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Decorating outside of house in new development
Comments
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As has been said, you need to read the deeds (those pesky fat documents you didn't read and just signed when you were buying it).
In there will be the restrictions, covenants etc you have to adhere to.
However - even with restrictions and covenants, you are still free to "wing it" if you are prepared for somebody to take umbrage over what you've done and make a noise about it.
On the balance of probability it is likely that even if your deeds said you had to leave it as is, if you actually DID change it, you then just have to balance out the cost/hassle -v- being prepared to reinstate it if somebody makes it an issue.
So, I'd say: get/read your deeds, so you know exactly what you bought into. This will be important anyway as your neighbours might do something that you disagree with that is prohibited in your deeds, so then you'd have the knowledge to be able to pull them up about it....
Then .... go ahead and do what you want, if you're prepared to suck it up if you get caught out. Don't fight it if you're in the wrong - just take on board the potential for it at the outset.
I doubt though, on balance, that your estate will say you can't do what you want with that bit of the frontage.
I live on a small estate with many restrictions/covenants and can point out where at least half the houses have broken them in some way or another - all obliviously as "nobody reads that stuff" and it appears only I have read every page of the fat documentation.
Typical things also include the sort of vehicles you are allowed to park, whether you can have a shed, needing PP to put up conservatories or summer houses and what plants you can change/remove from the initial planting scheme. They will also give you boundaries, responsibilities and include a myriad of funny little things, such as pathways/rights of way etc.0 -
We haven't read it because we haven't received it yet. We haven't exchanged contracts yet. And a brown panel around the front door isn't enough to put us off of buying what is otherwise our dream home, I would just rather change it if it's possible but I am sure I'll find out whether or not it is once we receive all the relevant paperwork.0
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It's like LandyAndy said - once the builders have sold the entire development and forgotten about the place, they'll stop caring about what you do.0
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Though the neighbours might care. Or not.
Have you asked the developers about this? They will know the answer far better than us!0
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