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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:

Adversecamber22 · 25/03/2019 20:38

My friends DH is a builder, they have a huge grand designs thing but it’s been going on for five years as he is doing the majority of work himself. It’s awful for neighbours and the people living in it. I joke I’m never quite sure where the front door will be one week to the next. I have no advice just sympathyto offer.

StoneofDestiny · 25/03/2019 22:36

OP - Do let us know how you get on.

Justbeingreal · 25/03/2019 22:52

I really really hope this isn't my dad's neighbor.... It sounds exactly like it....

Smelborp · 25/03/2019 23:24

Glad you’ll report the windows. I’d mention the skip and mice. They have no reason to use a skip for domestic waste (although they can, they’re paying extra for it though).

PotteringAlong · 26/03/2019 17:47

justbeingreal then tell your dad to stick to the plans he’s got permission for, eh?

ThatssomebadhatHarry · 26/03/2019 18:08

On the issue of the windows yanbu and should report. Not sure if building regs would sign it off anyway.

In the case of the time I think yabu to a point. If he is doing it himself he obviously is doing as much as he can. He likely has a job, family and uses all his free time to do the house.

Original poster

fitzy73 · 27/03/2019 09:57

He doesn't have a job as such, as he is builder himself. However he has a raft of CCJS against him and hasn't worked properly in years. He still had his bleeping long van half way into the road though - he goes out about once a month to do the odd job.

I'm pretty cool about giving people time, but 4 years is ludicrous. And by the looks of it it could be another year before he gets close to finishing the exterior.

I've reported the windows to the council.

OP posts:

tillytrotter1 · 27/03/2019 14:36

A friend's neighbour has been extending the kitchen for about 15 years! Re the windows, report it certainly but also put something up on the boundary to block their view.

Puffty · 27/03/2019 14:41

Side windows have to be obscure glazed and non opening below 1.7m on upper floors. Google Planning Portal which is the government's guidance on this then your LA will also have its own rules which refer to this. Not sure about ground floors but the PP website has an 'interactive house' that you click on and the rules pop up

Seeline · 27/03/2019 14:46

puffty that advice only relates to 'permitted development', not development that has been given planning permission. If PP has been granted, the development must meet any conditions on that PP as well as being built as per the approved plans.

TimeIhadaNameChange · 27/03/2019 14:51

4 Years is nothing. When I was a child new people moved in next door and started a loft conversion. Like you the guy was doing it himself. I was no older than 6 when they started.

They sold the house when I was doing A Levels. So at least 12 years later. The conversion was still unfinished!

Puffty · 30/03/2019 15:10

Oooh @Seeline - didn't realise that. Do you happen to know at what point a project done under planning permission become eligible for permitted development? Google's not throwing up any answers to this

Seeline · 01/04/2019 10:10

@Puffty The extension which has planning permission would have to be completed in accordance with the approved plans.
Whether permitted development rights could then be applied to the extension would depend on the individual planning permission and the conditions imposed on that permission eg PPs will often have a condition saying no new openings/windows other than those shown on the approved drawings, and therefore no additional windows could be put in without applying for the relaxation of that condition (involving a similar process as full planning permission). You can check the actual PP document for conditions on your Council website by searching for the address of the property concerned on their on-line register.

Puffty · 01/04/2019 11:21

@Seeline - many thanks!

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