What can we do about next doors property??
Discussion
Been a member for quite some time and also a regular visitor/reader of this forum... Cue the top lurking jabs! 
I will say it never fails to amaze me the wealth of knowledge on here though...
So on to the reason behind this post...
We currently live in a reasonably sized semi-detached cottage. When I pruchased the property the neighbours were living in the adjoining cottage under roof with us and their house wasn't in too bad condition hence me buying ours... Moving on 7 years now, our neighbours have been living elsewhere for the past 5 years and their property has somewhat gone down hill since being empty. We have already invested considerable amounts into our property renovating it and modernising the property to a functional family home... Last year we put the property on the market as we had enjoyed our journey doing this project and had our eye on another potential project. We had plenty of intrest in the property and several second veiwings whilst on the market for 4 months however all of the feedbavk we recieved from the vendors was that ours was lovely and they really liked what we have created, however next door was putting very off putting... At this time we managed to obtain a letter from one of the vendors stating this and forwarded this onto the council for them to take up with the owners (I had emailed the owners several time without a response).
Just for the the record, their are a good few surrounding neighbours whom think this property is falling into disrepair and something should be done about it...
Since this the owners have been back once which I believe was following a letter from the council and one of the councils inspectors sighting a rat coming from there garage. We have also applied for planning permission to add an over structure extension containing an additional 2 bedrooms above the existing kitchen, utility and wc... This application was oeiginally to be decided at delegate level, however the council have today (the original decision date for the application) requested an extension on the timeframe as it will be going to the planning committee meeting next month for concideration/decision. This has us slightly worried that we may be refuse the planning permission for our extension. The reason for doing this extension is to accommodate our rapidly growing 5 children and the feeling that we are soon going to outgrow our family home.
In a perfect world we would like to buy next door and knock through, creating one 6-7 bedroom property. This would also get rid of the shared access next door has via our driveway. It is unlikely that we'll be in a position to make the neighbours an offer to buy for the next 5-7 years...
If required I can get some photo's if this will help to paint the picture of where im coming from...
So lookining at worst case, if we don't get planning approval and we can't extend were are inevitably going to have to upsize again...
Has anyone been through anything like this before or can the vast knowledge withing the pistonheads community offer some advice on what options we have to overcome the predicament were in?
Can we use the detrimaental impact next door is having on our property as leverage for getting planning approval as we've previously attempted to sell and upsize or on the other hand what can we do with regards to getting something done about next door ao as potential buyers are not put off by it?.
Hopefully 2015 will see this sorted out before next door falls further into disrepair and SWMBO goes
I will say it never fails to amaze me the wealth of knowledge on here though...So on to the reason behind this post...
We currently live in a reasonably sized semi-detached cottage. When I pruchased the property the neighbours were living in the adjoining cottage under roof with us and their house wasn't in too bad condition hence me buying ours... Moving on 7 years now, our neighbours have been living elsewhere for the past 5 years and their property has somewhat gone down hill since being empty. We have already invested considerable amounts into our property renovating it and modernising the property to a functional family home... Last year we put the property on the market as we had enjoyed our journey doing this project and had our eye on another potential project. We had plenty of intrest in the property and several second veiwings whilst on the market for 4 months however all of the feedbavk we recieved from the vendors was that ours was lovely and they really liked what we have created, however next door was putting very off putting... At this time we managed to obtain a letter from one of the vendors stating this and forwarded this onto the council for them to take up with the owners (I had emailed the owners several time without a response).
Just for the the record, their are a good few surrounding neighbours whom think this property is falling into disrepair and something should be done about it...
Since this the owners have been back once which I believe was following a letter from the council and one of the councils inspectors sighting a rat coming from there garage. We have also applied for planning permission to add an over structure extension containing an additional 2 bedrooms above the existing kitchen, utility and wc... This application was oeiginally to be decided at delegate level, however the council have today (the original decision date for the application) requested an extension on the timeframe as it will be going to the planning committee meeting next month for concideration/decision. This has us slightly worried that we may be refuse the planning permission for our extension. The reason for doing this extension is to accommodate our rapidly growing 5 children and the feeling that we are soon going to outgrow our family home.
In a perfect world we would like to buy next door and knock through, creating one 6-7 bedroom property. This would also get rid of the shared access next door has via our driveway. It is unlikely that we'll be in a position to make the neighbours an offer to buy for the next 5-7 years...
If required I can get some photo's if this will help to paint the picture of where im coming from...
So lookining at worst case, if we don't get planning approval and we can't extend were are inevitably going to have to upsize again...
Has anyone been through anything like this before or can the vast knowledge withing the pistonheads community offer some advice on what options we have to overcome the predicament were in?
Can we use the detrimaental impact next door is having on our property as leverage for getting planning approval as we've previously attempted to sell and upsize or on the other hand what can we do with regards to getting something done about next door ao as potential buyers are not put off by it?.
