New build- blocking neighbours windows & boundary query

[paulc2]

The update/reveal of events is interesting! So basically, here a summary:

1. Your house is right on the edge of the border
2. He offered a bit of money to build onto that, but you declined it
3. With both of you in dispute, you put in a daft window and he put up an entire house, bang on the border
4. You've effectively been left with an unmaintainable mid-terrace and he's been left with an unmaintainable end-terrace.

 

[cjard]

"Dear Mr Developer"

"Thanks for notifying me of the intention to build next to my house and for the offer of compensation to my residents for disturbance during the works. If you would be prepared to provide and install a window for me such that I could get some extra light for my stairwell/bedroom and a view down the street, and also locate the new building within the plot so that the window is not overshadowed, I would be happy to accept your offer and support your proposal to connect the two houses together"


??

 

[paulc2]

I think the lesson here is that, don't get an end-of-terrace built right up to the borderline. You don't control what can theoretically happen on the other side of it, and you have no advantage over a mid-terrace. I live in an end-of-terrace but there's about 8 feet between the next house (also an end-of-terrace) and each of us has a useful 4 foot wide passageway down the side of the house for somewhere to put the bins, somewhere outside to walk from front to back, etc.

 

[scooterb]

"Dear Mr Developer"

"Thanks for notifying me of the intention to build next to my house and for the offer of compensation to my residents for disturbance during the works. If you would be prepared to provide and install a window for me such that I could get some extra light for my stairwell/bedroom and a view down the street, and also locate the new building within the plot so that the window is not overshadowed, I would be happy to accept your offer and support your proposal to connect the two houses together"


??

Thanks, I like this as its well worded and polite.

I think its time to wrap this topic up now. Im just thinking of lots of things I could of / should of done which is going to change anything now.

All the best everyone & merry x-mas

 

[SimonH2]

After a few years and a couple of different tenants, I was contacted by the developer who wanted build a house and tie into my roof, thus mine no longer being an end of terrace.
The developer offered me a small sweetener amount to persuade me.
The figure was by no means sufficient for his plans and my tenants who worked nights would of been extremely disrupted.
When I turned down this offer ...

So he offered to reduce both your heating costs and your maintenance costs and you turned him down. That wasn't very clever was it.

My brother lives in a Victorian end of terrace and so has a huge gable end wall with no cavity or insulation. There are plans (and planning approval) to build a block of flats next door (having removed what used to be a car body shop) and my brother is hoping they do want to build right up against his and cut his heating bills.

 

[scooterb]

Cool......

Tell him to put a window in........ quick !!!!

 

[seasickstevie]

In a habitable room ................ or don't bother.

 

[braincurdle]

I think the law needs revising here so that people cannot build right up to the boundary. However it's too late for you, but do you really want to spend every day spitting teeth over this. Why don't you put in a special light to the roof to provide better light I know two people who have done this very effectively, and then get a very light coloured stained glass for the affected window so that you don't think about it every time you go up the stairs. Then when you sell it won't mean a thing to the right buyer.

 

[tony1851]

I think the law needs revising here so that people cannot build right up to the boundary.

That would prevent many people from building a side extension.

 

[Minnowonsay]

I think you should go down to the planning office and compare the plans with the actual builing. I have heard that developers often interpret plans in their favour when they build. I understood that there should always be a meter left. It is possible that the wall on the newbuild is a metre nearer yours than the plans say it should be. In which case they have a serious legal problem should the planning officer notice. And you would have a case. Although I guess maybe the former building set a precedent. Originally your house was not end of terrace and only became so when the sheds were pulled down.Still a little trip down to the planning office never hurt anyone.

 

[SimonH2]

I think that at nearly 4 years later, it'll be too late to do anything about it now

 

[geraldthehamster]

I think that at nearly 4 years later, it'll be too late to do anything about it now

Especially on the basis of "I think ... I have heard ... I understood ... It is possible ... I guess"

 

[motorbiking]

If you ever want to sell the house, that window, needs to go. I'd look at replacing it with a light tube or similar, if there is a need for natural light. But it sounds like you just wasted your money putting it in. I'm assuming you got the necessary approvals in the first place? The other option is replace it with a very small high level window.

 

[Nakajo]

Say good night Gracie.