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Neighbours existing extension - could it impact on our plans to extend?

  • 17-05-2017 2:25pm
    #1
    fg1406
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 433 ✭✭


    Myself and my husband viewed a property a few weeks ago. It's an executor sale and it's a mid terrace ex council house. It's reasonably priced and as far as we can see, our bid looks likely to be accepted.
    The property is very small but has huge potential to extend at the rear as many of the property owners in the area have done. My main issue is the neighbours adjoining the house at one side have a sizeable extension at ground floor level. It appears to be at least 30 years old if not older. Their extension forms the boundary wall of the rear yard of the house we are interested in. The extension has 2 frosted glass windows facing directly into the yard. Now this could severely impact on our plans to extend our future home. Are their windows legal? Also am I right in thinking we won't be able to extend because of these windows, if we cannot force them to block them up?

    I'd appreciate any guidance as I'm terrified of buying a house that we can't extend and make our own.


Comments

  • #2
    jmBuildExt
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 692 ✭✭✭jmBuildExt


    Id say you laughed when you saw that :)
    It is probably why there is not much action on the bids...

    Ask the estate agent what the story is.
    What you described sounds illegal (from an exempt planning point of view) - but the previous neighbours were obviously fine with it.

    Make sure that that is indeed the boundary.
    Find out what the neighbours are like and see are they approachable.
    Worst case scenario, it sounds like you would at least be able to build the wall of your extension in front of the windows.


  • #3
    fg1406
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 433 ✭✭fg1406


    I actually knew the previous owner as I grew up in the locality. He was an elderly bachelor who didn't really get involved with anything and I imagine the neighbours took advantage of that.

    The neighbours aren't exactly what I would deem approachable. this is the reputation they have rather than me knowing them personally. I don't think they were too nice to the gentleman that lived in the house. I feel if I put up a wall in front of the windows that they could be very difficult to reside next to. My husband is trying to be positive by saying that they could be gone soon enough as they are in their 80s 🙈


  • #4
    DOCARCH
    Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 18,579 Mod ✭✭✭✭DOCARCH


    If the windows are there more than 20 years then the adjoining owner will have a right to light to those windows....basically as right of way.

    Only (legal) way to have the windows removed, or block them up, would be by negotiation.


  • #5
    fg1406
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 433 ✭✭fg1406


    Thanks for that. It's not what I wanted to hear. With discussing it with my husband we are going to withdraw our offer as there is no point in buying a small house that we cannot extend.


  • #6
    Gileadi
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,126 ✭✭✭Gileadi


    DOCARCH wrote: »
    If the windows are there more than 20 years then the adjoining owner will have a right to light to those windows....basically as right of way.

    Only (legal) way to have the windows removed, or block them up, would be by negotiation.

    I've not heard of this right to light, have you any reference documents/links so I can read up on this?


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  • #7
    sydthebeat
    Subscribers Posts: 42,312 ✭✭✭✭sydthebeat


    Gileadi wrote: »
    I've not heard of this right to light, have you any reference documents/links so I can read up on this?


    https://www.lawsociety.ie/Documents/Gazette/Gazette%202014/Jan-Feb2014.pdf

    theres a good article about it here

    the relevant legislation


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