Neighbour's new extension and effect on our property

casper_gutman

Yeah, the build quality looks dreadful judging by the pics you've posted. Is this really supposed to be a properly habitable indoor space, as opposed to a sort of attached outbuilding/lean-to type affair?

Twisted_Animator

I'm not really sure what the extension is meant to be... but it is a student property, so could well have been built to allow them to house an extra student! 
I can't find any better pics of the back door roof as yet. You can just about see it in the after photo I provided earlier (there is still material on the top, though not sure how much this has been altered. Hopefully we will get round there soon and get a full shot.

Section62

Twisted_Animator said:

I'm not really sure what the extension is meant to be... but it is a student property, so could well have been built to allow them to house an extra student! 

Is it licenced as an HMO?

Given the build quality we can see I would also be concerned whether the interior meets the required standards for safety in relation to the spread of smoke and fire.

diystarter7

Hello OP

Sadly, you are a victim of the absent owner/LL, IE it almost happened to one of the rentals and people we know of. Often, unreasonable next door lot take advantage of the fact that the LL does not live there, won't be making back and take advantage based on their aforementioned  inaccurate assumptions

Have you rang the council for advice/guidance as it may be worth a call. IMO it depends who you get on the phone as some are more helpful than others but most have a lot of insight into problems like this.

We were lucky on a rental as the T contacted us by-passing our EA that next door had pulled down the fence, their fence and were planning to take up some of our gardens. We went out and had a chat intialy with the builders as the owners were not there and told them not to take even a mm of our land, all done politely. We then spoke with the owners and they were apologetic saying it was the builder's fault and I thought really - its timing and at times when next door is aware that the owner is not living there they may take advantage.

Good luck

Twisted_Animator

Section62 said:

Twisted_Animator said:

I'm not really sure what the extension is meant to be... but it is a student property, so could well have been built to allow them to house an extra student! 

Is it licenced as an HMO?

Given the build quality we can see I would also be concerned whether the interior meets the required standards for safety in relation to the spread of smoke and fire.

Yes it is a licenced HMO.

Twisted_Animator

diystarter7 said:

Hello OP

Sadly, you are a victim of the absent owner/LL, IE it almost happened to one of the rentals and people we know of. Often, unreasonable next door lot take advantage of the fact that the LL does not live there, won't be making back and take advantage based on their aforementioned  inaccurate assumptions

Have you rang the council for advice/guidance as it may be worth a call. IMO it depends who you get on the phone as some are more helpful than others but most have a lot of insight into problems like this.

We were lucky on a rental as the T contacted us by-passing our EA that next door had pulled down the fence, their fence and were planning to take up some of our gardens. We went out and had a chat intialy with the builders as the owners were not there and told them not to take even a mm of our land, all done politely. We then spoke with the owners and they were apologetic saying it was the builder's fault and I thought really - its timing and at times when next door is aware that the owner is not living there they may take advantage.

Good luck

It was actually our tenants that alerted us to the fences being removed initially, then later the trespassing. We tried various methods to get hold of the landlords following that, but all attempts were ignored. The next time we heard from the tenants (as they had been away), the extension was up.

diystarter7

Twisted_Animator said:

diystarter7 said:

Hello OP

Sadly, you are a victim of the absent owner/LL, IE it almost happened to one of the rentals and people we know of. Often, unreasonable next door lot take advantage of the fact that the LL does not live there, won't be making back and take advantage based on their aforementioned  inaccurate assumptions

Have you rang the council for advice/guidance as it may be worth a call. IMO it depends who you get on the phone as some are more helpful than others but most have a lot of insight into problems like this.

We were lucky on a rental as the T contacted us by-passing our EA that next door had pulled down the fence, their fence and were planning to take up some of our gardens. We went out and had a chat intialy with the builders as the owners were not there and told them not to take even a mm of our land, all done politely. We then spoke with the owners and they were apologetic saying it was the builder's fault and I thought really - its timing and at times when next door is aware that the owner is not living there they may take advantage.

