Hi. It might be a bit long just to explain the background. I live in a Semidetached and have a side extension which does not go up to the boundary line separating my home from Next Door. Next door’s property has a flat roof side extension built up to the Boundry line. It was there when I brought my property and I don’t have a problem with that.
Planning passed plans for my next door neighbours to build another story on top of their flat roof garage extension plus a tiled roof. Planning was passed with no reference made to any of my concerns or queries. Main ones being loss of light as it will overhang the skylight in my kitchen where I receive a lot of light. Plus whether the foundations are strong enough to take all the extra weight.
Reservations about the foundations are because the neighbours flat roof garage extension was built forward of the properties building line. When I built my own side extension over 20 years ago you certainly couldn’t do this and that side extension has been there longer than mine. I know my own house was previously let to students and the landlords were in London and then it was empty sometime. Knowing the previous occupier I’ve no doubt he may have been quite happy whilst the house next door was empty to have gone ahead and built a garage extension and then quietly added on behind the scenes as it is a massive flat roof extension with living accommodation behind the garage. If Planning was never applied for it goes without saying building control was probably never involved. The gap between our homes is 40cm at the front and 10cm at the rear. The landing inbetween is obviously mine. So if the foundations fail and there is any collapse/major cracking etc. at all there is every chance my property will be affected also.
At this point in time all I want is for somebody to tell me that checks have or will be made on the foundations and it will support all the proposed development. All my neighbours have said is that the foundations are okay. I have written to building control as it’s not with planning anymore. I am being given the runaround. Seems nobody wants to put into black-and-white or commit themselves. Every time I contact building control after they haven’t answered my question I get the standard email saying it will take 10 working days (two weeks). They don’t even respond within this time frame.
The previous property I lived in which was built in 1854. I built a single storey side extension to this property. Next doors property was also again built up to the boundary line. They had a shower added on the ground floor. The shoddy workmanship resulted in drainage leaks that over a period of time washed all the subsoil away. in the end my extension of two years started to pull away from the main house. I had to live with piling works and all the inconvenience whilst it was being repaired. Whilst my insurers were able to claim off Next Door insurance the problem arose when selling the house. The usual question of subsidence!
At this point, I don’t know where to go for help. I’ve read about party wall agreements being served but I’m not clear on them. I don’t know whether to speak to a party wall surveyor or a solicitor. Again, I’m presuming this is an expense I will have to incur as I can’t get anything from building control or the next door neighbours.
Planning passed plans for my next door neighbours to build another story on top of their flat roof garage extension plus a tiled roof. Planning was passed with no reference made to any of my concerns or queries. Main ones being loss of light as it will overhang the skylight in my kitchen where I receive a lot of light. Plus whether the foundations are strong enough to take all the extra weight.
Reservations about the foundations are because the neighbours flat roof garage extension was built forward of the properties building line. When I built my own side extension over 20 years ago you certainly couldn’t do this and that side extension has been there longer than mine. I know my own house was previously let to students and the landlords were in London and then it was empty sometime. Knowing the previous occupier I’ve no doubt he may have been quite happy whilst the house next door was empty to have gone ahead and built a garage extension and then quietly added on behind the scenes as it is a massive flat roof extension with living accommodation behind the garage. If Planning was never applied for it goes without saying building control was probably never involved. The gap between our homes is 40cm at the front and 10cm at the rear. The landing inbetween is obviously mine. So if the foundations fail and there is any collapse/major cracking etc. at all there is every chance my property will be affected also.
At this point in time all I want is for somebody to tell me that checks have or will be made on the foundations and it will support all the proposed development. All my neighbours have said is that the foundations are okay. I have written to building control as it’s not with planning anymore. I am being given the runaround. Seems nobody wants to put into black-and-white or commit themselves. Every time I contact building control after they haven’t answered my question I get the standard email saying it will take 10 working days (two weeks). They don’t even respond within this time frame.
The previous property I lived in which was built in 1854. I built a single storey side extension to this property. Next doors property was also again built up to the boundary line. They had a shower added on the ground floor. The shoddy workmanship resulted in drainage leaks that over a period of time washed all the subsoil away. in the end my extension of two years started to pull away from the main house. I had to live with piling works and all the inconvenience whilst it was being repaired. Whilst my insurers were able to claim off Next Door insurance the problem arose when selling the house. The usual question of subsidence!
At this point, I don’t know where to go for help. I’ve read about party wall agreements being served but I’m not clear on them. I don’t know whether to speak to a party wall surveyor or a solicitor. Again, I’m presuming this is an expense I will have to incur as I can’t get anything from building control or the next door neighbours.
