Neighbour's extension - Should I inform insurance company?

Reigatian80

Hi,

I received over the weekend details of the planning application that my neighbour has submitted.

My house is mid terrace, and the neighbours house is joined to the left side of our house. They plan to demolish a single storey rear extension and build a slightly longer two storey rear extension. The extension shares a wall with our two storey rear extension. Due to subsidence in our area, our house was underpinned just under 20 years ago.

I am obviously concerned that this work will affect our property given the underpinning in place and was keen for people's opinions as to how to proceed. Should I suggest to the neighbour that they put a Party Wall agreement in place? And should I also be informing my insurance company or will this allow them to increase my premium?

Many thanks

Gwhiz

Your neighbour must put a party wall agreement in place if you share a wall that will be affected.

Then it will be up to his insurance to pay for any damage to your property.

Reigatian80

Thanks @Gwhiz, thats what I had figured. Do you think it is not worth me informing my insurance company?

Gwhiz

Reigatian80 wrote: »

Thanks @Gwhiz, thats what I had figured. Do you think it is not worth me informing my insurance company?

I cannot see any reason to involve your insurance company as it's your neighbour making changes to his property, not you to yours.

The planning process will take time anyway, you do not even know if the proposed changes will be accepted yet.

Any planning permission will state that your neighbour must put a party wall agreement in place where applicable.

Reigatian80

That's reassuring, thanks Gwhiz

rpc

Reigatian80 wrote: »

Should I suggest to the neighbour that they put a Party Wall agreement in place?

No, you will require your neighbour to put a Party Wall Agreement in place.

Remember, you get to appoint a surveyor to look after your interests. Your neighbour gets the pleasure of paying their bill. Don't get fobbed off - especially not when there have already been structural issues!

ognum

Definately insist on a Party Wall agreement, they will not like it but it will protect you and your home.

jimmy_cricket

As already suggested, make sure there is a party wall notice in place with lots of pictures. The muppets my neighbour used recently for an extension walked over our roof on a number of occasions (caught by us once and spotted by another neighbour). Broke roof tiles, now leaking and our own roofer thinks they have damaged the velux window, causing the leak. Response is 'not us gov, already leaking'. Hoping that the party wall pictures will help to resolve...

Dave_the_Ginger_Cat

If it goes ahead, also insist on a surveyor coming out (at next door's cost) for a party wall survey to survey the affected area your property before the works are done

http://www.mypropertyguide.co.uk/articles/display/10080/the-role-of-the-party-wall-surveyor.htm

That way if there is any damage done, there is no dispute on who did it

This covers the regs

https://www.gov.uk/party-wall-etc-act-1996-guidance

and from memory has example letters

When I had my loft conversion done, I paid for the survey for my neighbour and it gave us both peace of mind