Building shared double garage with neighbour - bad idea?
Discussion
I live in a semi-detached house on a short private lane, owned by the neighbour and I. We have detached garages at the end next to each other. Both are decrepit and need to be knocked down really.
I had hoped to buy my neighbours’ garage but they’ve told me they’d like to have a garage to park in, as would I, and they’re open to building a joint double garage, which should be cheaper than building two individual garages of half the size. What are the downsides of doing this, if there’s an internal dividing wall?
By my maths, this would be £3,100 cheaper from my side, though that doesn’t include the cost of building an internal dividing wall (which also reduces the internal size a little). I imagine that it’d cost a grand or two to get someone to do that, leaving the cost difference at potentially just £1,000 or so, which doesn’t seem like much to me, and is making me rethink things, as the only real benefit would be that having one double garage would look neater than two separate, potentially mismatched ones.
Also, my garage is 80cm longer and 80cm wider than my neighbours’ and theirs is pretty much up against the boundary on two sides with my land directly in front of it, so for us to have evenly sized garages, I imagine they’d have to take up some of my land/I’d have to go for a smaller garage than I want. The neighbours’ garage is 5.02m x 2.55m and their car is 4.66m x 2.10m/1.89m (inc/exc mirrors), so I can’t imagine they’d be able to get out of the car, especially as they have a two-year-old daughter. They may be able to gain up to 20cm in width by building right up against the fence, but even that is borderline… In comparison, mine is about 5.8m x 3.3m.
Strikes me that there are three options:
Mine is the larger garage:
I had hoped to buy my neighbours’ garage but they’ve told me they’d like to have a garage to park in, as would I, and they’re open to building a joint double garage, which should be cheaper than building two individual garages of half the size. What are the downsides of doing this, if there’s an internal dividing wall?
By my maths, this would be £3,100 cheaper from my side, though that doesn’t include the cost of building an internal dividing wall (which also reduces the internal size a little). I imagine that it’d cost a grand or two to get someone to do that, leaving the cost difference at potentially just £1,000 or so, which doesn’t seem like much to me, and is making me rethink things, as the only real benefit would be that having one double garage would look neater than two separate, potentially mismatched ones.
Also, my garage is 80cm longer and 80cm wider than my neighbours’ and theirs is pretty much up against the boundary on two sides with my land directly in front of it, so for us to have evenly sized garages, I imagine they’d have to take up some of my land/I’d have to go for a smaller garage than I want. The neighbours’ garage is 5.02m x 2.55m and their car is 4.66m x 2.10m/1.89m (inc/exc mirrors), so I can’t imagine they’d be able to get out of the car, especially as they have a two-year-old daughter. They may be able to gain up to 20cm in width by building right up against the fence, but even that is borderline… In comparison, mine is about 5.8m x 3.3m.
Strikes me that there are three options:
- Build joint double garage with neighbour probably gaining a little of my land (as I don’t want a smaller garage than the current one and larger garages barely cost any more)
- Build my own large single garage. Neighbour either keeps leaky, asbestos-riddled current garage or knocks it down and may just about be able to squeeze his car into the gap between my new garage and fences on two sides
- If neighbour decides space isn’t big enough to park in, I try to encourage them to sell/swap that bit of land with a bit of mine nearer their house, so they can park more easily (but don’t have a garage).
Mine is the larger garage:
Where is the boundary? Where is it shown on the deeds? You say neighbour owns the drive? You have rights of way over the drive? Is your garage definitely built on your land?
Might be easier to take a bit of your garden away and build bigger, also adjust the wall/fence for easier access.
Might be easier to take a bit of your garden away and build bigger, also adjust the wall/fence for easier access.
Edited by megaphone on Monday 29th June 12:34
megaphone said:
Where is the boundary? Where is it shown on the deeds? You say neighbour owns the drive? You have rights of way over the drive?
Might be easier to take a bit of your garden away and build bigger, also adjust the wall/fence for easier access.
Neighbour owns the first half of the drive, I own the second. We both have rights over the other half.Might be easier to take a bit of your garden away and build bigger, also adjust the wall/fence for easier access.
In the overhead image, the divide is in line with the white wall coming out from the front of the houses. I own the garage side (bar the land their garage is on) and they own the other half, including the bit the car in the overhead image is parked on).
Ideally I’d rather not build over the front garden, as I’m already hoping to free up two parking spaces and space for a new tree and some hedges (yes, I want to fit a lot in!).
Two single attached garages isn't necessarily a problem, but anything 'shared' will be at some point.
For example a shared roof that needs maintenance by both owners. If it's a single undivided flat roof it's eventually going to cause someone pain.
Fire risks probably no worse than they currently are.
