Knocking down half of a semi detached garage

joannaemmas

A bit of a random question but I am interested on seeing if anyone has done anything similar. Between our house and the house next door we have semi detached garages. We are considering whether we could knock our side of the garage down to extend the garden (you cannot actually get cars down the drive to it as it is too narrow!).

We were wondering of there would be any planning implications in doing this. I am going to speak to our neighbours to see if they still want to keep theirs (for us it is definately not worth it as it needs a new roof and two new doors which I'm sure their's does too). If they want to keep theirs we will of course have to make sure there it will still be waterproof. It appears to be a 'breeze block' style wall between the two...would this be waterproof or would it have to have something done to it e.g. rendering or another wall?

We are planning to on getting some people into quote but it would be nice to know a vague amount for getting rid of it and making sure next doors is OK so we can know if we are wasting our time with the whole idea...

Thank you

slummymummyof3

You will need the Party Wall Act to do this.......this might prove to be a rather expensive proposition; particularly if your neighbour objects!

phill99

Its not just the Party Wall Act. In yours (and your neighbours) deeds there is someti9ng called 'rights of support'. These are either express or implied and effectively mean that neither of you can do anything to your own property that will affect the stability of your neighbours property.

Needs looking into.

joannaemmas

Having looked into the Party Wall Act it seems this will apply but can't see any issues for the neighbours objecting...

Will the deeds even apply to the garage if it not attached to the house? I will have to dig them out!!

Seems to be getting more complicated by the minute!! x

slummymummyof3

Neighbours can have various reasons for objecting that aren't always obvious.......the Party Wall Act is there to facilitate the works to go ahead, to the satisfaction of all concerned. It is also there to protect the neighbours property; in the event of damage occuring to their garage, you will be financially responsible for rectifying it (taking into account the current state)

You really need to talk to the neighbour to find out their thoughts and feelings towards the garage before incurring the costs of the PWA and just issuing them with PW notices.

The PWA is not cheap!!! Particularly if they are not prepared to use the same surveyor as you and wish to appoint their own surveyor to act on their behalf (which as the building owner you will almost certainly be expected to pay for) If the two surveyors do not agree, there can also be the need for a third surveyor (expenses also met by the building owner)

Johnhowell

I think you need to apply for Planning Permission to demolish buildings.

Check with you local council Planning Department.

John

phill99

joannaemmas wrote: »

Will the deeds even apply to the garage if it not attached to the house? I will have to dig them out!!

,y original post said 'property', not house. The property will cover the whole of the demise including gardens etc.

planning_officer

You won't need planning permission for demolishing the garage, unless a condition attached to a previous planning permission requires it to be retained for parking.

sunshinetours

Speak to your neighbours first to see if you are both thinking the same thing. If you are problem solved!

Don't forget to factor in storage and the potential loss of it

joannaemmas

Thank you for your responses everyone! Nothing on the deeds etc so will just be the Party Wall Act, just hoping they also want to get rid to theirs too - much cheaper and easier!