Neighbour’s large extension… without planning permission WWYD

[JuliusSneezer]

Our neighbours are building a large extension. They don’t have planning permission and it’s a complete eyesore. It comes up to our boundary line and their builders have made a huge mess of our garden.

The thing is, nobody apart from them and us can see it. If we complain it would obviously be us (back of their house, only overlooked by us).

It comes out maybe 20 foot to the rear of their house, and 10 foot to the side, wrapping the building in an L shape. I mentioned to them that I hadn’t seen any planning and was told that as it’s at the rear and not visible, it didn’t need any, and it’s their forever home so resale doesn’t concern them.

It hugely impacts us as where we had a hedge, we now have a wall. And it’s massive! It comes close to our building.

We aren’t sure what to do. We don’t want to fall out with them. We don’t even mind a reasonable extension… but this is just so big. The eves of it actually overhang into our garden. But now it’s half built they aren’t going to change it…

Selling might not impact them but it’ll impact you, I would definitely do something

Unless you want to lose thousands on the value of your home you are going to have to complain.

I would 100% report it and wouldn't care about the fall out. They're in the wrong.

You'll be miserable and it'll be a nuisance when/if you sell up.

Yup. Complain. And complain now before they build any more of it.

You have to complain. Why would you not? They’ve devalued your house and are impacting on your quality of life.

They clearly aren't bothered about falling out with you so you shouldn't be bothered if they get upset because you've reported them. I would be straight onto the council.

I would tell them that it is a great concern to you as will affect the value of your home as well as your enjoyment of your garden . Did they mention the work before starting as seems very un-neighbourly if they didn’t and I would feel less bad about ringing the planners to check if they haven’t .

Also you need to see if you need a party wall agreement.

They would have needed your permission to build so close to your boundary

Complain now.

The fact the eaves hang into your garden is completely unacceptable.

Why on earth haven’t you complained?!

They also need to make good the damage to your garden.

They might not need it depending on how big it is compared to the existing footprint? hoa.org.uk/advice/guides-for-homeowners/i-am-improving/do-i-need-planning-permission/

If it is not entirely within the boundaries of their property, it requires planning permission. Permitted development for extensions only applies for development 'within the curtilage' of a dwelling.

You are going to have to report it. If it is encroaching with your property it is going to cause no end of problems.

And ime the planning dept don’t care about borders, etc. My neighbours got planning permission for a diagram/plan which encroached over our boundary! I rang the planning officer who told me to take it up with the neighbours and insist on a party wall agreement if I wanted one but that they don’t take boundaries into consideration when granting permission.

We aren’t sure what to do. We don’t want to fall out with them. We don’t even mind a reasonable extension… but this is just so big. The eves of it actually overhang into our garden. But now it’s half built they aren’t going to change it…

If the eaves hang over your boundary that is a problem. What if you wanted to extend at some point? You now can't make full use of the land that is yours and it might cause you problems down the line - drainage for example if it runs off into your garden. Or if they wanted to make repairs - they would obviously want to use your garden to do it.

I honestly don't know why you're not willing to risk a fall out with people so entitled they built an extension that overhangs your land and mess up your garden to do it.

They've already caused the falling out - rolling over and letting them do whatever they want will just cause more issues down the road.

Complain. You’re going to hate them anywhere. They are being awful people.

No planning means they are more than likely using dodgy builders therefore they don't care about building regs or standards either. They have already trashed your garden. What else will they do? I would phone the council , if they didn't need planning they have nothing to worry about. Meanwhile they are devaluing your biggest asset.

@CovidCorvid

And ime the planning dept don’t care about borders, etc. My neighbours got planning permission for a diagram/plan which encroached over our boundary! I rang the planning officer who told me to take it up with the neighbours and insist on a party wall agreement if I wanted one but that they don’t take boundaries into consideration when granting permission.

Legally permitted development cannot apply beyond the boundaries of the property being extended.

It is perfectly possible for PP to be granted for development on land not under the ownership of the applicant as long as the relevant certificates have been served.

PP can only be implemented if the owner of the land agrees to it.

There are three distinct areas.

If it's an L shape, wrapping around the side of their property, I'm certain they should have planning permission.

Contact your local council on Monday for advice.

So many issues here! Firstly, given its so close to you, you should have been issued a party wall agreement and secondly, inform the council who deal with planning. Make sure they have to apply for retrospective permission and it sounds like it hasn't been done well so might not be granted and enforcement action can be taken. If you don't do this within 4 years they can get away with it!

If you tolerate this then your children will be next. Ok maybe not but they will know they can do what they like and you will roll over.

Agree with Covid .Our neighbours applied for pp to put houses on a bit of backland .Only access was to be via a narrow corridor between our house and theirs .Their plans showed the width as wider than it was in reality and included land on our side of the boundary .

Planning didn't feel they had any remit to investigate boundaries (fair enough ) and said they'd check the measurement once building commenced .

This was some years ago ,I believe that nowadays there is an even stronger presumption in favour of developers .

Our local authority uses drones to check for planning irregularities. I doubt they are cutting edge, it’s probably a widespread practice.

Anyway sod the fallout, grass them, they have show an no respect for you or property

Please complain.

Their property should not be overhanging your property.

They didn't care about your enjoyment of your property or your rights, so why on earth do you care if they know it will be you who have complained. They didn't think about you!

We complained in this scenario. They were told to take it down. They later appealed and were allowed to keep it. It's now really frosty and I wish I had never bothered.