Boundary advice

Wassa123

Wouldn't be suprised if he's hopping over the wall into your land to build it either.

Enterprise_1701C

I wouldn't like to be the person sorting those cables out if anything goes wrong. A real builder would not build over them like that, we have often been called out by builders to change the routing of cables to get them out of the way.

That structure is very likely to cause problems too, if there is any movement it will rub on the cables, if it expands it could damage the cables that way, you simply do not put a structure like that straight onto cables!

djdust

Dropped a letter through their letterbox just now summing up all the points we'd discussed, thanking them for agreeing to halt more work and re-iterating again please do not allow any more work on the wall to be completed until this matter is resolved. Stay tuned all.

djdust

I emailed the council today too, got this is reply:

Thank you for your e mail. I am unable to view the photographs you sent with your e mail. However, it may be that the extension being constructed does not require planning permission. I have included below a website where you can view some guidance on proposals that do not require planning permission:

The road is not in an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. In addition, the site is outside the conservation area and not a listed building I would refer you to the planning portal website, where you can find out whether they require planning permission.

https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200125/do_you_need_permission

if you believe this may be a breach of planning control you can request it be investigated by completing the following online form:

http://www.swindon.gov.uk/planningenforcement

it appears to me that your main concern relates to structure matters and also party wall issues. I have therefore passed your e mail to Building Control regarding the structural matters. Further advice regarding the party wall matters, which is a civil matter to be resolved between two parties, can be found via the link below.

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

Kind regards,
Planning Officer

djdust

It's raining lightly today...

Enterprise_1701C

If they leave it like that the wall will collapse in no time flat. Surely that has to be a safety issue.

djdust

Enterprise_1701C wrote: »

If they leave it like that the wall will collapse in no time flat. Surely that has to be a safety issue.

Like I said, they've told me that guttering will be added but one of my concerns is that it'll cross the boundary and be on my side.

DRP

djdust wrote: »

Like I said, they've told me that guttering will be added but one of my concerns is that it'll cross the boundary and be on my side.

You need to have that chat with the builder & owner asap.

Ultimately though, it is the owner who chooses, and they who are responsible.

Enterprise_1701C

djdust wrote: »

Like I said, they've told me that guttering will be added but one of my concerns is that it'll cross the boundary and be on my side.

With that framework there is no way it could do otherwise.

djdust

Ok....

I just met and spoke to "Steve" the builder. The first thing he said was that the Building Control Officer from the local council had already been round earlier today and ok'd all the work and said the wall was fine. I didn't actually believe him so I fibbed and said I hadn't even spoken to the council yet so how on earth had they found out about it? He seemed genuinely baffled, said this bloke (whose name he hadn't got) had come round specifically because I, the neighbour had been unhappy about the state of the wall. He's either a very good liar or on the level. If so, blimey, the council actually got off their backsides and did something for a change..?

I then stated my concerns about any guttering to be added sticking out too much and going over the boundary and he simply assured me he'd make it as small as possible, gave me some techie talk about what he's do (that I didn't understand a word of) and just assured me would all be ok. At that point, I had nothing really more to add....

Here's my problem. I've done a load of reading up today about work being done on party walls between properties:

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2013/mar/14/home-extensions-plans-party-wall

And it's all very clear about how work done directly to a party wall, such as rebuilding it, adding a damp course, whatever - all this is covered in the Party Wall Agreement and the people getting the work done have to provide written notice, plans, get written confirmation back - it's all very clear. What's *not* clear is what happens when a "temporary construction" (as Steve called it) like this is put *on top* of the wall. I can't see anything at about a case like this...