Neighbours garage construction

nikimummy5

WIAWSNB said:

nikimummy5 said:

It is semi detached with a garage then a gap with another semi detached with a garage. The garages are on the front of the houses added as you say later on but now the houses are joined because of this extension and it comes into my boundary 

Ok, that is significantly different from what I first understood.

I would agree that your neighbour, and their builder, would appear to have breached the requirements under the PWA. Potentially to your significant detriment - as you say, you now appear to be terraced as opposed to semi.

I'm still unclear as to what the builder has done. Could you explain with complete clarity, please?

1) You have a semi-detached house, with a garage towards the other neighbouring boundary?

2) Your garage sits approximately 6" from the true known boundary?

3) There is another semi-D on the other side of this boundary? 

4) Is it a similar design to yours?

5) Is their garage also around 6" within their boundary? 

6) Your two garages were also separated, and this would therefore be by around 1'?

7) The builder 'closed' this gap at the front, but left it open at the back?

8) What do you see when you look up this gap?

9) Did the garage conversion involve the existing garage wall 'moving' closer to your wall? 

10) Do you know how their bedroom wall suddenly became part of your wall? 

As suggested before, look up this extension on your LA's Planning Portal, and download the plans. It would have been subject to Building Control at the very least. 

Thanks for your reply so it’s a bit confusing but I will try to explain as best I can.  The houses mirror each other and were built without garages in 1924. A garage was added to my house at some point with the wall within my boundary and then the other house used that wall and built a front and back. We then did an extension the full length of the house including the garage. There was a gap from front to back. The extension the builder had done has attached to my wall and it sits underneath the hangover of my property to the property line ( guttering is just up to boundary line) they have no guttering it’s just under mine and tied into my main wall. 

I hope that explains it a bit more. 

nikimummy5

Keep_pedalling said:

nikimummy5 said:

Keep_pedalling said:

nikimummy5 said:

Keep_pedalling said:

I am struggling to get my head around this. Surely you would have noticed long ago that there was no gap between your house and the garage conversion.

The gap was very small and the builder filled it in at the front. He said he did this to stop debris getting in. The back of the house still has the gap so I was unaware 

Even if there was a small gap, how were you going to fit the external part of the vent (cowling / gravity flaps). The other problem would be moisture trapped between the walls would cause a damp issue for both of you.

Was this a DIY job or did you pay someone to do this? A competent tradesman should have realised there was a problem before starting any work. 

I don’t think anyone on here can advise on the main problem. Do you have legal cover on your home insurance? 

Keep_pedalling said:

nikimummy5 said:

Keep_pedalling said:

I am struggling to get my head around this. Surely you would have noticed long ago that there was no gap between your house and the garage conversion.

The gap was very small and the builder filled it in at the front. He said he did this to stop debris getting in. The back of the house still has the gap so I was unaware 

Even if there was a small gap, how were you going to fit the external part of the vent (cowling / gravity flaps). The other problem would be moisture trapped between the walls would cause a damp issue for both of you.

Was this a DIY job or did you pay someone to do this? A competent tradesman should have realised there was a problem before starting any work. 

I don’t think anyone on here can advise on the main problem. Do you have legal cover on your home insurance? 

Thank you for that advice it never even occurred to me about the damp or flap outside. I will just fill the hole and use the window. Obviously still look into the permission side of the build. 

Presumably neither your wall or the adjoining wall are cavity walls (I can’t imaging being able to go through both if either were) in which case plugging the hole should not be too difficult. 

Yeah will be able to fill it easily however it was an extremely sturdy solid wall. 

Boohoo

nikimummy5 said:

WIAWSNB said:

nikimummy5 said:

It is semi detached with a garage then a gap with another semi detached with a garage. The garages are on the front of the houses added as you say later on but now the houses are joined because of this extension and it comes into my boundary 

Ok, that is significantly different from what I first understood.

I would agree that your neighbour, and their builder, would appear to have breached the requirements under the PWA. Potentially to your significant detriment - as you say, you now appear to be terraced as opposed to semi.

I'm still unclear as to what the builder has done. Could you explain with complete clarity, please?

