Neighbours extension joining our wall

PurpleFairy26

Hi. I'm not sure this is the right place but after advice. Our neighbour is building a small extension (we have no issue with this in principle) under permitted development. But he hasn't asked us and has dug down by our foundations and it's going to attach to outpr wall. He's not getting building control involved as he says he doesn't need to due to size but we're obviously concerned that it's done properly (he's doing the work himself)

Can he just do that without anyone independent checking it's ok and without our permission?

Any help appreciated.

warehouse

He needs a party wall agreement. You can go and stop the work now.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

PurpleFairy26 wrote: »

He's not getting building control involved as he says he doesn't need to due to size but we're obviously concerned that it's done properly (he's doing the work himself)

My understanding is a separate outhouse or a conservatory type of building doesn't require building regulation but if they open the house into the extension and/or add any electrics, heating, etc then building regs would apply.

Someone more knowledgeable should be able to clarify for certain.

dickibobboy

Joining your house wall or garden wall?

Could this have an effect on resale if the house is now ‘joined’ to next door too?

Davesnave

Are the houses already joined elsewhere, as in semi detached?

There is some confusion here. The neighbour may not need planning permission, but if it is a proper extension, not a conservatory or outhouse, it will need building regulations inspection and approval. That's your/his proof that it's constructed to the proper standards.

He should also have liaised properly with you.

PurpleFairy26

Just to confirm, it's a conservatory. Half brick built, half pvc but their house will be opened up to it.

We're already attached, but it's joining more to our house and not a garden wall.

Thanks for the responses.

troffasky

PurpleFairy26 wrote: »

Just to confirm, it's a conservatory. Half brick built, half pvc but their house will be opened up to it.

If the external door is being removed [which is how I read "opened up"] then it's not "just" a conservatory any more.



https://www.ultraframe-conservatories.co.uk/news/do-i-need-an-external-door-between-my-home-and-my-conservatory-

Aylesbury_Duck

You need to speak to your neighbour, get work involving your wall stopped and make sure they follow the correct process.

Doozergirl

As above, the Party Wall Act applies and he should have obtained a party wall agreement.

Read up about it. He should serve notice and you can agree to all the work or you can 'dissent' which means he needs to appoint a party wall surveyor to act for both of you or you can appoint another party wall surveyor to act on your behalf. It's 'nice' to use the same one because the neighbour has to pay for both. The PWS will agree the method of all work and also - they should pay you for half the cost of building the wall that belongs to you that they are using!

You can get an injuction to stop them. You should tell the builder that they do not have permission to attach anything to your wall.

I'd take some advice from a PWS immediately, personally and offer your neighbour to share the surveyor (to be nice) given that they've completely failed in their duty. If you don't want to be nice, you insist they appoint their own and they'll have to pay two sets of fees. You should pay nothing. I would not assent to any notice served, I would want it all signed off properly, especially becuase they are trying to operate outside of building regulations and so there is zero quality control.

There is urge cy because once the work is complete, the act no longer applies and you're stuck with making court action.

The neighbour has royally screwed up. Attaching to your wall with no paperwork is a pretty rubbish thing to do.

Building regulations also apply because they are opening it to the house. It becomes an extension and all building regulations apply.

Make a call now please.