Good luck

It was actually our tenants that alerted us to the fences being removed initially, then later the trespassing. We tried various methods to get hold of the landlords following that, but all attempts were ignored. The next time we heard from the tenants (as they had been away), the extension was up.

Thank you and good to hear you have T's like ours, good ones.


 just ask couciil - they do often do a courtesy visit. Ask to speak with the area enforcement officer as they are often on the ball. The rest is luck I'm afraid unless the council can do something, you may have to spend loads of money and still not get far.  (Please be aware the council may not tell you what they are aware of until they have acted on it, so remain nice and polite even if the officer sounds a bit unhelpful initially - I'm sure you will   )

IMO its a PDR as these types are very cunning and dont really care who is affected etc

However, if I was you, I would certainly contact the council and take it from there.

macman

Twisted_Animator said:

Section62 said:

Twisted_Animator said:

I'm not really sure what the extension is meant to be... but it is a student property, so could well have been built to allow them to house an extra student! 

Is it licenced as an HMO?

Given the build quality we can see I would also be concerned whether the interior meets the required standards for safety in relation to the spread of smoke and fire.

Yes it is a licenced HMO.

Twisted_Animator said:

Section62 said:

Twisted_Animator said:

I'm not really sure what the extension is meant to be... but it is a student property, so could well have been built to allow them to house an extra student! 

Is it licenced as an HMO?

Given the build quality we can see I would also be concerned whether the interior meets the required standards for safety in relation to the spread of smoke and fire.

Yes it is a licenced HMO.

Yes, but how many for? Is it possible that they have tacked on this tumbledown 'extension' to create extra rooms, for which they are not licenced?
Check for PP and BC approval for this work, then involve the LA if not authorised.

Twisted_Animator

macman said:

Twisted_Animator said:

Section62 said:

Twisted_Animator said:

I'm not really sure what the extension is meant to be... but it is a student property, so could well have been built to allow them to house an extra student! 

Is it licenced as an HMO?

Given the build quality we can see I would also be concerned whether the interior meets the required standards for safety in relation to the spread of smoke and fire.

Yes it is a licenced HMO.

Twisted_Animator said:

Section62 said:

Twisted_Animator said:

I'm not really sure what the extension is meant to be... but it is a student property, so could well have been built to allow them to house an extra student! 

Is it licenced as an HMO?

Given the build quality we can see I would also be concerned whether the interior meets the required standards for safety in relation to the spread of smoke and fire.

Yes it is a licenced HMO.

Yes, but how many for? Is it possible that they have tacked on this tumbledown 'extension' to create extra rooms, for which they are not licenced?
Check for PP and BC approval for this work, then involve the LA if not authorised.

I am not sure. I think there were 3 students when we lived there. Is there a way to find out their allowance?

There hasn't been any planning applications on the council website since 2015, which was just "Change of use from house in multiple occupation (Class C4) to purposes falling within Class C3 (dwelling house) or Class C4 (house in multiple occupation)".

How would I find out if they got BC approval? Is there a search, or would we have to request information from local BC services?

Section62

Twisted_Animator said:

I am not sure. I think there were 3 students when we lived there. Is there a way to find out their allowance?

There hasn't been any planning applications on the council website since 2015, which was just "Change of use from house in multiple occupation (Class C4) to purposes falling within Class C3 (dwelling house) or Class C4 (house in multiple occupation)".

How would I find out if they got BC approval? Is there a search, or would we have to request information from local BC services?

Most councils publish a list of HMOs in their area on their website, if you can't find it, give the HMO team a call.

I asked the question not so much about the numbers living in the property, but that if someone is running an HMO then there is even less excuse for allowing shoddy building work to be done, or not going through the planning / BC processes.

It is one thing if a property owner is happy to risk themselves or their own family members dying in a fire due to their failure to build properly, it is another for someone running a business to take such risks with their tenant's wellbeing.

If the owner knows about HMO licensing then they should also know about planning and building control. In my own personal opinion, some phone calls to the HMO and BC teams would be called for - to help make sure the welfare of people who will live in the property is being safeguarded.