Hopefully 2015 will see this sorted out before next door falls further into disrepair and SWMBO goes
Have you engaged with the appointed Planning Officer, as it sounds like you don't have any idea whether your application has been well received or not.
The Application will be going to committee with a recommendation from the Planning Officer for either approval or refusal. If it has been switched from delegated to committee it would suggest their has been a lot of feedback from local residents and they are giving them the opportunity to speak at the committee. You will also get an opportunity to state your case in favour of the development.
During the application period you would have had the opportunity to engage with the Planning Officer to address any concerns or objections raised and make any possible changes to the scheme that may have raised an objection eg. reposition a window someone didn't like overlooking their property.
The Application will be going to committee with a recommendation from the Planning Officer for either approval or refusal. If it has been switched from delegated to committee it would suggest their has been a lot of feedback from local residents and they are giving them the opportunity to speak at the committee. You will also get an opportunity to state your case in favour of the development.
During the application period you would have had the opportunity to engage with the Planning Officer to address any concerns or objections raised and make any possible changes to the scheme that may have raised an objection eg. reposition a window someone didn't like overlooking their property.
Not sure how it could of went downhill that much in a mere 5 years.
My Inlaws live in a detached bungalow. Next door is a very similar property that hasn't been touched in 25+ years. Single bloke lives in it and it's now in such a condition that when his kids visit they just meet him in a local hotel instead
It's so bad that when the cold water tank in the loft started overflowing 15+ years ago instead of repairing it he simply ran a piece of guttering from the overflow pipe to ground level and then dug a channel for the water to flow away in. FIL reckons it doesn't devalue his place. I told him he was wrong.
Buying next door wouldn't really be cost effective. I know two couples that have done it and you never regain the full value.
Do you know where owners live now? how about a chat. Convince thenm to sell/rent?
My Inlaws live in a detached bungalow. Next door is a very similar property that hasn't been touched in 25+ years. Single bloke lives in it and it's now in such a condition that when his kids visit they just meet him in a local hotel instead
It's so bad that when the cold water tank in the loft started overflowing 15+ years ago instead of repairing it he simply ran a piece of guttering from the overflow pipe to ground level and then dug a channel for the water to flow away in. FIL reckons it doesn't devalue his place. I told him he was wrong.Buying next door wouldn't really be cost effective. I know two couples that have done it and you never regain the full value.
Do you know where owners live now? how about a chat. Convince thenm to sell/rent?
We have indeed engaged with the planning officer whom is working on our application. He has been great throughout the whole process as has our architect whom is very well known and respected by the planning dept... One of the initial recommendations from the planning dept was his service. The planning officer is behind our application and will be putting it to the committee for approval.
There has been two objections to the application detailed below:
1) Next door in the bungalow - their concern being loss of lightgetting into their bedroom via both the north and east windows. We are on the north side of this bungalow and our property is set much further forward too.
2) An objection from the parish council... Old lady oposite us was at the parish council meeting and has informed us the objection here came from the neighbouring bungalows good friend whon sits on the council. None of the others on the parish council had any concerns what so ever.
The planning officer has informed me that due to the objection from the parish council the application automatically gets transfered to the committee meeting.
We will be attending the meeting along with our architect whom can describe how we have taken all parties concerned into consideration with the design...
Will post some pics once it gets light enough...
There has been two objections to the application detailed below:
1) Next door in the bungalow - their concern being loss of lightgetting into their bedroom via both the north and east windows. We are on the north side of this bungalow and our property is set much further forward too.
2) An objection from the parish council... Old lady oposite us was at the parish council meeting and has informed us the objection here came from the neighbouring bungalows good friend whon sits on the council. None of the others on the parish council had any concerns what so ever.
The planning officer has informed me that due to the objection from the parish council the application automatically gets transfered to the committee meeting.
We will be attending the meeting along with our architect whom can describe how we have taken all parties concerned into consideration with the design...
Will post some pics once it gets light enough...
I wouldn't have believed how much it could have gone down hill in a mere 5 years either... Just to mention a few issues arised so far though...
Tree grown through the flat roof of ther garage, render falling off the extension, flashing from around the chimney stack came off in high winds along with two ridge tiles, garden greenhouse and shed now consumed by a mass of ivy, triumph dolomite moved 3-4ft sideways by a butterfly bush growing next to their garrage, rotting wooden window frames...
Not to mention the additional damp problems we have experienced due ro our house being warm during winter and the damp from their side naturally coming throufh to our nice warm and dry side!
Would also like to add, I paid a roofer to come in and replace the flashing and roof tiles in order to prevent further damage to both their property and theirs due to water ingress... Emailed the owner at the time and he aknowledged the email but heard nothing further since.
