museumworker's quest to consign mortgage to history!

tootallulah

Honestly some people, of course you are worried what did they expect? I hope that you managed to speak to your other half and that has helped. It is horrible to have something like this hanging over you at the week end when you can do nothing. I really hope it turns out to be RUBBISH. At which point the champagne corks will be popping from my end of London in your direction.

Queen-Bee_2

OK.. deep breath now.. I'd feel exactly the same, believe me, but the fact is that you don't know the facts.. all is not lost here, and your neighbour might well be misinformed.

Assuming you're not in a conservation area or anywhere which might have special provisions, you might well find something about extensions and permitted development on the local authority's web-site. Of course you also relied on your builders' advice, so this is the first port of call in the morning.

Sounds to me as if you have jealous neighbours more than anything else though - that would explain (though not excuse) the grilling you got from them. Perhaps they want to confirm the situation because they too want an extension and would like to use the example of yours as a precedent - in which case tbh, they'd be better off working with you than than issuing vague 'sour grapes' mutterings about you having to dismantle yours.

Don't doubt yourself and please, please don't catastrophise about the worst case scenario. It is most unlikely. Poo to unreasonable neighbours. Sorry, but it had to be said - just wish I could find one of those emotion-thingies to express the sentiment!!
QB

gallygirl

Queen-Bee wrote: »

Poo to unreasonable neighbours. Sorry, but it had to be said - just wish I could find one of those emotion-thingies to express the sentiment!!
QB

Will this do QB . A sentiment shared by me :rotfl:

museumworker

Just a quick note to say thanks to you all for posting, it has cheered me up and made me feel a lot less alone in this.

Queen-Bee_2

gallygirl wrote: »

Will this do QB . A sentiment shared by me :rotfl:

Ohh, GG, that'll do fine!!

LilacPixie

I like GG thingy. It just conveys kiss my lilly white a$$.

I think, MW, the clue is in what the neighbour said, they looked at similar but their planner said they would never get such plans approved so they abandoned the idea. As far as your aware your builder submiitted plans and they approved it work went ahead and all is fine. Most council planning departments havebits to check granted permissions.

CathT

Has someone from buidling regulations been popping by to see how things are getting on? Hope you get some piece of mind today.

museumworker

My first proper attempt at multi-quoting!

Queen-Bee wrote: »

Assuming you're not in a conservation area or anywhere which might have special provisions, you might well find something about extensions and permitted development on the local authority's web-site.

Sounds to me as if you have jealous neighbours more than anything else though - that would explain (though not excuse) the grilling you got from them. Perhaps they want to confirm the situation because they too want an extension and would like to use the example of yours as a precedent - in which case tbh, they'd be better off working with you than than issuing vague 'sour grapes' mutterings about you having to dismantle yours.
QB

I'm not in a conservation area, but the advice on the local government website is very confusing. They have a picture of an L-shaped loft with a big x next to it (this is for people applying for planning permission!) I think the neighbours were grilling me because they also want to do the same, and want to use me as precedent. The warnings were probably meant as friendly advice as to how seriously I should take it. However, their advice received was very different from mine. The builder explained that the work I want to do falls entirely within building regulations, in terms of volume, materials etc. This is set nationally, and unless you're in a restricted area or listed property, the council don't have any comeback. I've checked this http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/commonprojects/loftconversion, and yes, I meet all these requirements. Apparently the confusion comes when a) you are doing something outside these requirements, either bigger, in a restricted area etc and then need planning permission or b) when you ask the council for certificate of lawfulness. Then the council get to stick their oar in, and apparently as the building regs changed fairly recently, many of the council advisors are still stuck in old ways and may object to things then. I may be totally confusing issues here or way wide of the mark, so please pitch in with any comments! The builders have been very reassuring, and said if they have not applied for a certificate of lawfulness as it is not needed, building regs are being met, and this certificate can hold jobs up for months at a time for no reason whatsoever. These can be applied for retrospectively if needed. The builder will take on any objections, and negotiate with the council on our behalf to sort out any issues.

Does anyone know why you would want a certificate of lawfulness? (Currently considering it without the 'l' :rotfl:) Apart from if you were about to sell. Should I push for one, or would that be making a mountain out of a molehill???

gallygirl wrote: »

Will this do QB . A sentiment shared by me :rotfl:

Hilarious! That made my day, almost made the whole crisis worthwhile (almost, I said).

LilacPixie wrote: »

I
I think, MW, the clue is in what the neighbour said, they looked at similar but their planner said they would never get such plans approved so they abandoned the idea. As far as your aware your builder submiitted plans and they approved it work went ahead and all is fine. Most council planning departments havebits to check granted permissions.

Yes, they definitely want to do the same but are clearly very nervous after advice given. Not quite sure what you mean here about granted permissions though? This whole building malarky is all very new to me.

CathT - tried to multiquote you too but failed . Yes, I am having the requisite visits from the building regs inspector from council throughout the project, and gave notice of works 7 Sep. One is coming over the next couple of days to inspect insulation.

Oh, and Toots, failed on multiquoting you too :o, not sure it is quite champagne time yet - you seem to be quite experienced with matters of building works, so please do give me your advice!

Courgette

I think you can only multi-quote 3 people per message.

I'm so glad you feel a bit happier about the building works. Some poeple just love stirring things and making other people feel carp, don't they. When's your OH home? Can't be much longer now?

PS why is your clothing budget such a random amount? I've often wondered this! Think I need to get out more :rotfl::rotfl:

museumworker

OH home on Saturday afternoon . Will link later to a post I read explaining about certificate of lawfulness, it helped put it in context. At the end of the day, if the other couple are worried about whether their loft conversion will be lawful, they can apply for a certificate for their project for £75 plus drawings. I am no longer worried, I'm convinced it is fully within permitted development regulations, I don't need a certificate or want the hassle of going for one. If they are - their problem!

The clothes budget is a funny amount as I started August 2009 with a pro-rata amount - I managed to save £6.79, so carried it over to this year! And I think I will need that extra few quid at this rate! Are you thinking about joining us in that challenge?