1) You have a semi-detached house, with a garage towards the other neighbouring boundary?

2) Your garage sits approximately 6" from the true known boundary?

3) There is another semi-D on the other side of this boundary? 

4) Is it a similar design to yours?

5) Is their garage also around 6" within their boundary? 

6) Your two garages were also separated, and this would therefore be by around 1'?

7) The builder 'closed' this gap at the front, but left it open at the back?

8) What do you see when you look up this gap?

9) Did the garage conversion involve the existing garage wall 'moving' closer to your wall? 

10) Do you know how their bedroom wall suddenly became part of your wall? 

As suggested before, look up this extension on your LA's Planning Portal, and download the plans. It would have been subject to Building Control at the very least. 

Thanks for your reply so it’s a bit confusing but I will try to explain as best I can.  The houses mirror each other and were built without garages in 1924. A garage was added to my house at some point with the wall within my boundary and then the other house used that wall and built a front and back. We then did an extension the full length of the house including the garage. There was a gap from front to back. The extension the builder had done has attached to my wall and it sits underneath the hangover of my property to the property line ( guttering is just up to boundary line) they have no guttering it’s just under mine and tied into my main wall. 

I hope that explains it a bit more. 

If you can take some photos the 2 houses and the garage from the front and or back please.

You could draw a sketch of yours and next door and that may help forum users.

You say you have to wait for the council to send plans, I take it you'r council doesn't have online planning applications then?

If no plans can you ask your neighbour of the garage/ bedroom for their plans to have a look at while you still are on good terms with.

Also contact you LP insurance for advice when you get the plans and see what they say.

nikimummy5

Boohoo said:

nikimummy5 said:

WIAWSNB said:

nikimummy5 said:

It is semi detached with a garage then a gap with another semi detached with a garage. The garages are on the front of the houses added as you say later on but now the houses are joined because of this extension and it comes into my boundary 

Ok, that is significantly different from what I first understood.

I would agree that your neighbour, and their builder, would appear to have breached the requirements under the PWA. Potentially to your significant detriment - as you say, you now appear to be terraced as opposed to semi.

I'm still unclear as to what the builder has done. Could you explain with complete clarity, please?

1) You have a semi-detached house, with a garage towards the other neighbouring boundary?

2) Your garage sits approximately 6" from the true known boundary?

3) There is another semi-D on the other side of this boundary? 

4) Is it a similar design to yours?

5) Is their garage also around 6" within their boundary? 

6) Your two garages were also separated, and this would therefore be by around 1'?

7) The builder 'closed' this gap at the front, but left it open at the back?

8) What do you see when you look up this gap?

9) Did the garage conversion involve the existing garage wall 'moving' closer to your wall? 

10) Do you know how their bedroom wall suddenly became part of your wall? 

As suggested before, look up this extension on your LA's Planning Portal, and download the plans. It would have been subject to Building Control at the very least. 

Thanks for your reply so it’s a bit confusing but I will try to explain as best I can.  The houses mirror each other and were built without garages in 1924. A garage was added to my house at some point with the wall within my boundary and then the other house used that wall and built a front and back. We then did an extension the full length of the house including the garage. There was a gap from front to back. The extension the builder had done has attached to my wall and it sits underneath the hangover of my property to the property line ( guttering is just up to boundary line) they have no guttering it’s just under mine and tied into my main wall. 

I hope that explains it a bit more. 

If you can take some photos the 2 houses and the garage from the front and or back please.

You could draw a sketch of yours and next door and that may help forum users.

You say you have to wait for the council to send plans, I take it you'r council doesn't have online planning applications then?

If no plans can you ask your neighbour of the garage/ bedroom for their plans to have a look at while you still are on good terms with.

Also contact you LP insurance for advice when you get the plans and see what they say.

Boohoo said:

nikimummy5 said:

WIAWSNB said:

nikimummy5 said:

It is semi detached with a garage then a gap with another semi detached with a garage. The garages are on the front of the houses added as you say later on but now the houses are joined because of this extension and it comes into my boundary 

Ok, that is significantly different from what I first understood.

