Neighbour stole loft space for conversion

DebtFreeDuo

My parents have recently inherited an old mid terraced property, upon inspection of the loft space, the one side no longer has a brick wall dividing the properties, it is partially there but down the middle there is plasterboard, we assume this was put there when the neighbours on that side had their loft conversion done. However, this plasterboard comes across the boundary and across the top of our bathroom, it appears to come across a good couple of metres into our loft space. 

We are unsure what documents would have been issued and what permissions would have been given at the time and would just like an idea of what our next steps should be, can the property be sold as it is with just the plasterboard showing?

Thank you for taking the time to read through.

Jeepers_Creepers

What! Blimey.

DFD, any chance of (a) a photo, and (b) a pic of the plans shown on the deeds?

twopenny

My first thought was 'how could they manage this' as the dividing wall in a terraced house usually has the chimney and removal of that would be a problem to stability.

Also "With regard to the structural stability of the existing walls when undertaking a conversion of a loft space, consideration will need to be given as to how the new loads will be supported. For example, if new floor joists are provided and they are to be supported by an existing wall, the wall will need to continue all the way down through the house to a foundation or alternatively the wall will need to be provided with an adequate intermediate support."

So see where they are getting the support for their conversion, check the joists etc to see if they have intruded there.

Then there's the structure of the roof, What has happened to the roof trusses etc?

If you tried to sell the house like this with no documents about the intrusion it would be tough and you would be taking a huge dip financially if someone was willing to take it on without all the infomation about the agreement, intrusion and support of the building.

Carrot007

twopenny said:

My first thought was 'how could they manage this' as the dividing wall in a terraced house usually has the chimney and removal of that would be a problem to stability.

Well pairs usually share chimneys. The middle ones could well just have a partition.

Or like my last place nothing, the sideways on end houses (where I lived) had a 90% wall ;-) A child or small person could get over with help (you could stand up in there). But I think the middle 4 (terrace of 6) had nothing. I could shine a torch way beyond next door.

It is possible if done by idiots on the cheap they just got the wrong place (if you can confirm it is. OP, drill down from the loft edge, easily fixed and a definitive pointer! Or the previous owner could have agreed to it.

Kind of hard to picture, without pictures! May be nothing may be big. And depending on the whys may be hard to sort out if no one will/can pay.

theoretica

It is definitely next door's space intruding?  Not an old water tank boxed off or something?  I can see 'oh just box it in' as a reaction to asbestos insulation or something.

DebtFreeDuo

Jeepers_Creepers said:

What! Blimey.

DFD, any chance of (a) a photo, and (b) a pic of the plans shown on the deeds?

I do have a picture of the loft. I don't have a picture of the plans on the deeds at the moment though, I can try and get hold of them if that helps. I just followed how it lines up with the walls and I think it should be around the half way mark, so the highest point of the roof here.

DebtFreeDuo

I hope the picture above helps, it is definitely the conversion coming in to the loft space, there is also a wire plugged in on the plasterboard (the blue wire). There is a water tank in our loft and it is more central, just to the left of this photo.

It is a possibility that the previous owner may have just agreed to it but I assume something would have had to have been drawn up for him to sign to give away part of the house. Is it a good idea to approach the neighbours to ask them about it and ask them for something in writing to show this was agreed to? I imagine it will be difficult to sell as it is?

Sandtree

How much is it encroaching past your side of the party wall? The photo looks like its level to it or an inch or so past if anything

grumbler

It smells marijuana

theoretica

I was envisaging that the division between properties would be along that brick wall, but 'the highest point of the roof' and 'a good couple of meters into our space' puzzles me - are you saying the boundary is parallel to the roof ridge/into out of the photo?

Carrot007

That really looks like it is not going over the border. The border would be the partial wall that was removed to make a proper partition. Yes there are a couple of bits of wood to support the new plasterboard up there, but that would just be petty and not seen if that side did the loft out too.

So in all that bring us back to, get a long drill bit and drill down from the wall and show where it comes out downstairs. (not that it proves anything see later).

Though really it seems like paranoia, that partial wall has been removed whrerthe main plasterboard sits and would have been the partition (likely even if it is a bit off according to the plans).

I would say nothing to see here now after that picture.

(Did they have to remove the boarder wall there? No, Should they have asked? Yes. Is it reasonable if agreed to. Yes).