Air conditioning unit on side of neighbour's house - best approach?

AdrianC

RelievedSheff said:

AdrianC said:

If the planners view the location as a problem, they may require it to be re-sited before planning can be granted.

And if they don't the OP will have to live with the location of the unit...

Hence the "IF"...

Doc_N

Rdwill said:

Have we actually seen a photo of the actual unit yet?

Did I read 6 pages and miss it?

Don't think so - but maybe he's not keen on showing where he lives?  Not unusual on public forums.

SuperHung

pinkteapot said:

Thanks for coming back despite the way the thread descended, OP. Let us know what happens because we’re seriously considering aircon for one of our bedrooms as it’s way too hot. 

Also, how noisy is the unit for you? Less worried about visuals (would be on the side of our house, in the gap between two houses, neighbour has no window there) but wouldn’t want to disturb our neighbour with noise. 

We got one last year. WFH in the bedroom and summer heat was tough. Our is an inverter model Mitsubishi. The outdoor unit sounds like a giant fan. I didn't apply for planning permission because no one really cares unless its dangerously installed and the outdoor unit is right next to your neighbours boundaries. I am just glad OP isnt my neighbour.

AdrianC

Doc_N said:

Rdwill said:

Have we actually seen a photo of the actual unit yet?

Did I read 6 pages and miss it?

Don't think so - but maybe he's not keen on showing where he lives?  Not unusual on public forums.

Given that this unit apparently dominates the view out of every window of the house, I'd imagine it's fairly straightforward to take a pic that shows the context of the unit without giving away the address.

Sunsaru

Technically, the OP probably has a point and is possibly right to notice this indiscretion however in the grand scheme of things, and I hate to pile in on the OP, this really is a  

First. World. Problem.

gab3x

If, and only if, exhaust of the units blows directly into your property and/or you have noise issues should you do anything about this. I am from Med where we all have AC units and sometimes hundreds of them in the same building and noise complaints are very rare. As for the exhaust.. this isn't some foul air, the exhaust air is merely atmospheric air at a higher temperature.

I am sorry but will be a little harsh here.. You and your wife need to find something else to entertain yourselves with as this is none of your business. 

I would seriously advise against bothering your neighbour about this as you might find they might tell you to bog off. I certainly would.

metron

Doc_N said:

RelievedSheff said:

AdrianC said:

metron said:

One little tip for a couple of you - not all detached houses are the same.  In villages they tend to be very different, not placed neatly in rows, not with windows neatly arranged just at the front and the back - windows can be on any wall.  Houses can be at any angle too.

This is precisely why people are asking for photos of the actual installation in question, in context, so that we can see how egregious it actually is.

The plain fact here is that an aircon unit has been put in place without an application for the necessary planning permission, which would have involved a consultation process with neighbours and a consideration of the siting of the unit.

Nobody is disagreeing with this.

All you need to do is to get in contact with the planning enforcement team at your local council, who may require a retrospective application to be put in.

You - and everybody else - will then have the opportunity to comment on that application.

If the planners view the location as a problem, they may require it to be re-sited before planning can be granted.

And if they don't the OP will have to live with the location of the unit and the neighbours will then know it was them who informed the council and objected to the application.

Lose, lose situation if ever there was one!!

Hardly. Can’t see why the OP shouldn’t just be open about it - talk to neighbours, mention the problem position, ask if can be moved, and if necessary say that he’ll have to seek advice from planners, knowing full well that the planners will take enforcement action.

No big deal - neighbours object to planning applications all the time. Hardly unusual. Better to be open about it than appear sneaky. 

Seems to me the guy with the aircon’s on a hiding to nothing. It’s probably going to cost him far more to go through planning, with an uncertain outcome which might mean no aircon at all and at best will probably mean moving it, than simply shift it a bit.

How far would it need shifting, OP?

Thanks - that makes perfect sense.  It needs moving by about a couple of metres to remove it from sight - and there's no technical reason why that couldn't have been done in the first place, simply out of consideration for neighbours.

Ordinarily in this village people talk to their neighbours before carrying out works requiring planning permission, and had that been done I'm sure we'd both have agreed on a location that suited both of us.  Instead of that, they just went ahead with it, without planning permission, and if it costs something to move it that's unfortunate. A brief chat beforehand would have made it unnecessary.

I think it highly unlikely that retrospective planning permission will be given for the existing position because even for heat pumps (which are given special favourable treatment) this is a requirement:

"Sited, so far as is practicable, to minimise its effect on the external appearance of the building and its effect on the amenity of the area."

That will almost certainly mean moving it down a couple of metres to minimise the impact, but from their point of view they may choose just to do it, without all the additional costs and hassle of planning.  There have been various other external changes to the house without planning permission, which we've never bothered with, but this was a step too far.  I suspect that a visit from one of the enforcement team would probably uncover further problems beyond just the air conditioning unit.

Thanks for your suggestions, and the others here who have contributed.  Some replies, either way, have been helpful - others less so. To those of the persuasion that you can do what you like to your own house - you're wrong. You can't. You need to observe the laws relating to planning, and if you don't you can expect problems when you come to sell your house (or even afterwards if you've done work requiring planning permission and/or building control and haven't fully declared it). 

AdrianC

metron said:

Thanks - that makes perfect sense.  It needs moving by about a couple of metres to remove it from sight - and there's no technical reason why that couldn't have been done in the first place, simply out of consideration for neighbours.

And this is exactly why you keep getting asked for a photo showing the context.

Ordinarily in this village people talk to their neighbours before carrying out works requiring planning permission, and had that been done I'm sure we'd both have agreed on a location that suited both of us.  Instead of that, they just went ahead with it, without planning permission, and if it costs something to move it that's unfortunate. A brief chat beforehand would have made it unnecessary.

Let's separate the "nice neighbour" asking from PP.
They are completely and utterly separate.

Putting PP on one side for the moment, they have precisely zero obligation to discuss it with you, and even less to take heed of any opinion.

I think it highly unlikely that retrospective planning permission will be given for the existing position

Perhaps you're right, perhaps you're not.
That's for the planners to decide.

But unless and until you - or somebody else - notifies the enforcement team of this work, and they decide to require an retrospective application, it's totally irrelevant.

If and when that retrospective app goes in, THAT is your opportunity to express your opinion. The planners may take it into account in reaching your decision, so long as it falls within the valid objection guidelines.

"I don't like the look of it" is not a valid objection per se.

You need to observe the laws relating to planning, and if you don't you can expect problems when you come to sell your house (or even afterwards if you've done work requiring planning permission and/or building control and haven't fully declared it).

Only if it's sold within a very short period of time from completion of the work.
One year for BR, four for PP.

After that, there is not a thing that can be done by the LA.
A putative buyer's solicitor might decide an indemnity is a quick bit of commission and a hug for a nervous buyer.

gingercordial

Thank you for this thread anyway, @metron, as we are thinking of having this kind of thing installed (fully south facing bedroom) and could have been swayed by the sites saying no PP needed.  We will make sure we get that aspect properly covered off when we do it.

(Saying this as one of those London residents so I'll make sure I install some barbed wire and graffiti at the same time.)

metron

gingercordial said:

Thank you for this thread anyway, @metron, as we are thinking of having this kind of thing installed (fully south facing bedroom) and could have been swayed by the sites saying no PP needed.  We will make sure we get that aspect properly covered off when we do it.

(Saying this as one of those London residents so I'll make sure I install some barbed wire and graffiti at the same time.)

Good point there - most of the websites selling these units are pushing out completely false information about not needing planning permission.  I hope they're ready for any comeback when people find out otherwise.