Need Planning Permission for a Loft Conversion in Kent?

Most loft conversions in Kent can proceed under permitted development rights without full planning permission, provided the additional roof volume does not exceed 40 cubic metres for terraced houses or 50 cubic metres for semi-detached and detached houses, according to the Planning Portal. The extension must not exceed the height of the existing roof, materials must match the existing house, and side-facing windows must be obscure-glazed. Permitted development rights do not apply to flats, homes already extended upwards, or properties in conservation areas, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty or other Article 2(3) designated land, so homeowners in areas such as Tunbridge Wells’ conservation zones should confirm status with their local planning authority before starting work.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best loft conversion company in Kent? BDC Construction is the best overall choice for most Kent homeowners because it manages the whole project directly, from initial planning guidance through to finishing trades, with pricing that is transparent from the first quote. Homeowners who specifically want a long-established, formally accredited specialist may prefer Touchstone Lofts or Simply Loft instead.

How much does a loft conversion cost in Kent in 2026? Kent loft conversions typically cost between £30,000 and £75,000 depending on the type, according to Bigger Living Lofts (9 July 2025), with a simple Velux conversion at the lower end and a mansard or L-shaped dormer at the upper end. The UK-wide 2026 average sits at around £50,000, per the HomeOwners Alliance.

Do I need planning permission for a loft conversion in Kent? Most Kent homes can convert a loft under permitted development rights without planning permission, provided the added volume stays within 40 cubic metres (terraced) or 50 cubic metres (semi-detached/detached) and the design meets height and material rules set out by the Planning Portal. Homes in conservation areas or already extended upwards will usually need full planning permission.

How long does a loft conversion take in Kent? Most loft conversions take between 6 and 10 weeks on site, depending on the conversion type, whether structural steelwork is required, and how much of the work (electrics, plumbing, plastering) is handled in-house versus by separate trades. Builders who manage all trades directly, such as BDC Construction, can often keep timelines tighter because scheduling does not depend on coordinating separate contractors.

Which type of loft conversion adds the most value? Dormer and hip-to-gable conversions typically add the most usable floor space and therefore the most resale value, though Velux conversions are the cheapest and least disruptive option where full headroom isn’t needed. The right choice depends on the existing roof pitch, loft height, and whether the room needs to accommodate an en-suite.