The owner is living somewhere in the lake district, renting a place whilst working over there.
Tree grown through the flat roof of ther garage, render falling off the extension, flashing from around the chimney stack came off in high winds along with two ridge tiles, garden greenhouse and shed now consumed by a mass of ivy, triumph dolomite moved 3-4ft sideways by a butterfly bush growing next to their garrage, rotting wooden window frames...
Not to mention the additional damp problems we have experienced due ro our house being warm during winter and the damp from their side naturally coming throufh to our nice warm and dry side!
Would also like to add, I paid a roofer to come in and replace the flashing and roof tiles in order to prevent further damage to both their property and theirs due to water ingress... Emailed the owner at the time and he aknowledged the email but heard nothing further since.
The owner is living somewhere in the lake district, renting a place whilst working over there.
Sir Bagalot said:
Not sure how it could of went downhill that much in a mere 5 years.
My Inlaws live in a detached bungalow. Next door is a very similar property that hasn't been touched in 25+ years. Single bloke lives in it and it's now in such a condition that when his kids visit they just meet him in a local hotel instead It's so bad that when the cold water tank in the loft started overflowing 15+ years ago instead of repairing it he simply ran a piece of guttering from the overflow pipe to ground level and then dug a channel for the water to flow away in. FIL reckons it doesn't devalue his place. I told him he was wrong.
Buying next door wouldn't really be cost effective. I know two couples that have done it and you never regain the full value.
Do you know where owners live now? how about a chat. Convince thenm to sell/rent?
My Inlaws live in a detached bungalow. Next door is a very similar property that hasn't been touched in 25+ years. Single bloke lives in it and it's now in such a condition that when his kids visit they just meet him in a local hotel instead
It's so bad that when the cold water tank in the loft started overflowing 15+ years ago instead of repairing it he simply ran a piece of guttering from the overflow pipe to ground level and then dug a channel for the water to flow away in. FIL reckons it doesn't devalue his place. I told him he was wrong.Buying next door wouldn't really be cost effective. I know two couples that have done it and you never regain the full value.
Do you know where owners live now? how about a chat. Convince thenm to sell/rent?
It does look very run down. Are they never there? I would imagine there's two weekends work there to apply a lick or two of paint, sort the felt on the garage roof and tidy up the weeds a bit. Why not just crack on then stick yours on the market in the spring? What's the worst that could happen?
It's awkward as they aren't there.
I had a lax neighbour living next to me and I resigned myself to doing the work but luckily they moved before I wanted to sell.
I'd contact the neighbour offering to tidy up his garden / doors - if no contact - then do it anyway.
If he refuses then I'm unsure what I'd do - it's easy to say crack on - but it could cause a real issue and end in a civil court if your neighbour is an arse.
I had a lax neighbour living next to me and I resigned myself to doing the work but luckily they moved before I wanted to sell.
I'd contact the neighbour offering to tidy up his garden / doors - if no contact - then do it anyway.
If he refuses then I'm unsure what I'd do - it's easy to say crack on - but it could cause a real issue and end in a civil court if your neighbour is an arse.
cossy400 said:
What are the neighbours like on the other side?? could you no go round start tidying it up as has been said weeding and paint the out side.
Then if anything is said deny all knowledge, but will the neighbours grass you up if asked.
but so what if they did you could deny it. It'd never go anywhere as long as you never ever admitted it.Then if anything is said deny all knowledge, but will the neighbours grass you up if asked.
Anyway OP - I don't like your property! It's overly fussy and if I was them I'd hate looking at that massive
Edited by CoolHands on Saturday 10th January 13:00
Your house looks lovely OP.
I can sympathise as I think we're going to face a similar thing. The old chap who lived next door to us has moved into a home and is house has stood empty for a year now. I'm worried his family will sell it and squeeze half a dozen modern boxes onto the site, but we'll see. Good luck with yours.
I can sympathise as I think we're going to face a similar thing. The old chap who lived next door to us has moved into a home and is house has stood empty for a year now. I'm worried his family will sell it and squeeze half a dozen modern boxes onto the site, but we'll see. Good luck with yours.
cossy400 said:
What are the neighbours like on the other side?? could you no go round start tidying it up as has been said weeding and paint the out side.
Then if anything is said deny all knowledge, but will the neighbours grass you up if asked.
I appreciate they could get arsey about it, just thinking how it would sound though "My neighbours trespassed on my property, weeded and tidied the garden and carried out some badly needed repairs to my extension - I'm not happy about it!" Then if anything is said deny all knowledge, but will the neighbours grass you up if asked.
speedyguy said:
eliot said:
Have you looked on the planning portal for any comments from neighbors?
By the look of it a neighbour has queried it with the council and the council has put an objection in over a couple of potential 'issues'One of them being a "loss of light".
Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff