Neighbours putting up garden building & renting it out

[bobtail4x4]

stair said:

Fantastic reply - that's exactly what I wanted to know.

As you say, the building itself does not need planning as it's 1 storey wood construction etc. The issue is with the change of use.

but as it has sleeping accomodation it needs B regs

[W124Bob]

Fire saftey and I'm sure other rules if used as accomodation?

[telecat]

I would report it. Firstly they lied about it. So they are "nice" to your face and aren't bothered about going behind your back. Secondly They should be paying rates and water on another building. Thirdly it may affect the value and saleability of your Property.

Basically It affects you deal with it!

[Devil2575]

mikeveal said:

Johnnytheboy said:

Keep it in the bank until they do anything to annoy you.

This.
"Please make sure your tennants are more reasonable. Neither of us want me to call the council..."

To be honest I think that would make you a bit of an arse. It's either a problem or it isn't. Do you bank things on everyone you know "Just in case"?

[Devil2575]

W124Bob said:

Fire saftey and I'm sure other rules if used as accomodation?

Good point.

[Mill Wheel]

OP, do you have room enough in your garden to build a similar structure, up against the same boundary and earn yourself a steady income?

At least you could be fairly certain that the neighbours would not raise any objections, and with Brexit price rises in the pipeline, the extra money will no doubt come in handy - once you have recovered the cost of the summerhouse!
Get a couple of Polish builders to put it up before they go home!

[Oakey]

Book it on AirBnB and then trash the place.

[TroubledSoul]

Oakey said:

Book it on AirBnB and then trash the place.

[BlueHave]

So I take it he got planning permission for this structure?

If not I'd probably just tip off the planners, but then my neighbour is a colossal knobhead.

[Chainsaw Rebuild]

ClaphamGT3 said:

If it's not causing any real disturbance, I would applaud their enterprise and get on with your life - at least they haven't put feral teenagers in it like one of our near neighbours did with their garden room!

This.

[anonymous-user]

Nimby

Forget it move on worry about sonething else. If it intrudes on you then report else leave it.

[mel]

You say "next to the fence" but how next is it? Less than 1m, between 1m & 2m or 2m+? Also how high is it?
The Height is less likely to be an issue as most off the shelf garden buildings are designed to be kept within the bounds of permitted developments but the proximity to boundary and footprint could also have building regs implications.

[7795]

I'm aghast and happy ready this thread...

I'm aghast in the sense that this would worry anyone. If there is no noise, no disruption of any sort and it does not impact neighbours in any way (yet*), why would you bother or even want to report them? I find it near impossible to get my head around the thinking of why you feel you NEED to report this sort of thing. Have you spoken to other neighbours or even THE neighbour?

I'm happy to know that people like the OP exist; it would be boring if we were always the same!!

OP, why do you feel you need to report this at this time?

• if it impacts your life in a bad way, I can fully understand you taking steps to discuss with your neighbour and then if it is not rectified to your satisfaction, taking it further.

Staggering!!!!!!!

[Swervin_Mervin]

7795 said:

I'm aghast and happy ready this thread...

I'm aghast in the sense that this would worry anyone. If there is no noise, no disruption of any sort and it does not impact neighbours in any way (yet*), why would you bother or even want to report them? I find it near impossible to get my head around the thinking of why you feel you NEED to report this sort of thing. Have you spoken to other neighbours or even THE neighbour?

I'm happy to know that people like the OP exist; it would be boring if we were always the same!!

OP, why do you feel you need to report this at this time?

• if it impacts your life in a bad way, I can fully understand you taking steps to discuss with your neighbour and then if it is not rectified to your satisfaction, taking it further.

Staggering!!!!!!!

What if it starts to become problem once they're beyond the time limit for planning being able to do anything about it?

What if he wants to sell and the buyer's solicitor picks up that there's a dwelling house int he neighbouring garden without p/p, and that's used to either bargain the price down or pull out completely?

There are many reasons as to why he should do something about it now, rather than wait, several of which may not be an issue for others on here. Not least there's the principle of the fact that his neighbours lied to him and took advantage of his good nature.

