Neighbour Wants to Demolish Communal Out House Building

Simon_G_2

eddddy wrote: »

Hi Simon

In your position, I think I would write a letter and deliver it to each of the six houses proposing a number of options and asking for feedback. The options might be:

- Repair the existing building (and share the cost)
- Demolish and rebuild (and share the cost)
- Demolish (and share cost) and use the space as shared open air storage

You may get no responses, but at least you are making it clear that you are not relinquishing your rights to use the storage space - even if the building is demolished.

I doubt that the owner of the land will want the neighbours' open air storage (old bikes etc) on his land, so it may encourage him to work with you and others towards an acceptable solution.

Thanks for the reply eddddy - the building is at present unused, so no one uses the building for storage of bikes, garden equipment etc. I think what you've proposed is a sensible next step, as we all six home owners need to be in agreeance as to the future if the building or plot.

xylophone

If you and the other house owners own this building and the council insist on demolition, then you will all have to pay your share?

You are certain that only one of the house owners actually owns the land?

Simon_G_2

xylophone wrote: »

If you and the other house owners own this building and the council insist on demolition, then you will all have to pay your share?

You are certain that only one of the house owners actually owns the land?

Thanks for the reply. I'm actually unsure whether all six home owners own part of the building or the land it sits on. I suspect I'd only find this out by consulting a solicitor.

AdrianC

Simon_G wrote: »

Thanks for the reply. I'm actually unsure whether all six home owners own part of the building or the land it sits on. I suspect I'd only find this out by consulting a solicitor.

Presumably all six properties are registered at the Land Registry? A few quid for each will tell you exactly what's what. Once that's done, somebody needs to call a meeting of all six owners and discuss all this face-to-face. It sounds as if you're the one volunteering for that.

trailingspouse

How about inviting all the interested parties round to yours for tea and biscuits, and discussing all the options? Much better than trying to second-guess why anyone is doing whatever they're doing.

And find out how much it's going to cost to demolish. It might not be as much as you think, and 1/6 of not as much as you think isn't worth worrying about. Alternatively, if it's going to be more than you can afford, at least you know for sure (instead of just guessing) and you can make your decisions accordingly.

Simon_G_2

trailingspouse wrote: »

How about inviting all the interested parties round to yours for tea and biscuits, and discussing all the options? Much better than trying to second-guess why anyone is doing whatever they're doing.

And find out how much it's going to cost to demolish. It might not be as much as you think, and 1/6 of not as much as you think isn't worth worrying about. Alternatively, if it's going to be more than you can afford, at least you know for sure (instead of just guessing) and you can make your decisions accordingly.

Thanks for the reply - I agree, getting all six home owners together is the best possible course of action, unfortunately this could prove quite difficult as one of the houses in the block is currently empty and I'm unsure of the whereabouts of the owners. The owner of the house who proposed the demolition of the outhouse building is also based out of town.

Annie1960

Simon_G wrote: »

Thanks for the reply - I agree, getting all six home owners together is the best possible course of action, unfortunately this could prove quite difficult as one of the houses in the block is currently empty and I'm unsure of the whereabouts of the owners. The owner of the house who proposed the demolition of the outhouse building is also based out of town.

Google hangout?

BobQ

I would at least try and get as many of the owners together at the same time as you can and discuss what you would like to do with it.

If the majority agree the others may fall in line.

As far as I can understand the building has six compartments that seem about the size of a small shed. Surely this has some value to you and your property as a storage area? If the building is accessible from the road or from alleys, surely it would be useful as a cycle store or for a mobility scooter?

How dilapidated is it? I find it difficult to believe that a competent builder would charge a huge sum to repair. It must have a solid base already? Does it just need new doors and a new roof? I agree its worth getting a builder or two to quote for repair.

Has the council actually inspected the building? If so ask them in what respect it is unsafe? It might just be a new roof!

Simon_G_2

BobQ wrote: »

How dilapidated is it? I find it difficult to believe that a competent builder would charge a huge sum to repair. It must have a solid base already? Does it just need new doors and a new roof? I agree its worth getting a builder or two to quote for repair.

Thanks for the reply. I would say the building is quite dilapidated - the gable end appears to have lost some bricks from the apex over the last couple of years and the roof timbers appear rotten, there's also several slates missing on the side closest to our house, and I think it looks like there's no roof coverings at all on the other side of the roof.

ladyabouttown

If you own part of the building do you not own part of the land?

They would have to buy the land off you, charge them double the demolition cost...