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AIBU?

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

165 replies

Genx77 · 04/03/2016 11:06

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!

OP posts:

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2boysnamedR · 04/03/2016 14:11

Parking issues are grounds for planning. We are extending our house from 3 to five beds. Neighbour ( behind us I presume) objected but Had no grounds - we have a double garage and drive big enough for six cars ( weird plot layout). We had a architect draw up the plans and didn't even try to get anything on plans that neighbours could object to - eg we didn't ask for side windows.

notquitehuman · 04/03/2016 14:11

That's a point. In these multiple occupation houses, especially in expensive cities, you often have couples sharing rooms. You could quite easily end up with a dozen people stuffed in.

Yes object about the garage. That is ridiculous.

EssentialHummus · 04/03/2016 14:14

HMO regulations are nationally prescribed - look them up (Housing Act 2004?) and see what's likely to affect you besides garage.

There's a lot of internal faff. Externally - prob staircase as fire escape, not sure what else.

Gobbolino6 · 04/03/2016 14:14

I wouldn't be thriled about the garage.

thebiscuitindustry · 04/03/2016 14:16

It's not just "young professionals" who can be good tenants

665TheNeighbourOfTheBeast · 04/03/2016 14:17

The thing he does need your permission for is to dig within a given distance of your foundations. I think its 1m but may be up to 3m ? Not sure ..you'd need to check..but its worth considering as he will need a waiver from you to make this legal ..So him putting in footings for a new wall or new foundations if youre house is close to your property line is the most likely thing.
Like..demolishing the garage and replacing it with a similar, or larger structure will require new foundations.

Genx77 · 04/03/2016 14:28

I've done a bit of digging, he owns another hmo a few streets away, there is a room available to rent in that house at the moment, it's on with a local letting agent and the ad States 'would suit students or professionals' and also 'couples considered for additional cost' so 8 could be the very minimum and his 'I'll only put young doctors in there" is starting not to ring true....

OP posts:

expatinscotland · 04/03/2016 14:34

'it's on with a local letting agent and the ad States 'would suit students or professionals' and also 'couples considered for additional cost' so 8 could be the very minimum and his 'I'll only put young doctors in there" is starting not to ring true....'

Nothing he tells you is true. He's there to serve his own interests. He doesn't give a flying fuck about yours. I would strongly object, particularly to the garage.

MerryMarigold · 04/03/2016 14:36

'would suit students or professionals' What kind of professionals want to live with students? Hmmmm....

Anyway, as someone pointed out, he is probably clued up as to what he can do, but doesn't mean you won't make his life harder. And I think the garage would be very fair ground for contention.

CottonSock · 04/03/2016 14:40

Not read the thread, but exact thing happened to me. Then developer said as we were buddies so didn't need a party wall agreement etc.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 04/03/2016 14:41

Arsnt there special permissions required for HMos now? I'd be worried about parking/rubbish etc.

Redroses11 · 04/03/2016 14:46

I suspect he has had hassle from neighbours where he has done similar, so is trying to sweeten the blow to avoid same with you.
This guy is not your friend. He will not be your neighbour. No holds barred with this one. He's a money vulture.

TheCrimsonPleb · 04/03/2016 14:56

Has he put in a planning application already? The Council are supposed to notify neighbours but often notices are not seen by neighbours or not posted through the door.

Genx77 · 04/03/2016 15:34

No planning application has been submitted yet, I'll keep checking as they are posted online. It is bloody greedy really, even going so far as to shove someone in the garage whilst he counts his money in his luxury barn in the countryside (did a bit of Google stalking)

OP posts:

GrumpyOldBag · 04/03/2016 15:46

money vulture and bloody greedy

FFS this is his business - he is a property developer, what's wrong with that?

As a professional developer I would think he will abide by all the necessary planning regs. My neighbour converted her garage into an extension for her house, increasing it's value considerable. Would you have a go at her too?

He's not an arms dealer or selling crack to kids.

And you can easily screen that garage - which looks horrible anyway - with some clever planting.

expatinscotland · 04/03/2016 15:58

Why should she? She doesn't want someone sleeping inches from her kitchen, Grumpy and is well within her rights to object. He doesn't give a shit. He just cares about his money, not the neighbours and hte impact a house with potentially 12-16 people crammed in will have on them.

SoupDragon · 04/03/2016 16:01

he is a property developer,

He's more of a landlord looking to squeeze as many people into the house as possible. He knows neighbours are likely to object hence the nicey nicey approach.

There are big downsides to a HMO compared to a family home or even just flats. Parking for one - potentially 8 vehicles.

Redroses11 · 04/03/2016 16:03

It's not the OP's business to protect his business interests, cos he sure as hell won't protect her interests!

GrumpyOldBag · 04/03/2016 16:10

Of course she is within her rights to object - and he is within his rights to make the most of his investment.

That is how the business world operates - the house has been empty for 2 years, if it was suitable for a family maybe one would have bought it? But they haven't.

Redroses11 · 04/03/2016 16:12

So basically - you admit that he is a greedy money vulture?

expatinscotland · 04/03/2016 16:13

Living next to a HMO can also negatively affect the value of your home, OP.

GrumpyOldBag · 04/03/2016 16:15

You lot are unbelievable - he told the OP 8 people and now that's risen to 12- 16 people.

Horrible scaremongering, and assuming the worst about someone just because he is a developer/professional landlord.

They are not all like Rachman. There are some good ones out there too.

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GrumpyOldBag · 04/03/2016 16:17

Do you have any money invested in a pension or ISAs Redroses11 ?

expatinscotland · 04/03/2016 16:18

'You lot are unbelievable - he told the OP 8 people and now that's risen to 12- 16 people.'

Because he has form, his other HMO is open to all and sundry including couples. So why would anyone believe him when he says, 'Oh, only doctors, only 8.' He's looking after his best interest, which is to maximise his rent profits, not care about his neighbours and their lives.

Genx77 · 04/03/2016 16:20

The house has been empty for 2 years but only up for sale a week before it sold. I would have loved a family to move in but then again they could have been the family from hell couldn't they? There are no guarantees really, I know this but when it's your home, your children, your refuge and your privacy you want to protect all those things and of course I feel all those things are under threat at the moment.
I don't object to it becoming a hmo, but I do object to someone practically sleeping in my garden.

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