To be upset about neighbours shed conversion to suite

[Bimbop5]

I don't know if I'm being over the top but my neighbour has decided to convert his shed into a suite for his child and her partner. I really like my neighbours but this shed is right on our property line and close to our bedroom. I'm really worried about noise especially music being played at night. I feel invaded and as though we are losing some privacy.

I know right now it's really hard to rent and I know they aren't going to live there forever but it's upsetting me. And it's illegal. But I'm not going to say anything to the bylaw department because I like them and if they are quiet then they can live there and I don't care. But if they are noisy etc. I dread the confrontation that may happen. And I wonder what recourse we will have? I've emailed the city just to ask what the rules are, just in case.

That would upset me too and, if it wasn't permitted, I wouldn't stand for it, even if I really liked my neighbors.

I'd report it to planning enforcement. Who knows what building regs they're flaunting? I wonder if this will end up like Mrs Devere's neighbour's gym.

Uh oh what is Mrs Devereux Gym?

Mrs DeVere's neighbours started to build a "gym" in their back garden, possibly without planning permission.
It ended up being a self-contained apartment and the main house was given over to tenants as a house in multiple occupation.

I can't just find the thread but it went on for ages.

I don't understand the rationale of doing something like this.

If your offspring can't afford the deposit for a rental/mortgage, and you are inclined to help, why convert a shed in the back garden??

Why not give/lend them the money you'd spend on a conversion and then they could use that as a deposit??

Will they need to connect up drains and electricity. Will that be safe?
Are there other neighbours (who can be blamed for contacting planning dept).

I think it would depend on the type of conversion - if it's basically just a bed room for a short period of time, I probably wouldn't say anything (unless they are noisy)

If they are putting in bathroom & cooking facilities - not a short term thing at all & in breach of many by laws - I would report that !

I don't think people are allowed to convert sheds into places of residence, however small (saw something similar on TV), without planning permission, and the council would have to notify you if it had been applied for, and you would have the right to object.

totally get why its upsetting you OP . Report it. Its a shame if you like your neighbours and otherwise get on with them. But they are not "good neighbours" if they are trying to pull this stunt, so do it with a free conscience. I'd start by ringing up the council planning department and find out where you stand (or maybe see a solicitor).

Then, armed with your knowledge about the law (that its probably illegal) you could talk to them about your genuine concerns before making an official complaint. However, this can be an unpredictable strategy in my experience as sometimes selfish people get very angry when other people's rights or wishes are pointed out to them, however pleasantly. I think knowledge is power though and the first thing to do is arm yourself up on the legalities of the situation.

Do you ever talk with the neighbours on the other side of them?

They may equally have concerns?

If it's built cheaply highly likely you will hear everthing they do. I wouldn't like that outside my bedroom window.

I was idly looking up some garden room things last week, they were like wooden pods you could use for games rooms etc. They were quite specific that a certain height would mean you didn't need planning permission at all, and the height the pod could be went up the further away from a neighbour's fence you are. So it's possible they aren't breaking any rules.

The size might not be breaking any rules, but living in the shed as a domestic residence probably would be.

I appreciate that you like your neighbours but do you not think that you need to go and discuss this with them. It doubt it will be long before you don't like them anymore and have big problems if you allow this to go ahead without discussion at least.

Best case scenerio, you will have a lot of noise during the adaptations under your bedroom windows, general people/living noise spoiling your relationship with your neighbours. You could end up having to report them. I would say you need to talk this though and actually stop it before they have spend a lot of money on the renovations.