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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not contribute towards my neighbours' extension

27 replies

cocoachannel · 26/05/2012 22:33

We live in a terrace house and have recently submitted an application for planning permission to extend our first floor so one of the bedrooms goes from being a box room to a liveable in single bedroom- a fairly minor extension of a few foot squared, which many other houses on our road have already done.

Our next door neighbour spoke to us over the garden fence this evening and told us he'd like to do the same work and would we contribute to his extension- that way he won't object to our planning application.

I am so shocked at this and DH told him resolutely 'no', but I wonder whether anyone else has been in this situation and had to relent?

OP posts:
Sirzy · 26/05/2012 22:36

Cheeky sod!!

Of course you shouldn't pay towards his!

wereofftoseethewizard · 26/05/2012 22:36

Why should you relent? Is he going to help pay for yours so you don't object?
It's a no brainer.

Birdsgottafly · 26/05/2012 22:38

He cannot just object, the objection has to be reasonable, such as a reduction in light to his property etc.

Tell him to do one.

camtt · 26/05/2012 22:39

If others in the street have the same extension it might be pretty likely his objections won't matter anyway.

AgentZigzag · 26/05/2012 22:39

You could offer to get a quote to do both together which might be cheaper, but that'd mean you ignoring the fact he's just tried to be so underhand about it and bribe you!

Could he have been joking? Bit of straw clutching, but it could be something someone would say in banter?

LunaticFringe · 26/05/2012 22:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
cocoachannel · 26/05/2012 22:45

Agent, he is a little odd so it is hard to tell if he's joking.

Lunatic, excellent advice- thank you.

OP posts:
GrendelsMum · 26/05/2012 22:56

Are you sure he's not joking? I had two neighbours say the same thing to me (i.e. asking for a bribe not to object), and I know they were joking.

You might ask one of the planning officers on MN about whether it would be sensible to ring the planning office and tell them about it. As people say, you can only object on certain grounds, so any objections might be neither here nor there.

beachyhead · 26/05/2012 23:02

Are you sure he wasn't asking if you could build it with a party wall in the middle, so that effectively you would both pay half of the cost of the walls that you would both use, which would reduce the cost for both of you. Normally you would build your wall along the boundary and pay for it, and then when your neighbour wanted to use it in his extension, he would pay you for half the cost of building that particular wall.

CrispyCod · 26/05/2012 23:04

Well he'd be an idiot to object because he won't be able to build one then will he.

quoteunquote · 26/05/2012 23:05

He can object away, but if the same type of houses, on the same road have already had the same type of alterations, the planning office cannot refuse planning.

So don't worry, you will get permission,

He could make it difficult for access during the build, and you may need to draw up a party wall agreement, so do try to stay civil, it will cost a lot less if you get along.

Go and see your local planning department on monday, to get relevant information.

ratspeaker · 26/05/2012 23:45

Sounds a cheeky

have you asked if he will contribute to your work so you wont object to his extension?
that is the logical conclusion to his statement

AgentZigzag · 26/05/2012 23:55

How did your neighbour react to your DH saying no to him OP?

If he was joking surely he'd have said at the time, 'I'm only pulling your leg Wink', he wouldn't just carry on as though he was being serious.

mayaswell · 26/05/2012 23:55

Yup, ours said the same to us, we wanted a side return and he said the only way it could go ahead was if we paid to have the same thing done for him. My husband pointed out there was nothing our neighbour could do to stop it happening, but I decided I couldn't face the aggravation and didn't go ahead. The neighbours on the other side are equally unrealistic, when we had a loft conversion they insisted we paid for a party wall survey which cost us £1000. Bastards.

holidaysarenice · 28/05/2012 03:49

Mayaswell - did u have to have a survey done? If so, then of course you should pay for it? If not then why do it? I'm a little confused?

Tee2072 · 28/05/2012 06:25

Nothing like some blackmail in the spring time....

NapaCab · 28/05/2012 06:35

Well, he has a brass neck! It sounds like some mafioso engaging in extortion: 'nice extension you're building there, it'd be a shame if something were to happen to it... '

Did he have a baseball bat with him and start muttering about both of you 'swimming with the fishes' if he doesn't get an extension too??

CogitoErgoSometimes · 28/05/2012 08:09

YANBU... the answer to the suggestion is 'nice try'

OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 28/05/2012 08:26

What exactly did he say? Could it be that he thought you might both get it slightly cheaper if you had it done at the same time?

Longdistance · 28/05/2012 08:29

Even if he objects, you'll probably get planning permission anyway. I know councils are a lot more forgiving with planning permission to extend than they used to be.
I would have told him to foxtrot oscar!

Pendeen · 28/05/2012 08:42

Planning permision will not be withheld simply because of an objection unless there are substantial grounds - unlikely from what you have said however if he is serious then your neighbour is likely to cause difficulties (i.e. a 'dispute') as regards the Party Wall Act so make sure you have a party wall surveyor ready and waiting.

Toughasoldboots · 28/05/2012 08:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DeWe · 28/05/2012 09:57

I would contact the planning committee and let them know that he's tried to bribe you . That way if he objects they know why.

If he was suggesting that you might get it cheaper if you do it at the same time (particularly if the extentions would be joined) then I think that sounds reasonable, but make sure your bills go separately.

Jins · 28/05/2012 12:40

His objection will not stop you getting planning permission if your proposal is acceptable in planning terms. Do not let him bribe you.

MissMarjoribanks · 28/05/2012 12:46

What Jins said.

BTW, just because others have had similar done doesn't mean yours will be acceptable however - each application is determined on a case by case basis and there might be a factor at your property which is not immediately obvious which might lead to a different conclusion being reached.

Best thing to do is ask your Council's planning office for advice.