Dispute with neighbour - they want to attach their garage extension to our detached garage??

debcotterill

Any advice greatly appreciated as my elderly parents are in a dispute with their neighbour.  The neighbour has decided to build a small approx 1.5 metre extension on the back of their detached garage.  They have taken it upon themselves to start attaching their extension to the side of my parents detached garage, without consent.  Are they allowed to do this?  Does it not change my parents property and therefore value by it becoming linked to their property?  I arranged for a planning officer to come out who has advised that it is a civil matter rather a planning issue.  The title plan showing the boundary line from The Land Registry is not specific enough to show precisely who owns what due to the scale.  As the neighbour is intending to attach a sloping roof (away from my parents garage) they are still concerned about possible damp and not being able to gain access to the side of their detached garage for any maintenance.  I have also heard something about metre tolerances - does this mean they cannot do anything within a metre of my parents garage even if that means that metre sits within his garden?  Sorry for so many questions but my parents don't know what to do, is it really necessary to  spend a lot of money on a chartered surveyor with boundary and demarcation disputes experience and take legal action?  Thanks in advance for any comments.  I am waiting to get some free legal advice from the RICS which may give some guidance.

mrschaucer

That looks like all kinds of wrong.  I don't suppose there was any mention of party wall agreements?

debcotterill

No they just went ahead and started it

mrschaucer

Start by reading this for info
https://www.gov.uk/party-walls-building-works/work-tell-your-neighbour-about

NameUnavailable

Take a sledgehammer to it now! How do some people get away with it!

moneysavinghero

mrschaucer said:

Start by reading this for info
https://www.gov.uk/party-walls-building-works/work-tell-your-neighbour-about

Maybe write that link on a big piece of paper and tape it to your garage.

theoretica

Looking at how the garden wall is offset from the garage wall, and the eaves of the garage overhang I would suspect the boundary is intended to be a few inches away from your parents' garage wall.

mrschaucer

I feel an injunction coming on

debcotterill

Thanks for the comments, it sounds already like this is not acceptable.  Is it easy / costly to get an injunction?

mrschaucer

I think that's where your free legal advice is going to come in useful!
Also, do your parents have legal advice cover with their house insurance by any chance?  A quick phone call might help.

mrschaucer

Or if you google "party wall disputes" you might come up with a firm giving free initial advice?