If you have a big extension to your home, AIBU to think you should consider the impact on your neighbours?

(in UK) There are laws that cover your ‘Right to Light”, maybe ask a solicitor?

We had a large extension built back in the day. My parents were moving in with our family as my DM was disabled/getting worse and DF struggling to cope. We looked at moving to a bigger house to accommodate us all but it was impossible to find what we needed (had to have downstairs bedroom for DM). In the end we managed to figure out how we could extend the house we already had to make it work for us all. We lived in the house (not my DP) whilst it was being done and it was a bit of a nightmare and probably for the neighbours as well. Good relations were preserved however. Since then and many years later most of the houses in the road have been sold and new young families moved in, most of whom have redeveloped/extended. The houses needed it and so will ours when we eventually move on (updating that is, not more extending I shouldn't think). Ironically our house is now much too big for us!

That’s not actually correct. If someone carries out works that are notifiable under the Party Wall etc Act 1996 and don’t follow the procedures, the redress is under common law and the courts do not take a favourable view of people who don’t serve party wall notices when they should be doing.

Roadrunner Properties v Dean was such a case and the judge held that the onus was on the ‘developer’ to prove that they hadn’t caused damage rather than the affected neighbour having to prove they did.

www.blbsolicitors.co.uk/blog/my-neighbour-has-ignored-the-party-wall-act-what-can-i-do/

That’s because the objections need to relate to planning policy to be relevant. Just saying it will be noisy and affect your view won’t stop planning permission being granted.

Our semi-detached neighbours built an extension, converted the loft, put a new kitchen in and then a new bathroom

2 years of this. Most of it done during school holidays, as one of them was a teacher and wanted to oversee things. 2 solid years of noise and disruption every holiday and most weekends.

they were nice Christian people, very nice-nice

i have feelings about this 😅 but kept it nice, albeit storming over a few times when they started unreasonably early

But yeah, kept nice as I thought getting angry and falling out would be bad for my own mental health

then a year later they sold up

In my experience, neighbour objections rarely stop permission being given.

I’ve asked neighbours to be considerate and schedule building projects in winter when windows are shut and I’m less likely to be enjoying the garden
But this can be the worst time to try and get building work done with the bad weather and mess due to high volumes of rain, also it gets dark earlier so you'd find the job will cause more mess and drag on a lot longer due to weather delays. Also I'm not sure how long ago you did work but builders are very busy and you don't always get much choice in when they're free to schedule in your renovation

We had to do a complete renovation in our house when we bought it.
We got it cheap but it was a wreck and it meant long evenings and weekends drilling, banging and other work related noise as we were doing it ourselves around work.

I went to speak to the neighbours beforehand and they said dont worry but I had a feeling they didnt realise how bad it was going to be. I went round on a regular basis to check in with them. Their attitude was the more you do now, the sooner it'll be over with!
They used to come round with tea and cake,' to keep us going' as they used to say to us!

You will gain in a roundabout way. When properties on your street are being renovated and expanded, your street becomes a more desirable place to live which means the value of your property goes up.

Not all local authorities require a Daylight/Sunlight report in accordance with BRE 209. If planning consent has been granted, or the extension falls under permitted development, what steps do you think can be taken retrospectively?

I went through this last year and I also worked from home so it was challenging to say the least.

One of the big problems was their scaffolding in front of my patio doors so I could not enjoy my garden and the noise. I had to come to an arrangement ovr hours of work - no weekend work etc. Sadly that and checking the plans did not encroach my land was all I could do.

That’s why planning applications exist so that neighbours have the chance to object on grounds such as those.

Ive never had an extension done but I did have some internal refurbishment a few years ago when I first purchased. No impact on neighbours as its an end detached. I had a skip on my locked driveway. One cheeky oik decided he would get rid of some of his own rubbish by flinging it over the fence into the skip. Most of it landed in my garden. If he had asked in a conciliatory manner I would have allowed him to put stuff in the skip once my workmen had finished. One of them saw him while he was in his van waiting to start work. The entire load of rubbish ended up back on the neighbours doorstep to greet him when he returned from work. Oh I would love to have seen his face.

Well yes, this is the case!

It's stories of people who tortured their neighbours with long, loud, messy renovations on their own homes but then protested any proposed renovations wanted by their neighbours that should make people outraged at the sheer selfish hypocrisy....

Do they have planning permission? Usually when they apply you as their neighbour will be notified of their application and have the opportunity to object, giving your reasons why.
Our next door but one neighbours had permission rejected on the basis that it would block a lot of light from their neighbours on the other side, because the neighbours put that information in their response.

But it’s not just a question of doing that is it?

Cost
Additional Stamp Duty
Location

Not everyone can just buy a five bed!

Noise and disruption are significant material considerations in the domestic planning process in the UK. Working hours are usually limited for this reason. A Construction Management Plan (CMP) may require accoustic hoarding, conditions on machinery location, monitoring, traffic management, all sorts of things.

YANBU

I have no idea why councils grant planning permission for projects which clearly have a long term impact on the neighbour's quality of life. Putting up with noise from renovations is one thing, (repairs are necessary) but other people permanently losing things they had when they purchased their property like a nice view, light, privacy etc. is unacceptable to me.

Shut it op, you don't matter. It doesn't matter if you have to suffer for, at the very least, 6 months. It doesn't matter that they decided to buy a house that does not meet their needs. What's that about?
I feel your pain. Hope its over sooner x

I don’t get the hate. If you don’t want inconvenience or noise go live on a road where you have no neighbours.

If the boot was on the other foot and you had the resources to build an extension, would your first thought really be, “Oh no, I can’t do that because what will Doris and Dave next door think?” Probably not. Gaining more space at home is a pretty normal and reasonable thing for people to want.

Did they discuss the plans with you? Did you ask them why they bought the house if it wasn't big enough?

If you built a similar extension would it then spoil the view from theirs? If it would then I'd perhaps joke that if theirs looks good you'll have the same done yourself...

Maybe they like the location of where they currently live. It means their kids can stay at the same schools and the cost of the extension is similar to the costs of moving including stamp duty etc.

There are regulations as to what times the building works can be done and as long as they comply with those then there isn't really any recourse.

@Boomer55 - it'd be nice to think they'll also have the consideration not to employ a construction company who use builders who swear, shout and play the radio loudly all day or cause a parking nuisance.

It'd also be nice to think they might have just a smidge of thought for their neighbours who might not be able to enjoy their outside space whilst the work is going on.

Maybe they'll also be forward-thinking and kind enough to be open to speaking with their neighbours about the upcoming work and how it might impact them, and offer to listen to any concerns or swiftly deal with any issues that arise.

Or, maybe they really are selfish bastards who think; 'Oh, well, I've got planning permission, fuck everything and everyone else'.

Or maybe that's just me?