Neighbour wants to build extention.

ScouseMouse

Hiya folks,

Looking for input about how this may affect me and any ongoing issues I may experience.

I have a terraced house and my neighbour wants to build an extention. His house is built set back about three feet behind mine, and the proposed extention is perhaps another fifteen to twenty feet long.

I am aware he has the right to do this subject to it not exceeding X square meters. I also know that I will probably lose all direct sunlight until, perhaps 5 pm in the evening.

The main issue that concerns me is he wants to take down a length of boundry wall, put in proper founds and build a "fire wall" which will make up the external wall of his extention. He has asked me for written permission to do this.

Now the whole thing is peeing me off due to my loss of light and it overshadowing me, but I am aware he has the right to do it.

Is there anything anyone can think of, in this, that I need to consider before I do anything.

Thanks

Superscouse

sinnerboy

If you want to do the same thing in future - very convenient to have this wall built for you .

So often potential useful space is lost to simply gather rubbish and encourage vermin when extensions are held back from these rear boundaries

Don't offer to pay for it - his concession to you .

Allow access for the works - but insist on a protective hoarding . You will lose space during this part of the build - but safety first .

Insist on a fixed timeframe eg wall to be built rendered painted within 3 weeks (weather permitting )

Insist that no part of his roof should oversail the new wall and that in the event that you do build up to the wall - that it is agreed that the wall is deemed shared ownership .

ScouseMouse

Thanks sinnerboy. That is useful info. I dont really have any concerns about time frame as I am sure he wants the builders out as soon as possible.

He did point out to me, if I ever wanted to build an extention, then I would only need two walls as the third will already be there. There is no question of him wanting me to contribute to the cost.

I just want opinions about future problems etc and general input.

Thanks again.

Anyone else see anything in this?

pseudo-tech

Is the extension single or two storey?

If it is two storey it will more than likely reduce your natural light which your neighbor is not entitled to do. If you give your consent you ask for the following:

The finish on the party wall should be to your satisfaction,
There should be no windows overlooking your private space,
There should be no other works contained in your space like drainage etc.,
You should also establish whether the extension requires planning permission or not.

ScouseMouse

pseudo-tech wrote: »

Is the extension single or two storey?

If it is two storey it will more than likely reduce your natural light which your neighbor is not entitled to do. If you give your consent you ask for the following:

The finish on the party wall should be to your satisfaction,
There should be no windows overlooking your private space,
There should be no other works contained in your space like drainage etc.,
You should also establish whether the extension requires planning permission or not.

Single story with an A style roof, with velux windows facing the opposite way. The finish is matching what I have already. Planning not required due to the small scale.

He went through this already with me last night, so I reckon he did think it out.

I can see where he is coming from, young family, needs space, so I think I will just have to put up with it but any observations are greatfully received.

Zilog

Well at least you and your neighbour are talking superscouse, fair play! Best way to arrive at an agreeable outcome. Something which can be lacking a lot these days. In my own case I made sure to meet all neighbours before even applying for Planning. I know I'd like to be at least asked if the situation were reversed!

DvB

Given the approximate area of the proposed extension it 'should' be exempt from requiring planning permission, however, how big is your neighbours rear garden itself? ie will this extension reduce the open space in his garden considerably? I ask as there is still a requirement to provide adequate private open space irrelevant of whether the proposed works meet all other planning exemption criteria, which if this proposed extension infringes on will require a planning application. If the garden is large enough however to still provide the necessary open space it looks like you'd be as well to get as many concessions as possible from your neighbour before he starts work which have been already outlined above.

ScouseMouse

mmmm.

The extension will reduce the available open space by about 40%

I am not looking to cause my neighbour any trouble as we get on quite well, i am mainly concerned about the effect this may have on me.

sydthebeat

superscouse wrote: »

mmmm.

The extension will reduce the available open space by about 40%

I am not looking to cause my neighbour any trouble as we get on quite well, i am mainly concerned about the effect this may have on me.

if its an A shaped roof coming off the back of his house, that means there will be a gutter along your side of this new boundary wall..... are you happy with this??... who will maintain it?? where will the down pipe be located?? make sure its on his side!!!

if you ever do plan to build than its very handy already having the wall there for all the reasons sinnerboy posted above....

sinnerboy

Ask for the shared wall to be built up past his gutter - to form what is called a parapet gutter , sometimes called a concealed gutter

kmb

Hi,
Why not check the legality of the extension as i was going to do a extension in in laws house in waterford and when i rang the planning office i was told that even with neighbours permission and applying for planning itr would be practically impossible to build within 2 metres of the boundary wall.
I wonder if its the same for your county council?
Their house is a semi detached.

see below taken from:

http://www.waterfordcoco.ie/en/services/planning/faqs/exempteddevelopment/#Can I build an extension without planning permission?



Can I build an extension without planning permission?

Small scale domestic extensions, including conservatories, do not require planning permission if the extension is to the rear of the house and comply with the following:
• the original floor area of the house is not increased by more than 40 square metres. It is important to note that where the house has been extended before, the floor area of the extension you are now proposing and the floor area of any previous extension, including those for which you got planning permission, cannot exceed 40 square metres;
• for terraced or semi-detached houses, the floor area of any extension above ground level does not exceed 12 square metres, this includes any previous extensions carried out;
• for detached houses, the floor area of any extension above ground level does not exceed 20 square metres, this includes any previous extensions carried out;
• any extension above ground floor level is at least 2m from any party boundary;
• any extension does not exceed the height of the house;
• any extension does not reduce the area of private open space, reserved for the occupants of the house, to less than 25 square metres.

There are also rules about the height allowed in such an extension. These are that:
• if the rear wall of the house does not include a gable, the height of the walls of the extension must not exceed the height of the rear wall of the house;
• if the rear wall of the existing house has a gable, the walls of the extension (excluding any gable being built as part of the extension) shall not be higher than the side walls of the house;
• in the case of a flat roofed extension, the height of the highest part of the roof may not exceed the height of the eaves or parapet. In any other case, no part of the new roof may exceed the highest part of the roof of the house;
• a gable is the upper part of a wall (normally triangular), between the sloping ends of a pitched roof.

There are also rules about the required distances between windows in extensions, the facing boundary of the adjoining property and the use of the roof of the extension. These are;
• any windows proposed at ground floor level as part of an extension should not be less than 1 metre from the boundary they face;
• any windows proposed at above ground level should be not less than 11 metres from the boundary they face;
• the roof of any such extension should not be used as a balcony or roof garden