Question re Neighbours Extention

Gavin57

Your neighbour would need your consent if they are attaching anything to your wall. If the extension has overhangs that cross the boundary this again would need your permission. It is up to your neighbours to make sure that the have all necessary permissions in place before doing the work. Planners do not usually get involved in ownership disputes they would only be concerned with the design of the extension and if it required consent and if it was being built as shown on the approved plans.
Is it a large or small extension as they may not have required to apply for planning permission. Did you receive any notification letting you know that your neighbour was intending to build an extension. Even if the Council own the building you should have notified if they applied for planning permission.

Wkdwill

They did get planning permission as the extention at our side isnt the only thing they are doing, they are extending at the other side too. I did look at the plans when they were available at the library but I never saw anything about the extention at our side or dont remember it, im sure I would have noticed if something said it was going to be built onto our wall thats for sure.

The council are coming out to us but not till Thursday, I think ill have to get onto them, im sure if they had been given notice for next door to build onto our house they would have let us know, as we only live a few doors away from the housing office.

The neighbours themselves believe there is some sort of Party Wall Agreement between the two properties, due to our house having work done on the gable end and needing scaffolding put up in their garden, but I thought for every bit of work been done needed its own notice, the digging foundations within 3 meters of our property, then the building to our wall etc, I think they are under the impression that once a notice is served for one thing it serves for all, as they did serve notice to dig, but then she did say she wasn't even sure she had to due to the Party Wall Agreement and only did it to cover themselves.

The problem is im not supposed to know whats going on as I can only see the building they are doing by looking between the fence and our house otherwise I wouldn't know.

Kiran

Thats as may be, but as a concerned home owner you have noticed someone drilling into the side of your house so finding out what that was is your right. I would hurry the council up though. Stress the urgency and your concerns.

Wkdwill

Couldn't actually get through to anyone that knows a damn so im going into the office tomorrow.

New development though, we had our kitchen done at the begining of Jan including plastering, which has been fine, no cracks, until today that is, I dont know if its a coincidence or not but the plaster on the same wall they have been drilling into has loads of cracks now.

Wkdwill

Update for you all.

Council came out yesterday, not really interested, said all the cracks are just cosmetic. Not really interested in hearing about next door, DH had a nosey over the fence while they were out (he didnt go in their garden though) he said although it is joint to our wall only one of the walls they have built is joint, they have left a gap between the extention and our house (which we assume they will fill in, insulation?) its just the front of the extention which is joint (so you cant see the gap).

So probably not as bad as we thought, although it would have been nice to be told.

The next thing we know they will be doing is re-rendering the front of the house, which means lots of scaffolding accross our parking space and drive, wondering if we will be told about that before it happens.

Thanks to everyone for your replies though.

marybishop

Just for info they should have served a PW notice on you which you would have had to sign - it's not a tit for tat thing i.e. just because you had work done before they are not entitled to do some all on the same notice (if I've understood you correctly!). Can't believe how indifferent the Council is - was it Building Control who came out to the property? If so, I'm surprised at their attitude.

I would suggest you take some photos of the cracks as they are now and keep a check on them so you've got an on-going record in case you need to take the matter further.

If you want some free advice about the PW Act phone the RICS 0870 333 1600 and ask for the names/numbers of PW surveyors in your area who are happy to give 30 mins free advice over the phone.

mollymunchkin

If you are still unsure if they have planning permission for the front extension ring the planning department and request to see the file to check for yourself. If it turns out that the building work is not in accordance with the approved plans put a call into the enforcement section at the council.

baldelectrician

LindaMary wrote: »

Our neighbours added an extension to the side of their house. It butts up to our driveway and the eaves of the roof overhang our property by 2 foot! The planners passed it! I cannot help think they may have problems when it comes to sell.

When I insatlled a vent in a kitchen (Scotland) the AIR from it could not vent to a neighbours space. It has to vent to land that is part of the existing house.
We ended up ducting through the house and exiting at the rear.

It's the same with CH flues I think

a little more strict up here :rotfl: