Help first time buyer…advice needed

Lulual85

Hi all! First time poster and buyer. 

we're going through the process of buying a house and we've been put off by how close a garage has been built to the gable wall (see attached).  Our solicitor has advised:

"there is not much that can be done from a legal perspective in relation to the neighbouring garage. As prospective purchasers, you are aware of the situation with the garage as it currently stands and by proceeding to exchange and completion you will be accepting this"

We just don't know how much of a risk it is buying this house and how worried we should be with regards to potentially having to carry out work to the gable wall in the future.  Is there any way to complete maintenance to that wall without having to ask the neighbour to knock down his garage?  Any advice would be appreciated - we're now at  a point where we need to make a decision on if we should pull out or not.

ss2020jd

Did your solicitor say anything in relation to the boundary and whether they have permission to do that? Is the property supposed to be semi-detached? Is there access at the back for maintenance? It looks too close for comfort to me and I would be concerned about maintenance, guttering, issues with the wall, damp etc but maybe others would see round these problems. 

I would find out more about the neighbours and the relationship between sellers as you don’t want to be part of an ongoing dispute with difficult neighbours. 

Lulual85

ss2020jd said:

Did your solicitor say anything in relation to the boundary and whether they have permission to do that? Is the property supposed to be semi-detached? Is there access at the back for maintenance? It looks too close for comfort to me and I would be concerned about maintenance, guttering, issues with the wall, damp etc but maybe others would see round these problems. 

I would find out more about the neighbours and the relationship between sellers as you don’t want to be part of an ongoing dispute with difficult neighbours. 

Thanks! I should have said it’s an end terrace but backs onto the other roads gardens and this garage has been built at the end of the neighbours garden! Apparently there is no boundary issue. The vendor has said there is no dispute but also no party wall agreement which seems a little strange to us. We seem to be going round in circles and just don’t know what to do or who to ask!
your advice is very helpful thanks! 🙂

ss2020jd

That does seem strange. If they have built right up to the boundary and it is touching the wall (as the metal bits look like) from what I understand that could warrant a Party Wall notice but maybe someone more experienced in these matters will know for sure. Under permitted development there are guidelines for distances etc for outbuildings and I can’t imagine they could have got planning permission for that. I hope you find more definitive answers soon!