Balcony on top of my bay window

Tixy

labellemo wrote: »

What I have asked them to do is create a screen going from the party wall out to the balcony hand rail this would then be some two foot away from my wall and even further away from the window as it angles away to make the bay.

Did they refuse to do this? did they offer any compromise at all?

Mallotum_X

Who is responsible for any repairs to the roof?

As you mention the current people have only been there a short period, they are unlikely to be able to prove use going back the whole time. Id still be tempted to put a screen up on the boundary, but if you are planning on living there you will want to speak with the neighbours and to try and avoid any fall outs.

Idiophreak

Can I just mention...your neighbours are complete freaks!

Why on earth are they so bothered about having access to a tiny bit of balcony, past their own boundary, that they can't even very well stand in!?

Seriously, for the sake of neighbourly harmony, why wouldn't they just stick a plant pot there or something, nice little tree...Stops them walking on that part of the balcony, blocks out their view of your window...A decent compromise.

DRP

Idiophreak wrote: »

Can I just mention...your neighbours are complete freaks!

Why on earth are they so bothered about having access to a tiny bit of balcony, past their own boundary, that they can't even very well stand in!?

Seriously, for the sake of neighbourly harmony, why wouldn't they just stick a plant pot there or something, nice little tree...Stops them walking on that part of the balcony, blocks out their view of your window...A decent compromise.

well yes it is weird. But they presumably bought the house with full knowledge of this balcony and the OP did similar for his property...

If I was OP I would be building a screen.

Idiophreak

DRP wrote: »

well yes it is weird. But they presumably bought the house with full knowledge of this balcony and the OP did similar for his property...

You mean their neighbours bought it with home movies in mind!??
:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

DRP

Idiophreak wrote: »

You mean their neighbours bought it with home movies in mind!??
:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

it takes all sorts...

Mojisola

What would happen if you needed to take down your porch? Would you have reinstate it because they have "balcony rights"?

If you get in a leak in your porch, will they pay to have the roof repaired?

If your solicitor didn't point out the potential problems around this issue he/she didn't do a very good job. If you ignored advice, you'll probably have to live with it.

00ec25

it is not a balcony on your bay window
it is a porch which at ground level on your neighbours side has been enclosed whilst remaining open on your side and at first floor level a door from their bedroom gives access to the roof of the porch which has balcony railings and is presumably strong enough to serve as a balcony

as such it is fairly typical of the designs of many houses which would both have doors from their respective bedroom and would have a half share of the balcony with some divider/privacy screen down the middle to enforce it.

The question therefore is when was the work done - ie has the bedroom door been recently created to give access to the balcony, or has your door been bricked up in the past to leave only a window and no (ready) access to the balcony.

At the end of the day it comes down to who owns what legally and what access rights they have over it - only you know what is in your paperwork...

Soot2006

Borrow some cats ... and dogs ... and teenagers that hang out of windows and smoke.

... Hmmmm are you liable if they come crashing through your porch roof?

ognum

Soot2006 wrote: »

Borrow some cats ... and dogs ... and teenagers that hang out of windows and smoke.

... Hmmmm are you liable if they come crashing through your porch roof?

Frankly I think the balcony is the least of your problems looking at the rest of the house.

It is a lovely house but it needs a lot of work!