[CoolHands]

7795 said:

I'm aghast and happy ready this thread...

I'm aghast in the sense that this would worry anyone. If there is no noise, no disruption of any sort and it does not impact neighbours in any way (yet*), why would you bother or even want to report them? I find it near impossible to get my head around the thinking of why you feel you NEED to report this sort of thing. Have you spoken to other neighbours or even THE neighbour?

I'm happy to know that people like the OP exist; it would be boring if we were always the same!!

OP, why do you feel you need to report this at this time?

• if it impacts your life in a bad way, I can fully understand you taking steps to discuss with your neighbour and then if it is not rectified to your satisfaction, taking it further.

Staggering!!!!!!!

well since they will be utilising the services that the rest of us pay for, why shouldn't it be reported? If every single property housed a family of 5 in their back garden do you think that would be ok?

[stair]

mel said:

You say "next to the fence" but how next is it? Less than 1m, between 1m & 2m or 2m+? Also how high is it?
The Height is less likely to be an issue as most off the shelf garden buildings are designed to be kept within the bounds of permitted developments but the proximity to boundary and footprint could also have building regs implications.

It's less than a metre from the fence. Heightwise, I guess it's within the regs - it was an off-the-shelf building as you say.

[stair]

Swervin_Mervin said:

7795 said:

I'm aghast and happy ready this thread...

I'm aghast in the sense that this would worry anyone. If there is no noise, no disruption of any sort and it does not impact neighbours in any way (yet*), why would you bother or even want to report them? I find it near impossible to get my head around the thinking of why you feel you NEED to report this sort of thing. Have you spoken to other neighbours or even THE neighbour?

I'm happy to know that people like the OP exist; it would be boring if we were always the same!!

OP, why do you feel you need to report this at this time?

• if it impacts your life in a bad way, I can fully understand you taking steps to discuss with your neighbour and then if it is not rectified to your satisfaction, taking it further.

Staggering!!!!!!!

What if it starts to become problem once they're beyond the time limit for planning being able to do anything about it?

What if he wants to sell and the buyer's solicitor picks up that there's a dwelling house int he neighbouring garden without p/p, and that's used to either bargain the price down or pull out completely?

There are many reasons as to why he should do something about it now, rather than wait, several of which may not be an issue for others on here. Not least there's the principle of the fact that his neighbours lied to him and took advantage of his good nature.

Exactly this. I'm not a curtain twitcher or NIMBY, but what I'm hearing makes me understand that
a) there's a clock ticking becase I won't be able to complain after a certain date even if some nightmare tenants move in.
b) it will probably affect my ability to sell my house in future

[Oakey]

I'd report them solely on the fact they told you they were building a 'study / office' and clearly that's not the case. That they lied to you about their intentions hints at the contempt they have for you. If it had been the other way around do you think they'd think twice about reporting the OP? Treat them like the deadsts they are.

[The Surveyor]

stair said:

.....
b) it will probably affect my ability to sell my house in future

A breach of planning regulations by a neighbour isn't likely to impact on your ability to sell your own home. An on-going dispute with your neighbour would however certainly impact on any potential sale.

I would look at this in the context of your own quiet enjoyment. Does the use of the summer-house as a rental property impact on you directly any more than if the summer house was being used by your neighbour? If parking starts to become a problem, if there is excessive noise or nuisance, that's the time to discuss the problem with them, and then gauge your next move on their reaction.

[surveyor_101]

OP

whilst your neighbour has been a bit naughty if its not a major issue for you I would leave it.

It doesn't take much to ruin neighbourhood relations. I have been in a similar position and one of my neighbors complained about a neighbor who built a massive structure in his garden that stuck over the fence.

Before we knew it the guy we complained about turned nasty. Accused the wrong neighbour of complaining and started parking his van is an awkward place. Then the bin men refused to come up the street so all of our close had to take our bins past his house and into another road to get emptied.

If its not cuasing you a major hassle don't make a fuss as neighbour disputes tend to go bad and never get better.