Neighbours illegal work causing us major problems

Davesnave

melb wrote: »

Did there used to be a rule whereby if something has stood for 4 years, even if it was built illegally in the first place, and nobody has questioned it legality, it can remain?

Not much use to the person who I have sympathy with but just wondered if I had imagined this?

Yes, and a man called Mr Fidler made it more widely known by mischievously building a mock castle, hiding it behind a mountain of hay bales until 4 years had elapsed.

However, his actions weren't seen as being in the spirit of the law, or very sporting, so the nasty cad was forced to knock the whole thing down.

It's quite likely that Andrew Lloyd Webber is writing a musical about it as I type...:)

Debbie_Savard

Sounds like you're link-detached with the garages between the houses, and next door have changed use to a dining-room?



Your garage could still be used to tune-up a noisy motorbike engine most evenings and weekends?

fezster

melb wrote: »

Did there used to be a rule whereby if something has stood for 4 years, even if it was built illegally in the first place, and nobody has questioned it legality, it can remain?

Not much use to the person who I have sympathy with but just wondered if I had imagined this?

4 years for planning and one year for building regs.

However, if the drain built over is owned by the water authority, then I believe there is no time limit for enforcement.

VfM4meplse

fezster wrote: »

OP, your entire first post comes across as very intolerant and looking for a reason for confrontation.

That's not how I read it. The OP feels trapped which is why she came to the good folk on the forum. The builder sounds like a [STRIKE]rip-off merchant playing on her fears[/STRIKE] prophet of doom, a good structural survey pays for itself in terms of savings on unnecessary work.

A second opinion is required at the very least.

AndyMc.....

Debbie_Savard wrote: »

Sounds like you're link-detached with the garages between the houses, and next door have changed use to a dining-room?



Your garage could still be used to tune-up a noisy motorbike engine most evenings and weekends?

Is that the best you can come up with?

fezster

VfM4meplse wrote: »

That's not how I read it. The OP feels trapped which is why she came to the good folk on the forum. The builder sounds like a [STRIKE]rip-off merchant playing on her fears[/STRIKE] prophet of doom, a good structural survey pays for itself in terms of savings on unnecessary work.

A second opinion is required at the very least.

I do have sympathy for the OP, so my post have been a little harsh. I do believe they should have a conversation with the neighbour before making any assumptions on how they might react - you would hope most people would be reasonable, as long as they don't feel threatened or being accused of something (i.e. don't use the word "illegal" when having said conversation with them, OP). Best of luck.

photome

Will the OP return with answers. hope so

has 3 times started threads ( in 4 posts) over a number of years.

Lysimache

Hypothetically, can you legally demolish your garage, leave a wall standing and just wait for the other side's dining room to collapse and fall apart, and then get on with the rest of your rebuilding work?



Do you have any legal obligation to ensure the neighbour's dining room doesn't collapse?

VfM4meplse

Lysimache wrote: »

Hypothetically, can you legally demolish your garage, leave a wall standing and just wait for the other side's dining room to collapse and fall apart, and then get on with the rest of your rebuilding work?



Do you have any legal obligation to ensure the neighbour's dining room doesn't collapse?

Even if it's legal, it's not very neighbourly :eek: