To be suspicious of this (on the surface of it) friendly note?

[Genx77]

So, the house next door has sold, it's been empty for 2 years as the elderly previous resident is now in a care home.
It's a big house (6 beds) needs a good amount of work to make it habitable.
Today I receive a gushing 'notelet' on expensive personalised stationary in the post from the new owner of the house. To summarise he states he is so sorry not to have met us in person, he will clear his schedule at our earliest convenience to meet up in our home to discuss 'a few planning permission queries'
Hmm, on the surface friendly, husband thinks I'm nuts, that it's nice he's introducing himself instead of just cracking on.

Would I be cynical to presume he can't just 'crack on' because in fact he needs our permission to carry out any works on the house as these works will affect us/our home in some way? We are currently not overlooked as any windows onto our property are bathrooms, would he need planning permission to change these?

Ponder away with me mumsnetters, I'm waiting for him to call me back!

[ZiggyFartdust]

It's a 6 bed house, so not much of a surprise.

[OurBlanche]

So, student let? Eek!

Young professionals, maybe not so bad.

But still, eeek!

Contact the council and ask them for more info on occupancy levels, parking, rubbish collection, noise abatement, etc etc.

And specifically ask if it is going to be a bail hostel / halfway house. A friend forgot to ask that and was a bit bemused to find 7 ex cons living next door because she hadn't raised any objection.

[NoncommittalToSparkleMotion]

Already late, but yes, cynical.

Given the answer, what did you say?

[GnomeDePlume]

Having just done an extension, my guess would be that he is wanting to make contact before he makes a party wall agreement with you. This is separate from planning in that it will affect how the work is done rather than what work is done.

IMO work with him. A certain amount of disruption is to be expected when work is done but you can use this process to ensure that disruption is reasonable.

[notquitehuman]

Eight professionals would be a nightmare as they'd all have cars ouside the property.

At least with students you'd get the summers off!

[MyLifeisaboxofwormgears]

In my area they would apply to knock the house down and build 10 flats - however a "house of multiple occupancy" suggests a hostel or students.
Students is likely to mean lots of noise - hostel- usually they let the flats via the council as first stop for immigrants etc (my uncle let his flats out via the council, you are guaranteed rent from the council even if the flats are not occupied) and this is a very very profitable set up for the landlord. The fact he is going to convert the garage to living space suggests he'll go for maximum profit at the expense of the poor sods who end up there and the neighbours.

You need to think carefully about noise and nuisance.

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

In London, eight young professionals might very well have no cars at all, but several of them would have performance bikes. However, it doesn't sound as if this house is being turned into bedsits for trainee accountants. When he says 8, does he mean 8 units, which would surely have to be just studios, or a student house or similar for 8 residents?

[Genx77]

He says not students no, we are just behind a large hospital so he 'says' it would be young doctors/professionals etc, he owns another hmo a few streets away so I'm going to knock on the neighbours doors and ask them if he's a good landlord and if the tenants are ok.
I don't know how I feel about to be honest, 8 seems rather a lot of people in regards to noise, parking etc.

[Quoteunquote]

This is a very good place to get lots of informed information to avoid conflict

a must read for all UK home owners

[Whatdoidohelp]

Yep he is planning MAJOR works. Be prepared.......

[GloGirl]

House of multiple occupancy... What does that mean? Student accommodation? Hostel?

[GloGirl]

Sorry, must have had the page open for while before I read and posted!

[aginghippy]

He's absolutely trying to win you over. There are lots of other people who work in hospitals besides doctors. After all, doctors are relatively high status. Can't see him saying you would be living next door to a house full of hospital cleaners, porters and catering staff.

[Genx77]

I agree aging hippy. To be honest I'm not bothered who lives there, my main concern at the moment is he wants to convert the garage into living accommodation. The garage wall IS my garden wall so essentially someone would be sleeping inches away. I'm going to take a pic and put it on.

[aginghippy]

House in multiple occupancy means each tenant has their own room, but shares the toilet, bathroom or kitchen with the other tenants.

My nephew lives in a place like that. He is a lovely young man, but definitely not a doctor/professional.

[Genx77]

This is the view from my kitchen to the garage he is proposing to turn into accommodation.

[Image removed by MNHQ to protect poster's identity]

[Redroses11]

In general, these houses that are multiple occupancy tend to fall into disrepair - on the outside anyway!

[Redroses11]

I'd object to the garage being converted for use.

[GloGirl]

I would also object about the garage.

[MerryMarigold]

Personally I wouldn't be happy with that. Sometimes 8 bedrooms can turn into a lot more than 8 people. Check with a few local agents what kinds of people are in multi occupancies, but my hunch is not young professionals. The rooms are let individually which means it is not a bunch of professionals sharing unless perhaps it is in Clapham. I would think doctors (even trainees) would live in shared houses (which is different - you rent the house together as a group of friends), or studios/ flats etc. A multi occupancy for 8 basically means there are no living rooms other than the kitchen. (Young professionals do not want this). I would be VERY SUSPICIOUS. Also, a garage that close to my kitchen, with someone in it, is a no no. I would say he needs to make it max 6 people and leave garage alone/ perhaps knock it down as part of the deal.

[Whathaveilost]

I'm guessing that if he already owns property and he has bought this one he is reasonably clued up to what he can and can't do.

I think he has the advantage at the moment, I mean nobody would buy a house that size and have those plans without being quietly confident that things will go there way.

I think that you need to be pretty certain it is professionals that are going to be going there and it's not going to be a bail hostel or something.

[purplebaglady]

He could put windows in anywhere as they require building regs not planning approval, there are a few exceptions to this.

Generally if he's building an extension then that requires planning approval. If he's putting in a fully glazed conservatory or rebuilding a porch then that does not.

Keep sharp and contact planning at your local council regularly as you won't automatically be informed. I believe they have to post planning notices on telegraph poles close to the house concerned as a means of informing the public.

Take time to think about his proposal when he makes it, and say that you need time to digest it all. This will give you space to do some research with the county planners should you need to.

[expatinscotland]

I would object to the garage, definitely! I'd do round to his other HMO. And I wouldn't believe a word he said.

[Trickydecision]

I would immediately plant some fast growing shrubs in front of that garage window.