To convert our loft when we have elderly neighbours

[Corruptedtongue]

We bought a 2 bed semi detached bungalow about a year ago - with a view to converting the loft space. About a third of the bungalows along our road have already been converted. The other interested buyer was a property developer. We have 2 children, our one year old is still sleeping in the bedroom with us, and we really need the extra space. We have had plans drawn up and passed by the council. We need a party wall agreement and our neighbours have instructed a surveyor. They’ve asked us to change our plans twice, which we’ve done - and now need to resubmit to planning. We are on good terms with them, but I know they are concerned. It’s obviously going to be hellish for them when we have the work done. They have already extended their property at the back, but now into their roof space. I’d love to hear your thoughts? Thanks!

It’s very kind of you to be concerned about them, but if you’ve taken their requests into consideration, you do just have to go for it.

FWIW, just before lockdown, we had someone round to quote for dismantling a conservatory and building a rear extension. Our neighbour saw them in the garden and later asked lots of questions. He was very worried about access, noise, privacy etc, and we have said that we will make sure he is fully consulted, and we will, but ultimately, it’s our property, and we will be doing the project.

Having been in this position I’d say stuff your neighbours. Let planning decide what you can and can not do.

Just get it done!

I really appreciate all the responses on here! Their extension has no planning permission registered online, and slightly exceeds 4m. It’s also preventing us from extending out the back. I do think this is our bargaining point if they do become unreasonable. Thank

You all!!

This is how you become a doormat.

You're within your rights to extend, keep them informed of progress, let them know if there's going to be a particularly noisy day but crack on with it.

I'll bet they weren't so worried about their NDNs when they extended their house.

The changes they have asked for - to move the dormer from the shared chimney. I can understand this as the rainwater should pass either side. They then asked us to move it further, and wanted to know how the adjoining wall would be insulated.

But going back to planning would delay things further. They can make requests but they have to be reasonable.

Just crack on. Any surveyor should help them navigate it. Would the costs of not changing planning offset the cost of their surveyor?

In my view (though I know see that mumsnet does not share it from reading and posting on similar threads), having noisy building work done at this time, when people especially older people who might be shielding can't just go out/ stay with family/ go on holiday if they don't want to tolerate a daily racket of power tools, banging, and disruption in their home. It's a once-in-a-lifetime global pandemic, ffs, not business as usual. Being stuck inside with hour after hour of noise from next door is sheer hell for some people.

Sorry, for the typos - pressed post too soon:

In my view (though I know that mumsnet does not share it, from reading and posting on similar threads), having noisy building work done at this time, when people especially older people who might be shielding can't just go out/ stay with family/ go on holiday if they don't want to tolerate a daily racket of power tools, banging, and disruption in their home is unreasonable. It's a once-in-a-lifetime global pandemic, ffs, not business as usual. Being stuck inside with hour after hour of noise from next door is sheer hell for some people.

We’ve had ours done with elderly neighbours. I actually don’t think the work was that intrusive for them. They said they barely heard anything (and we are in a small Victorian terrace). I would progress with your plans.

I wouldn't keep putting it off. They shouldn't be allowed to manipulate you into not doing it by constantly asking you to delay it.

I would be really clear about the date you expect the work to start and roughly finish (perhaps overestimate times a bit to give a bit of leeway). I would also be clear about the times of day when the builders are going to start and finish. So they know for example that by 6pm they will have a peaceful evening.

Definitely not planning to do it at the moment - probably next spring/summer. The elderly lady across the road spoke to me yesterday (at a distance!) and said you’re planning to convert aren’t you? And then - there all doing it around here, we keep wondering when the next one will go up. I then chatted to her daughter and then could see I was being eyed suspiciously by the lady (who is good friends with our neighbour).

Sorry - they’re

Hi OP, we are in a similar position with our neighbours on both sides.
We had to redo our plans because they objected and it's cost us in both time and money. We are now cracking on with the project. They have been so difficult at every stage, despite us speaking to them regularly.
They both have extensions and one of them is constantly doing DIY, has converted his loft himself and drills and bangs every single day. He is the most vocal about us doing our work.
We have reached the point where we just don't care about him anymore because he has been obnoxious at every stage.
Just do it! Sounds like you've given them more than enough consideration.

OP,

Sort the party wall separately.

Do not over engage their views, as you are giving them far too much say.

Crack on with the job.

Be very respectful of the hours that work is done.

Slip them a note when extremely noisy work will be done.

Other than that, just move ahead.

This is neither a huge nor long job.

It's a fact of life that people renovate houses.

Once you are considerate, you are covered.

You've handled this brilliantly.

Wrong thread!

We have to engage their views at his stage so they will agree to an agreed surveyor. Otherwise we may have to pay for three separate surveyors rather than the one agreed surveyor.

@kakiqueen I sympathise! I don’t get the mindset of - we can extend our property but will make it difficult for you to do the same. By law they should have been through planning/party wall for their extension - but like I said - there is no evidence online.

And it exceeds 4m so needs planning permissionz

You do not have to pay for their surveyor. Hire your own. They can then sort it out.

@corruptedtongue- it's the same here. He has no planning for his extension either!
Plus he built a huge shed/workshop in his garden, in which he constantly drills and mixes cement/uses power tools until late into the night.
Infuriating and also one of the reasons we are pressing ahead.
Amy sympathy we had for him has evaporated. It is more important that we improve our living space now.

The good thing about planning is that neither you or they have to decide. You submit the application, they can send in their objections, then the planning department will decide whether it's reasonable or not for you to proceed.

It may be miserable for them while the work is being done. I don't suppose it was fun for the people living in your house while their extension was being built. But it won't be forever and you don't have to put your family life on hold for them.

We are required to pay for their surveyor, and they’ve chosen a pay by hour surveyor - so we have no idea how much we will be charged. Feels like giving someone a blank cheque.