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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Neighbour still doing extension 4 years later ...

39 replies

fitzy73 · 25/03/2019 17:49

Our neighbours applied for and were granted planning permission in 2015 to convert their garage and add on a room + new kitchen. They are non adjoining but (being a London burb) the extension comes to within a few cm of our property.

He did indeed start the extension in 2015, but as he is doing it himself, fast forward to.2019 and it's still ongoing and not finished. The structural work is (mostly) done but he seems to go through phases of doing loads and then flip all for months.

Sadly the PP didn't have a date for when the work had to be completed by, so I'm now in a situation where I have no idea when it's going to be done and I'm still listening to late night hammering, early morning kangoo hammers and an infestation of mice from the constant skip that's in their drive.

We haven't a great relationship with our neighbours (due to a previous spat about a fence) but I AIBU?

The other thing that's a bit annoying is that the PP he was granted explicitly said no windows or doors other than the plan but he's stuck in two windows which are definitely NOT in the plan - though one is literally on the side of the building looking at the side of my house which is about 10cm away!

If I'm not AIBU should I shop him for breaking the PP rules?

OP posts:

AuntieCJ · 25/03/2019 17:54

Report him before it's finished. It's harder to get something done then.

PotteringAlong · 25/03/2019 17:55

Report the windows now.

bridgetreilly · 25/03/2019 17:58

If he's making noise at unreasonable times, you can report that, and also the additional windows.

But he is allowed to be as slow about the job as he likes, pretty much.

PinkiOcelot · 25/03/2019 18:00

Do you live next door to me? My husband starts jobs and never finishes them. Gets right on my tit end!

Ragnarthe · 25/03/2019 18:04

A street we moved to in 2006, there was a house with a two storey extension being built on the side.
Two years ago we moved out and it still wasn't finished. I went at Christmas to drop off a card and present for our lovely old neighbours. Still wasn't finished.
Your neighbour is speedy Gonzalez in comparison!

Expressedways · 25/03/2019 18:12

Definitely report the windows! And it should be on your local council’s website but there are restrictions on the hours he’s allowed to do noisy building work- we reported a development of flats opposite when we lived in London as they were frequently banging away late at night. But annoying as it may be, he’s allowed to take forever to finish the work.

Clutterbugsmum · 25/03/2019 18:13

A person on a street near me built a house in his back garden. He started it when DD2 was under a year old. He just finished the house, still needs to do the drop kerb and finish the front garden. DD2 goes up to year 7 in September. How his neighbours have lived with the mess and noise for so long I don't know.

Definitely report the windows which are facing your house.

Scrumptiousbears · 25/03/2019 18:27

I'm sure when my mum had an extension the planning people visited at various stages to confirm they were doing it according to the plans. Surely he is had a visit from them?

chillpizza · 25/03/2019 18:33

You only have a deadline to start it not to finish it. Report the non allowed windows.

SileneOliveira · 25/03/2019 18:37

Report it. And look into Building Regulations too, when we had our loft conversion done we had 2 years from the date of Building Regs agreeing the plans to completing the project and having it signed off.

Original poster

fitzy73 · 25/03/2019 18:37

If I report the non allowed windows does he have to know who reported them? I want a quiet life (literally!) and can't be dealing with the idiot shouting obscenities at my wife + your son (He has form for this).

In the next 5 years or so we will probably move and I suppose I don't want it to escalate to a point where it becomes difficult for us to sell.

OP posts:

ChariotsofFish · 25/03/2019 18:38

Don’t some of the permitted development rules change this year meaning stuff permitted under the relaxed rules has to be signed off by building control by 31st March? Can’t remember the details. Maybe it’s worth a chat with the planning officers.

Ox136jl · 25/03/2019 18:39

A window looking straight into your house would also make it hard to sell...

DragonflyInn · 25/03/2019 18:41

Definitely report the windows.

You’ll need to weigh up which bothers you most - the noise late at night or the length of time it’s taking. Because if complaining about the noise prevents them working on it when they have the free time to do so, it may well take even longer to complete.

norrismcwhirtersfridgemagnet · 25/03/2019 18:42

Contact building control - ask that they don't name you. Their window could influence your sale but once it's been there for 7 years, I believe you can't do anything about it.

missyB1 · 25/03/2019 18:43

Definitely get the planning people to come and inspect those windows. I feel your pain we went through it too, only we had neighbours on both sides at it at the same time!! I remember crying with the noise, mess, and stress of living in between two building sites.

Asdf12345 · 25/03/2019 18:46

They are probably doing bits as they have time and money. Nothing wrong with that frankly.

You could escalate over the noise and vermin but if you plan to sell in the next few years it’s probably not in your best interests. It may be best to drop a bottle of wine round and ask if they can stop by say half nine or ten each night and stick some traps out for the mice.

Original poster

fitzy73 · 25/03/2019 18:50

Just to say that neither window over looks us really - the one to the side basically looks out on to the side of my house which is just a gable end. It's the oddest place ever to put a window but given he's a massive bell end, not surprising really.

To be fair we are an up early, bed latish family so it's not interrupting anything. However, it's just flipping annoying. I can't believe our local council doesn't put a time limit on completion - 18 months or 2 years is a long time but possibly acceptable, but 4 years and still ongoing is just insane.

OP posts:

chillpizza · 25/03/2019 18:52

Is it just the inside they are working on? As in all the actual structure is finished? Then it’s more like never ending diy rather than never ending extension.

Daisydoesnt · 25/03/2019 19:00

I'm sure when my mum had an extension the planning people visited at various stages to confirm they were doing it according to the plans. Surely he is had a visit from them?

It's Building Control that visit the site periodically through the build, to check everything is being built correctly and according to regulations (foundations/ structural/ insulation/ventilation etc). Building Control will have no interest in whether what is being built, is what was given permission for.

However, you absolutely should report the windows if they are not as per the Planning Permission. Do not feel bad about this. That needs to be reported to your Planning Officer. You can do this anonymously. Do it now.

Original poster

fitzy73 · 25/03/2019 19:17

The front of the garage needs to be knocked out our and bricked back up but that's about it on the structural side (I think).

I'll give planning a call in the morning and see what they say.

Side issue - the mingers are throwing their domestic waste into the skip (hence the mice) - is this allowed?!

OP posts:

Original poster

fitzy73 · 25/03/2019 19:20

PS sorry for all the typos - new phone and fat fingers.

OP posts:

Jamiefraserskilt · 25/03/2019 19:44

Have a word about the domestic waste in the skip and the pest infestation. They may pay them a visit. Euk

CluedoAddict · 25/03/2019 19:50

The planning inspectors should be coming to inspect the progress. Definitely report as it could affect your resale value of your house.

labyrinth · 25/03/2019 20:08

Once you've got full planning and started there's no limit on it. He could literally spend the rest of his life doing it and it wouldn't be against the rules. But if he hasn't varied the plans to add windows then that's a big no no. He should have regular visits from the building inspector to sign certain bits off, so definitely worth reporting to planning/ building control.
With regards to the skip I'd call environmental health and let them know what's happening especially if there are mice!
Good luck OP!

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