Will neighbours extension lower value of my house?

PasturesNew

As the cheapest option,

I'd get myself a "car port" up there... a pergola ... whatever fancy name you call it.... then, along that side, put up my own "frosted perspex", so I couldn't see her windows at all.

For selling, that area could then be cheaply "dressed" into an outside feature.

harasnrubdoow

PasturesNew wrote: »

As the cheapest option,

I'd get myself a "car port" up there... a pergola ... whatever fancy name you call it.... then, along that side, put up my own "frosted perspex", so I couldn't see her windows at all.

For selling, that area could then be cheaply "dressed" into an outside feature.

That's a good idea, I did consider my own utility room thing because it would actually be really handy as the kitchen is very small, but decided against it for the cost. When I've said privacy film above I don't think I mean privacy film more that frosted effect sticky back plastic stuff, which would be as good as frosted perspex but I'm relying on her agreeing to put that in her windows, with perspex she won't have a choice... I'm hoping the planning department can maybe tell me if extending my kitchen too and therefore basically building a wall in front of her windows is even an option / if I'd get planning permission or not. Thank you for the suggestion

harasnrubdoow

Davesnave wrote: »

.......................

Yeah they might not come back with anything but even if they don't see any reason a new owner could erect an extension of their own then that info could be valuable to a buyer.

I'm definitely considering bamboo plants because it would look nice (hopefully) as well as solving the issue. When I said privacy film you're probably right that it wouldn't help but what I had in mind was that frosted sticky back plastic stuff, I've already put some (badly) on my garage window and while there's bubbles and it fits terribly it does the job, so that'll be my next suggestion to the neighbour as my mam has rolls of it spare too.

zagubov

Some of the advice is too late for the OP, but this public forum isn't just for him/her, it's also for people with similar problems or potential problems who need to be warned/ advised/given the heads-up before they get as deep in a dilemma as they seem to have ended up in.

Doozergirl

harasnrubdoow wrote: »

OK hun. If that's "payment" then I'll be asking for a refund. If you've got nothing nice to say just don't say anything it's not hard.

Only one of us been rude, so you'd be good to follow your own advice. You came here with the problem so it's in your own interest to be polite to those trying to help you.

I gave two posts of relevant advice which is backed by proper planning experience without passing judgement on the fact that you missed proper opportunity to do anything constructive, before asking you to stop being antagonistic. If you don't want to play nicely, it's your prerogative, but it's not helping you with the real issue.

Ozzuk

If you are looking to sell then I wouldn't be extending further, you're unlikely to get the money back. I'd go with the fence suggestion, make it a nice area and remove the issue. As for declaring a dispute if your neighbours don't like it, any buyer would likely prefer fences in place before buying and you'll have already dealt with anything the neighbour comes up with.

You could of course pre-warn your neighbour, might help reduce risk of action. I'd also add some climbers for colour, make it a feature. All that will only cost a couple of hundred.

armchaireconomist

The neighbour can object to your fence all they like, as long as it's within your boundary and 2m or under they can't do a thing about it. They should've thought about that before plonking a window there.

Gee_Man

Hi,

I want to do a 4m extension but neighbours are objecting however the planning officer mentioned in passing that we may be able to have 3m plus the distance between the property and the boundary (80cm in my case). Reading some forums I know people have had 3.6m extensions when they are allowed 3m (well accordingly with legislation).

My question(s) is this -

1) Has anyone been in a similar situation?

2) If I was to do a 3.8m extension then can the neighbours complain, take legal action, stop the plans/build etc

Any advice around this would be amazing.

Doozergirl

You should start your own thread instead of tagging onto one, if you want more answers.

Neighbours can object, but they don't have the power to stop building. There has to be a valid planning reason.

Your interpretations of what is allowable are confused, so I suggest looking at the Planning Portal in the first instance, at extensions.

Permitted Development will allow you a 3m rear extension from the original back wall/s. Beyond that you are into planning permission territory. No big deal to gain the right amount of space.

I'm not sure how building to the boundary relates to the 3 metre rule as the boundary is to the side, not the rear.

Better off starting your own thread and describing your house and planned build properly, rather than your interpretation of the rules when we don't know what your house looks like and so can't guide on how the rules apply.

harasnrubdoow

Thanks for all who gave me some great ideas! For anyone who was wondering, I've put up a fence. I've still not sold (still waiting on the new build, but that's definitely a different thread!). From what I can gather the windows wouldn't have necessarily lowered the value of my house but it was very unattractive, estate agents who have valued haven't said anything negative about either the fence or the windows but friends and family seeing my house for the first time definitely had opinions on the windows but don't even notice the fence. It's the perfect little bit of weather protection for my recycling station so that's there instead of plants or trees, though they would have been pretty they wouldn't have gotten enough light. 
I checked with the planning department and they said no planning was needed provided it was less than 6 foot and it's in my garden, I think if they were going to take me to court for right-to-light or something they would have by now. In the end they started putting the blinds up and waving at me through the window which I just found really weird and a bit violating, especially considering all the other people I know living in terrace houses don't have this kind of see-through boundary directly into their neighbours home.
We tried bamboo too but it was a bit flimsy and shed bits of twig everywhere so gave up. I learned during this process that the fence is actually on my land and technically belongs to me which is nice to know because I didn't know that before.

Thanks for all the suggestions etc. the fence makes me a lot more comfortable and I'm confident it will help my sale when the time eventually comes.