I would agree that your neighbour, and their builder, would appear to have breached the requirements under the PWA. Potentially to your significant detriment - as you say, you now appear to be terraced as opposed to semi.

I'm still unclear as to what the builder has done. Could you explain with complete clarity, please?

1) You have a semi-detached house, with a garage towards the other neighbouring boundary?

2) Your garage sits approximately 6" from the true known boundary?

3) There is another semi-D on the other side of this boundary? 

4) Is it a similar design to yours?

5) Is their garage also around 6" within their boundary? 

6) Your two garages were also separated, and this would therefore be by around 1'?

7) The builder 'closed' this gap at the front, but left it open at the back?

8) What do you see when you look up this gap?

9) Did the garage conversion involve the existing garage wall 'moving' closer to your wall? 

10) Do you know how their bedroom wall suddenly became part of your wall? 

As suggested before, look up this extension on your LA's Planning Portal, and download the plans. It would have been subject to Building Control at the very least. 

Thanks for your reply so it’s a bit confusing but I will try to explain as best I can.  The houses mirror each other and were built without garages in 1924. A garage was added to my house at some point with the wall within my boundary and then the other house used that wall and built a front and back. We then did an extension the full length of the house including the garage. There was a gap from front to back. The extension the builder had done has attached to my wall and it sits underneath the hangover of my property to the property line ( guttering is just up to boundary line) they have no guttering it’s just under mine and tied into my main wall. 

I hope that explains it a bit more. 

If you can take some photos the 2 houses and the garage from the front and or back please.

You could draw a sketch of yours and next door and that may help forum users.

You say you have to wait for the council to send plans, I take it you'r council doesn't have online planning applications then?

If no plans can you ask your neighbour of the garage/ bedroom for their plans to have a look at while you still are on good terms with.

Also contact you LP insurance for advice when you get the plans and see what they say.

The council have nothing linked to this building except an application for building regs and then a note saying completed build. All other areas are blank and nothing to see. I’ve tried on my house and everything is documented properly. I’ve got my legal team from the house insurance ringing tomorrow. I will try to get a few pics but this is one from google earth. My building is the one with the windows but it’s not great to see the gap you can see how their build gets wider at the front. I’m not bothered tbh if it’s attached as long as it’s been done correctly and it doesn’t reduce the price of my property. On principle too I feel I should have been consulted as it changes my council tax insurance etc. 

stuart45

Boohoo 

If you can take some photos the 2 houses and the garage from the front and or back please.

You could draw a sketch of yours and next door and that may help forum users.

You need to upload these.

jaybeetoo

I think you should be bothered as it may cause problems when you come to sell your house.

Spikeygran

Trying to get my head around this and only going on my own previouse experiences.  

Garages are usually built with a single skin (brick or block).  If a pair of garages are built together theres usually only a single skin wall down the middle which would be a party wall owned by both sides and I would have expected that you had to sign to give permission for its use.  Your deeds should have had some documentation added to describe what had been done.

If your garage was a single construction and not in anyway attached to your neighbours house/garage, then I would expect their construction to have its own wall and the gap maintained between the 2.   Usually this wall would be several inches inside their boundary.   

If they were asking to attach to your wall,  you would have to agree and I would have expected to have been paid  plus them paying for all fees, survey, land registry etc.    A neighbour bought a tiny slice of my garden, not attached to any building and all those things happened. I got given detailed plans even including the style of fencing before agreeing.

Converting a single skin wall to living accomodation, there is usually foil backed insulation added on the inside, before battening and plasterboard added.  It doesn't sound like you drilled through any of that?  I suppose you were lucky you didn't hit any wiring??  Its not a case of just filling up the hole, water ingress etc is going to be a problem unless its dealt with properly.

WIAWSNB

Niki, who drilled this vent hole? And how deep was it when it came through the neighbour's wall?

Boohoo

WIAWSNB said:

Niki, who drilled this vent hole? And how deep was it when it came through the neighbour's wall?

Looking at the photo I would say it was cavity sized wall as OP looks to have a full side extension with roof windows so it should be a cavity wall.

Until the OP puts up photos of attached building to their property we are just guessing I think.