Buildings insurance might become more interesting with a shared structure so something to check.
For example a shared roof that needs maintenance by both owners. If it's a single undivided flat roof it's eventually going to cause someone pain.
Fire risks probably no worse than they currently are.
Buildings insurance might become more interesting with a shared structure so something to check.
CMTMB said:
I would happily pay £1k extra to have my own, completely independent garage. I only really see downsides to sharing one.
I thought the difference would be greater than that, but it’s not much for the potential downsides, is it?The main benefit is probably being able to fit more garage space in, as there’d have to be a gap between two separate garages, but that affects my neighbour more, as theirs is the smaller garage and has to be built away from the fence on the other side…
JoshSm said:
Two single attached garages isn't necessarily a problem, but anything 'shared' will be at some point.
For example a shared roof that needs maintenance by both owners. If it's a single undivided flat roof it's eventually going to cause someone pain.
Fire risks probably no worse than they currently are.
Buildings insurance might become more interesting with a shared structure so something to check.
That is true. I also want to put solar panels on the garage roof, as it’d be more suited to panels than the house roof, which further complicates things.For example a shared roof that needs maintenance by both owners. If it's a single undivided flat roof it's eventually going to cause someone pain.
Fire risks probably no worse than they currently are.
Buildings insurance might become more interesting with a shared structure so something to check.
Hadn’t thought about buildings insurance, though the houses are already attached, so don’t know whether having attached garages makes any difference.
Seems like building matching garages in tandem with the neighbour may be the best solution (if they can build something of a viable size for what they want).
It's a semi-detached garage, not a shared garage. Can't see too much of an issue, as long as everything is agreed and written down. I expect the neighbour will be expecting half of it though. A non symmetrical building will be more difficult, you'll need different door sizes etc. What type of roof are you thinking of?
Shared anything is a recipe for trouble. I'd rather lose some garden space.
For example, what if your current neighbour is replaced by a t
t who refuses to pay for any of the joint maintenance? Decides to store hazardous substances? Sets fire to the place? Parks an old 205 in your half then denies all knowledge? (other doom laden scenarios are available)
Also, it being shared will put people off at a later date should you decide to sell up. The extra cost to build an independent building will be made back in its value.
For example, what if your current neighbour is replaced by a t
t who refuses to pay for any of the joint maintenance? Decides to store hazardous substances? Sets fire to the place? Parks an old 205 in your half then denies all knowledge? (other doom laden scenarios are available)Also, it being shared will put people off at a later date should you decide to sell up. The extra cost to build an independent building will be made back in its value.
cb31 said:
I certainly wouldn't be making my garage smaller so the neighbour can have a garage that fits his car. Might upset them but narrow garages are a nightmare.
It’s a fair point. Probably leaves us with stalemate, though, with them having a decrepit garage they can’t use and don’t want to pay to replace or they knock it down and have a borderline parking space, which may or not be usable and limits my garage options… Don’t think there’s a particularly slick solution…I have this type of setup you describe OP, albeit it was in place before me or my now neighbour ever moved in. It's a typical concrete slab garage with asbestos roof- Or it was.
Over the years I have had the roof replaced on my side of the garage, all asbestos removed and redone with a felt lined (on the inside) plastic coated corrugated roof. I have also had two panels removed at the rear to remove a window and the full frontage replaced with a new door on my side.
Previous occupant in the neighbours house had their frontage replaced and a new door but left the roof.
There is a dividing wall down the middle which has a gap of around 4 inches at the top, I could see into my neighbours garage if I really wanted to if I got a bore scope or similar but I don't really care to.
When my roof was replaced I had to get it overlapped onto their asbestos roof because they wouldn't pay for their side upgrading so I suppose I have paid to put a 4 inch strip of new roof the length of their garage, it doesn't matter.
The main issue will com if they let their garage fall to pieces and it ends up having to be pulled down, I guess I will have to have a full centre wall put in to make mine watertight.
If I had an option personally I would have a single garage built and let the neighbours sort their own out.
Over the years I have had the roof replaced on my side of the garage, all asbestos removed and redone with a felt lined (on the inside) plastic coated corrugated roof. I have also had two panels removed at the rear to remove a window and the full frontage replaced with a new door on my side.
Previous occupant in the neighbours house had their frontage replaced and a new door but left the roof.
There is a dividing wall down the middle which has a gap of around 4 inches at the top, I could see into my neighbours garage if I really wanted to if I got a bore scope or similar but I don't really care to.
When my roof was replaced I had to get it overlapped onto their asbestos roof because they wouldn't pay for their side upgrading so I suppose I have paid to put a 4 inch strip of new roof the length of their garage, it doesn't matter.
