Neighbour’s extension- what do I need to know about party walls then? 😊

[Neitherherenorthere]

Just that really. Posting here for traffic.

Neighbour got planning permission for rear extension. Semi detached property.

Is there anything I need a heads-up on?

I read some info on the government website, but so much online advice is from the POV of the person doing the extension….

Anything I should know as the person NOT getting to extend their property?

TIA wise Mumsnetters!

OK I know it’s boring but I can’t be the only one on here asking boring questions tonight can I?! ☺️🤣

Anyone got any experience? 😊 Maybe there actually is nothing to know 🤣🤣🤣

I know nothing, but look up party wall agreements... How close is their extension to your boundary and how will it affect you?

Ah thank you @catipuss 🙏🙏🙏

Yes, I had a look but often experience trumps theory (Sorry for the T reference there 😬) so I was hoping to get some real life stuff 😊

I am really touched @catipuss that you answered this post by a random on the internet with a very boring question 🤣 You must be a lovely person 🙏🙏🙏

Get your own surveyor. Do not rely on the one appointed by the neighbours. Neighbours have to pay.

Make sure you have a party wall agreement before work starts.

Ensure any issues which arise during the building work eg cracks are documented and that an additional party wall agreement is drawn up to reflect any decisions made on how to proceed.

Do you want to allow them to use the party wall as the wall of their extension. You can insist that they only build up to the existing wall and build an additional wall inside it.

But probably better for them to use the party wall as you can then build on to it in the future should you so wish. If you do this will have to pay 50% of the cost of building the wall at current prices.

Will they need access to your property during the building work? They probably will so they will need to build a temporary fence inside the boundary of your property for the duration of the works. They then need to make good any damage.

What hours will they be working? These will normally be those determined by the local authority but you can insist that any particularly noisy work is done at certain hours.

Your surveyor should explain all of this to you.

It is pretty stressful having building work done next door but the surveyors are used to dealing with issues that arise.

Ah thank you so much @Ernestina123 That’s really helpful 🙏🙏🙏

I’m falling asleep atm but will re-read your reply tomorrow 😊

Do not under any circumstances let them out scaffolding on your property or use you property for access. Keep your distance from this, do not get involved with the builders.

It depends what the extension is going to be.
We are in a semi and did not require a party wall. The foundations we had were not deeper than theirs/our original ones and
none of it is touching their house.

So depending on what their plans are it may be that you don’t need to do anything.

I would agree re the scaffolding. Or if they are going to put it on your property you need to draw up an agreement where they oay a weekly price, have an end date and penalty clauses where they pay extra if they do not remove the scaffolding on time. Scaffolding companies will often use projects as storage sites until they need the kit for another project. But almost all work can be done without putting scaffolding on the adjacent sites.

I disagree on the access point. I am not talking about them schlepping large amounts of building materials through an adjacent site, but if they are building into the party wall they may need access to finish off the side facing OPs property if she wants it to look good. Usually it involves fencing off a narrow strip for a few weeks.

Are they building to the boundary?
Be very clear that they're is no overhanging guttering, roofing, fascia boards, windows air vents or boiler flu. This kind of trespass can be a problem selling your house in future.

Look in detail at their plans for water management like sewers and rainwater downpipes.
Do you know where your utilities enter and leave your property? They could be affected, especially sewers and water supply. Possibly phone / broadband and gas.

If you are looking to do the same extension then you could agree to share the new wall, but you need to be ready to work at the same time really.

If they are building right up to the boundary then a party wall agreement should be agreed before they start work on the wall. You could get an injunction to stop work if not.
A party wall awards is an agreement to reasonably allow the work so almost impossible to stop access onto your land for the wall.

Check that you have legal cover on your home insurance (just in case).

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/property/5279357-neighbours-wants-to-put-scaffolding-on-our-property?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share

This is a very useful thread about scaffolding. It gave me the knowledge to see off CF neighbours and their builder.

Bottom line is, they can always put up scaffolding without going onto your property, but it will cost them more.

I initially asked for everything in writing so I could refer to my home insurers. That stopped them in their tracks and the work was done without setting foot on my property.

Yes @Ernestina123I do agree to any putting right work however I was more warning about builders using OPs property as it easier for them to move materials etc. In my experience builders don’t care a jot about people’s property, they leave a mess and cause damage and it’s practically impossible to get it corrected. The OP hasn’t said much though so we have no idea what’s involved.

As another poster has said that is always another option re scaffolding etc but it’s usually more expensive that’s no the OPs problem.

Wow! I have come back this morning to a huge amount of useful advice! Thank you so much. 🙏🙏🙏

I will know more by the weekend when neighbour will be outlining his plans.

Basically it’s a semi, with, of course, a shared wall in the original building.

Then both houses have been added onto at the back. They have a proper single storey extension. We have a conservatory that doesn’t touch their extension.

They now have planning to extend even further out - another couple of metres.

I don’t think they intend to build on the boundary, but just inside it. It’s single storey so I imagine fairly straightforward?

We are at the bottom of hill near a stream. I have concerns about drainage in my garden as there is surface water at the moment. It’s clay and always saturated until May… Their new foundations will potentially cause water to pool my side?

There is a lot of talk of scaffolding here, but that would only be for a two storey extension wouldn’t it???

I know nothing at all about building and I am completely out of my depth here.

I feel like I need things explained in very simple language 😬

What could I unknowingly fall into here? They are very confident…In truth, I feel a bit intimidated by it all.

I’m going to carefully read all your responses again now.

Thank you so much. 🙏🙏🙏

This is making me think practically @Ernestina123 Very helpful 🙏

Many thanks @Rollercoaster1920 Appreciate this

This is a useful document

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preventing-and-resolving-disputes-in-relation-to-party-walls/the-party-wall-etc-act-1996-explanatory-booklet

and if you discover you don’t need one, please don’t shout at the builders like my neighbour did 🙈

Update - Had a chat with neighbours. Told them I want my own surveyor. They reckon their surveyor and mine would work together on producing a report?

To be fair they took it well as they will be paying 😬 All very amicable.

Their building won’t touch our house and they don’t want access.

Are they extending to the boundary?
How will the roof be finished if the wall is on the boundary without any trespass? A pitched roof needs 50mm overhang minimum so the wall would need to be stepped back by that amount.

Ah thank you @Rollercoaster1920 for returning to this thread🙏

No not as far as the boundary. Flat roof on a square box added to the back of their house basically 🤣

Thanks again. Feeling better about it all now I have more detail. The party wall thing was feeling intimidating.