FTB- are these covenants "normal"?

kerri_gt

sheepy21 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies everyone! The estate was built in the 1970s, was bought a few years ago by developer who has then been refurbishing all of them. He's retaining pieces of land to build more houses, hence the bit about being unable to contest any future building works. The part of estate we're buying on currently isn't inhabited at all, so can't see yet if neighbours will breach the covenants, on other parts of the estate people have erected fences, hedges, changed driveways etc which is why we'd assumed we could. I don't know however if they could have different covenants to us? I'm assuming that as there's still quite a few to sell and upcoming building work, that he will potentially uphold these covenants
These have been put in place by him to protect his own interests, which I find irritating as we all will be the ones living there and not him :mad:

We live in a very similar private road - houses were sold off about 30 yrs ago but the covenants still apply. It actually does help keep the road looking well kept and orderly (covenants such as the front gardens should be well maintained).

Over the years some covenants that applied 30 yrs ago have been agreed as not entirely practical now, like no satellite dishes - however homeowners and occupiers are encouraged / requested to position them at the rear of the house if possible - or low down out of view (a few houses have them at ground level).

However we were told at the last AGM that a request for the likes of solar panels would be given a firm no.

sheepy21

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Re putting off future buyers - my thoughts if I were viewing the house would be:

No caravans - oh good. Bonus that the neighbours won't have one

Can't extend driveway - oh good. Bonus the neighbours can't do that

Divide between houses - I'd surreptitiously put out huge plants in huge nice pots along the invisible boundary just inside my plot

No sky dish - oh good. Bonus the neighbours can't have one

No objections to future planning permission - darn cheek. If I decide to object I'll object (that would be a downside - worrying about that). I suspect that one is invalid and there is some law somewhere that covers everyone in Britain for making the objections we are fully entitled to make and that covenant is a try-on by him.

I honestly love the pot plant idea and it gave me a chuckle :rotfl:

davidmcn

The planning objections one is a bit daft, as you could easily just ask someone else to make the some points as you. Though I think in general people overstate the importance of planning objections, generally all they're doing (if they're making any valid points at all) is pointing out things which the planners can figure out for themselves anyway.

diggingdude

Does it mean no objection to the on site building plans or no objection to a nice field near by he wants to build 50 flats on? I would reject regardless if I wanted

Nebulous2

We aren't allowed to keep rabbits. As most of my family are allergic to them it isn't a great loss. I've also seen no commercial vehicles - so no works vans.

LittleMax

Is the restriction on the driveway definitely a covenent or is it a planning condition? If the latter you may have problems.