The main issue will com if they let their garage fall to pieces and it ends up having to be pulled down, I guess I will have to have a full centre wall put in to make mine watertight.
If I had an option personally I would have a single garage built and let the neighbours sort their own out.
The yellow bit shows the current setup in terms of the bit I own. As mentioned, their garage is within the bit I own. I’m planning to knock down some of the white wall in front of my house to have my own bit of drive and garden, which makes things easier when I have visitors.
Looking at the space now, could potentially swap the bit I own in front of their garage (where they currently park, on my land) with an equivalent size bit in front of their house, so we both own contiguous bits of land…
Looking at the space now, could potentially swap the bit I own in front of their garage (where they currently park, on my land) with an equivalent size bit in front of their house, so we both own contiguous bits of land…
RoVoFob said:
Looking at the space now, could potentially swap the bit I own in front of their garage (where they currently park, on my land) with an equivalent size bit in front of their house, so we both own contiguous bits of land
I would have thought getting your heads together over the desk with a solicitor and doing this would be the best bet personally.That way you can go double garage, knock a bit of wall down & have a double garage & 2/3 parking spaces for minimal loss.
megaphone said:
It's a semi-detached garage, not a shared garage. Can't see too much of an issue, as long as everything is agreed and written down. I expect the neighbour will be expecting half of it though. A non symmetrical building will be more difficult, you'll need different door sizes etc. What type of roof are you thinking of?
Yes, they would be semi-detached garages. As you said, something asymmetrical would be more complex and no doubt increase the cost. My intention was a mono pitch roof or catslide with gable end, as this would allow the most solar panels, but obviously that gets more complex when you only own half of the building.
The more I talk about this, the more I think it doesn’t make sense. Question is how neighbour responds to that and what they want to do with their land…
Jamescrs said:
I have this type of setup you describe OP, albeit it was in place before me or my now neighbour ever moved in. It's a typical concrete slab garage with asbestos roof- Or it was.
Over the years I have had the roof replaced on my side of the garage, all asbestos removed and redone with a felt lined (on the inside) plastic coated corrugated roof. I have also had two panels removed at the rear to remove a window and the full frontage replaced with a new door on my side.
Previous occupant in the neighbours house had their frontage replaced and a new door but left the roof.
There is a dividing wall down the middle which has a gap of around 4 inches at the top, I could see into my neighbours garage if I really wanted to if I got a bore scope or similar but I don't really care to.
When my roof was replaced I had to get it overlapped onto their asbestos roof because they wouldn't pay for their side upgrading so I suppose I have paid to put a 4 inch strip of new roof the length of their garage, it doesn't matter.
The main issue will com if they let their garage fall to pieces and it ends up having to be pulled down, I guess I will have to have a full centre wall put in to make mine watertight.
If I had an option personally I would have a single garage built and let the neighbours sort their own out.
I’m very much coming around to that way of thinking. Seems like more hassle than it’s worth, even if there should be a decade or so before any significant work is needed. Over the years I have had the roof replaced on my side of the garage, all asbestos removed and redone with a felt lined (on the inside) plastic coated corrugated roof. I have also had two panels removed at the rear to remove a window and the full frontage replaced with a new door on my side.
Previous occupant in the neighbours house had their frontage replaced and a new door but left the roof.
There is a dividing wall down the middle which has a gap of around 4 inches at the top, I could see into my neighbours garage if I really wanted to if I got a bore scope or similar but I don't really care to.
When my roof was replaced I had to get it overlapped onto their asbestos roof because they wouldn't pay for their side upgrading so I suppose I have paid to put a 4 inch strip of new roof the length of their garage, it doesn't matter.
The main issue will com if they let their garage fall to pieces and it ends up having to be pulled down, I guess I will have to have a full centre wall put in to make mine watertight.
If I had an option personally I would have a single garage built and let the neighbours sort their own out.
Just need to see how neighbour responds to not doing something jointly, since there are fewer options for their bit of land, as it is smaller and landlocked by fences/other peoples’ land…
E-bmw said:
I would have thought getting your heads together over the desk with a solicitor and doing this would be the best bet personally.
That way you can go double garage, knock a bit of wall down & have a double garage & 2/3 parking spaces for minimal loss.
I’m planning to knock a bit of wall down to get two/three spaces on my own bit regardless, as that doesn’t affect the neighbour at all. That way you can go double garage, knock a bit of wall down & have a double garage & 2/3 parking spaces for minimal loss.
As for the double garage, we’ll work together if there’s a realistic way of doing so, but looks like that may be tricky, since the land he owns isn’t really big enough for what he wants, I don’t think, and I’d rather buy his derelict garage than sell land to him, making my garage smaller in the process.
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