Neighbour wants to convert their attached garage into a room for living (shared roof)

jnielow

Dear All,


I live in a terraced late 1960's ex council house with an attached garage to the front of the house, the garage shares a pitched corrigated roof with our neighbours garage, so basically our house from the front mirrors my neighbours.


I was approached today by my neighbour saying that he is wishing to convert the garage into a living area, he has approached a builder who said that my neighbour needed to speak to me. The thing is the roof of the garage needs to be replaced with a proper slate roof,which means as both roofs are joined both roofs need to re-roofed.


The thing is I am happy my my garage roof,and my garage remaining as a garage. I just need to know where I stand legally interms of whether I can do the following:


1/ Refuse to be drawn into the plans
2/ Refuse to contribute to the works
3/ Reject the plans


My neighbour said I am looking into doing this, but then did not say its ok I will pay for all the work.


Any help,guidance would be welcomed.


Thanks


Jason

cattie

Before you start thinking of just outright refusing with no justifiable reason, why don't you talk things over with your neighbour to see if they are willing to bear the whole cost.

Personally I'd not only prefer a tiled roof on my garage rather than an old corrugated affair. It's hardly an attractive feature. I'd also be happy to pay towards it as I know it would be an improvement to my property. What is the material used on the roof?, only if it is asbestos I'd be extremely glad to see the back of it & specialists will need to be called in for removing it.

I'd also much prefer to remain on good terms with a neighbour when they were not making unreasonable demands on me.

You will be able to object to any planning permission the neighbour might seek regarding conversion works & I don't think they could touch your part of the garage roof without your full consent, but as I say, think carefully before creating bad feeling when what the neighbour wants to do isn't an unreasonable request, especially if they are willing to bear the whole cost.

muckybutt

cattie wrote: »

What is the material used on the roof?, only if it is asbestos I'd be extremely glad to see the back of it & specialists will need to be called in for removing it.

Incorrect ! perfectly allowable and legal for anyone to remove asbestos sheeting like this. All you have to do is wear the correct PPE whilst removing it, do not break it up and you'll be fine.
Place the sheets on a sheet of visqueen and wrap them up in it making sure its sealed, then wrap it up again ( double wrapped ).
Most councils will accept this then down at the recycling centre's saving you a few grand on getting professionals in that aren't needed.

Stooby2

Sounds like you're going to get a brand new garage roof for free if you accept. Personally I'd be letting him go ahead as it's bit of a no-brainer for me.

System

And wait for the complaints from him when you are doing a bit of DIY in your garage and your thumping and banging is spoiling his TV viewing.

Never a good idea to convert one of a joined pair of gargaes into living space.

ETA
I knew there was another thread about converting garage and neighbour complaing of noise

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4928638

I_have_spoken

Yes. I recall that thread where a neighbour started sounding off about using the garage as a workshop when their side had been converted into a reception room.

Anyhow, IMHO the OP would be daft to pay £ for a scheme which the neighbour has initiated.

Also neighbour should serve a party wall notice to set-out how the work will be done without damage to the adjoining property. The OP would have the right to appoint a surveyor to act their behalf, at neighbour's cost.

2013yearofthehouse

You need to make sure that if there are any problems, the neighbour or their builder will rectify them with no cost to you. A friend of mine lives in the same type of house, but her neighbour not only converted the garage, but also built another storey above. The join between the new wall above the garage roof and my friends flat roof has been letting in water (plus the join at the back wall - garage was extended into the back garden also). The entire party wall between the two "garages" was saturated - the neighbours had no idea from their side, but it's really bad on my friends side, as it's just an exposed block work wall in her garage. Luckily (due to other initial problems) a surveyor was used and a party wall award was drawn up, so the neighbours have been required to fix it, all at cost to their builder. It took 3 months due to all the horrible weather we've been having and even now, another 2 months later, the wall still hasn't dried out. My friend's just looking on the bright side that at least it's just her garage and not a habitable part of her house!

jnielow

Many thanks for all the replies!, so basically I am aware that if he pays it all I get a new roof!. But neighbour cannot force me to contribute towards the cost?. I understand that if its a small contribution then fairplay to remain on good terms with neighbour. So to conclude neighbour has to draw up plans,serve me with a party wall notice? Is the legal side then in favour of my neighbour because he has converted the garage into a living area, and say I am in their banging around he could then serve a noise abatement order etc.


Should I just sit tight for the moment and wait?, seek other advice so I am forearmed? I have been at property since 2007 neighbour has only just moved in!


Many Thanks


Jason

cyclonebri1

I_have_spoken wrote: »

Yes. I recall that thread where a neighbour started sounding off about using the garage as a workshop when their side had been converted into a reception room.

Anyhow, IMHO the OP would be daft to pay £ for a scheme which the neighbour has initiated.

Also neighbour should serve a party wall notice to set-out how the work will be done without damage to the adjoining property. The OP would have the right to appoint a surveyor to act their behalf, at neighbour's cost.

Yes exactly, things are not as simple as they used to be, the party wall act is indeed applicable to all "common" walls and boundaries.

Now the problem is it has spawned a locust like plague of so called property law firms who involve them selves at every opportunity for only 1 reason.

However it it perfectly possible with amicable neighbours for this work to go ahead without any cost to either of you, it's just a simple form by both agreeing to the works, and does not dissolve any responsibility of the builder in law. A template of such letters is given as an appendix to most sites dealing with the subject.

The absolute must is to ensure that as they are working up to your property is that the builder is fully insured for such work, that would be my only real concern.

Research the PWA;)

cyclonebri1

!!!!!! wrote: »

And wait for the complaints from him when you are doing a bit of DIY in your garage and your thumping and banging is spoiling his TV viewing.

Never a good idea to convert one of a joined pair of gargaes into living space.

ETA
I knew there was another thread about converting garage and neighbour complaing of noise

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4928638

Whilst I totally agree it really is the building neighbours issue. I can only imagine the results is any of my old racetrack cars, (straight through exhaust, etc etc) was being tuned the other side of the wall:eek::eek: There will be firew reg issues for them too.