Joined Garage - I want to replace mine

[killerferret666]

I live in a semi detatched house and between myself and another neighbour there are our 2 garages, they are old prefab concrete slab style garage with what looks like the old asbestos wavy roofs.

when inside there is simply a middle wall seperating us, its not even flush to the roof as these roofs are slanted front to back so could easily put arm through. the concrete beams across the top sit on this for each side of the garage and are not one continuous beam across.

Correct removal and disposal of asbestos - not a problem.

A few questions;

Will someone legally own this middle wall to the garage?

Does anyone know if one side can normally be removed from these type of garages and the other garage left up without an issue?

I get on well with the neighbour so no issues there, but at the end of the day if they don't want to replace their garage I'm wondering what my options are?

[Ruttager]

Do you think your neighbour would consider a new garage as well? it could work out well if you both wanted to do it.

[TooMany2cvs]

If you're removing one part of the joined garage, I'd have said it was your responsibility to make good the other garage.

[essayer]

No idea on the structural part, but it's quite likely the boundary for the properties is right down the middle of the wall.
You need to read up on the Party Wall Act, quite a lot of info on the gov.uk site.

[Red Devil]

killerferret666 said:

Will someone legally own this middle wall to the garage?

Both of you. Essential bedtime reading.
https://www.gov.uk/party-wall-etc-act-1996-guidanc...
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/40/conten...

[hornetrider]

TooMany2cvs said:

If you're removing one part of the joined garage, I'd have said it was your responsibility to make good the other garage.

Sound him out in the right way and you may be lucky with a 50/50 cost split. But be prepared to pay for the lot if he is happy with the status quo (which if he's canny/a bit tight will be his position anyway).

If he totes disagrees (can't imagine why) then I don't know what the next step would be. Some kind of convoluted build keeping his original side.

[killerferret666]

He wants to replace it at some point, but people often say this of course when we are chatting. Finding a few ££££ to replace it is a different matter.

cheers for the night time reading though.


I guess the next checks is can these type of buildings even be structurally taken apart in a half hearted manner and be left safe with one side still up!

[LoonR1]

killerferret666 said:

He wants to replace it at some point, but people often say this of course when we are chatting. Finding a few ££££ to replace it is a different matter.

cheers for the night time reading though.


I guess the next checks is can these type of buildings even be structurally taken apart in a half hearted manner and be left safe with one side still up!

Yes they can. They're modular, bolted together concrete crap that serve a purpose for around 20 years then fall apart.

[SpikeBmth]

Nice TT

[supermono]

It'd be sweet if he fancied a change too. The cost of a double would be considerably less than two singles, you both win. It might be worth getting a quote for both options before you approach him. I know if I was thinking of doing the job one day and for example it'd cost me 10k or if I paired with your job, 6.5k I'd definitely go for that.

[Derek Smith]

supermono said:

It'd be sweet if he fancied a change too. The cost of a double would be considerably less than two singles, you both win. It might be worth getting a quote for both options before you approach him. I know if I was thinking of doing the job one day and for example it'd cost me 10k or if I paired with your job, 6.5k I'd definitely go for that.

It might be an idea if you go for two singles.

[supermono]

Derek Smith said:

It might be an idea if you go for two singles.

Indeed I should have made it clear, a double with two doors and a dividing wall.

[TooMany2cvs]

I don't know what you're looking at for a replacement, but if you've been thinking of a timber garage, I can heartily recommend Warwick Buildings.

[s3fella]

TooMany2cvs said:

I don't know what you're looking at for a replacement, but if you've been thinking of a timber garage, I can heartily recommend Warwick Buildings.

Warwick buildings!

[elanfan]

OP correct me if I'm wrong but looks as though you have room to come forward a bit. You could possibly get one and a half widths each as well as the same length. Great extra space for workshop/stores.

Go see neighbour and keep us in the loop!