Falling out with the neighbours over an extension
Discussion
Ooops... Seems we may have upset the neighbours, having extended our place upstairs a couple of years ago we now find ourselves wanting to extend downstairs. Having come up with an idea the wife popped round next door to tell them. Seems she was not happy about the idea ( Neighbour the other side had already stirred it we think having been told earlier in the day ) It's a ground floor extension only at the back.
We made a few suggestions but nothing was good enough, why couldn't we do a conservatory was her comment. ( We want the area open and usuable all year so that isn't an option ) The triangle she above the fence will be a monstrosity.
Anyway got an architect to draw things up and with the planning rules we couldn't do all we wanted anyway, EU rules place loads of restrictions on the amount of glass you can have due to global warming. So we got things drawn up and have submitted them.
The good lady went round to show them tonight, not happy. Not taken on board anything we had spoken about apparently - only because nothing was good enough to help in the previous conversation!
Got a few comments "We've been here 20 years bla bla, why can't you move, it would be better with some glass there - something dismissed in the earlier discussion, Well you know we don't like it it's up to you if you build it.. etc"
Didn't want to upset the neighbours but really get the feeling nothing would make it better. Still submitted now, have to see what the planners say.
Try and post some pics in a minute of our "monstrosity"
We made a few suggestions but nothing was good enough, why couldn't we do a conservatory was her comment. ( We want the area open and usuable all year so that isn't an option ) The triangle she above the fence will be a monstrosity.
Anyway got an architect to draw things up and with the planning rules we couldn't do all we wanted anyway, EU rules place loads of restrictions on the amount of glass you can have due to global warming. So we got things drawn up and have submitted them.
The good lady went round to show them tonight, not happy. Not taken on board anything we had spoken about apparently - only because nothing was good enough to help in the previous conversation!
Got a few comments "We've been here 20 years bla bla, why can't you move, it would be better with some glass there - something dismissed in the earlier discussion, Well you know we don't like it it's up to you if you build it.. etc"
Didn't want to upset the neighbours but really get the feeling nothing would make it better. Still submitted now, have to see what the planners say.
Try and post some pics in a minute of our "monstrosity"
Laurel Green said:
A touch of envy perchance?
It's funny isn't it. Neighbours cannot bear to see anyone in the street bettering themselves. The only think that would make them happy would be for you to stay indoors and watch telly all day, giving them the chance to moan about the grass instead.Of course you probably (like most people) live in a area with some fantastic posh houses within 1/2 a mile. Are they envious of them? No. They drive past that other world without a care, what really gets up their noses is 'one of their own' drawing ahead.
Perhaps you need to ask them flat out what is there problem, ask them if they are jealous, and why they do not want you to enjoy the extra space?
TBH if you are planning to extend behind your house then Planning do not really care, I expect you'd get something much bigger then you ever imagined through. In fact you should draw up a project 3x the size, and ask the neighbour which one should you build. Then you go with the original one that they'll choose, everyone's happy. Also do not mistake neighbours for friends - people are very territorial and don't really give a damn about how you feel.
I see what you are saying but the style of the houses in the area means the lean to effect actually fits in better. Going to see if we can stop the application tomorrow and speak to the architect about sloping that end. Wouldn't want a full gable end as that would make it look even bigger!
Never having been especially "neighbourly", I never really understand why people worry too much about what neighbours think.
If it passes planning, build it and stuff the bint next door.
Presumably you bought the house because you like it and where it's located etc. Not because of who was living either side
(PS Not suggesting one should go out of the way to be a knob to one's neighbours either)
If it passes planning, build it and stuff the bint next door.
Presumably you bought the house because you like it and where it's located etc. Not because of who was living either side
(PS Not suggesting one should go out of the way to be a knob to one's neighbours either)
ShadownINja said:
Won't they get a letter asking if they have any objections?
No I don't think so - scratch that.....wrong. See post above.You might find that plan falls under permitted development rules anyway so won't even need planning. Depends on dimensions. You can get a PD application looked at and approved for about 30 quid (in Leeds).
The OP will have to submit a Party Wall Act notice though and next door could object and hold things up a bit. This would then involve employing the services of a surveyor, that isn't free.
We've just started our extension but are fortunate to have very decent neighbours. They have extended theirs in a similar fashion so sympathetic to the hideous noise the piling machine is making. 300 wacks a minute, 6 hours a day, they've been at it 3 days
Edited by dave_s13 on Wednesday 15th September 22:08
dave_s13 said:
The OP will have to submit a Party Wall Act notice though and next door could object and hold things up a bit. This would then involve employing the services of a surveyor, that isn't free.
Don't see why they would need to give notice under the PWA. Would need to know the exisitng foundations and proposed foundations to decide if notice is required. Even if they did all the neighbour can do is 'Dissent' and enable an Award being prepared etc... This wouldn't cause delay as the Act is specifically written to not provide spurious delay - unlike the preceeding LPWA.Bit of an odd shape extension though.
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