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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

New neighbours extension plans

629 replies

Greenfingeredsue · 28/06/2020 09:03

Hi all

My current neighbour has died. Now probate is completed her house is being sold.

Her son has prospective buyers. He has mentioned in passing to me that they want to extend the property out the back. I am wondering wtf they can’t just buy a house that meets their needs?

The gardens are quite big so there’s plenty of room for them to do this. However, we don’t want them to.

We need a new shed, so my husband has suggested we build a new one with a greenhouse on their side right as near to the boundary as we can, next to the house.

We’ll do this once contracts have been exchanged so we don’’t scupper the sale, plus they would have to get planning permission.

My only concern is that the new neighbours could force us to dismantle them so the builders can work?

OP posts:
starsintheskyy · 28/06/2020 14:24

You don't want the noise and disruption yet you'd be happy for the noise and disruption to build your shed and greenhouse!

LIZS · 28/06/2020 14:36

You sound petty and determined to dislike the new neighbours regardless. You have not even met them , let alone seen any plans and they have not actually bought the house yet, this is purely hearsay! Put your shed where the greenhouse gets most light, not just to be awkward.

Allnamesaregone · 28/06/2020 14:37

You’ve got yourself all worked up about some thing that isn’t even happening yet, and may not happen at all. And the noise and disruption is only temporary.
Yes, it’s scary having new neighbours but most people just want to get along. What a shame you’ve decided to be hostile to the situation!

Katjolo · 28/06/2020 14:38

This is hilarious and has to be a joke. If not, it is so ridiculous!

justonecottonpickingminute · 28/06/2020 14:44

Do you really not get why people don't want to live next to a building site for a number of months - especially while we're all staying at home more than usual??

I get that they don't have the right to prevent it, but is it really so hard to understand why it's a complete nightmare?

SoupDragon · 28/06/2020 14:46

especially while we're all staying at home more than usual??

They haven't even bought the house yet!

AlexisCarringtonColbyDexter · 28/06/2020 14:48

What a great way to live life, you're all as bad as each other

Why cant the OP approach the neighbours and ask kindly first then? why does she have to adopt a fck you mentality before she even knows this is even happening?! The OP is making plans to spite the neighbours before she even knows if the extension is even going ahead! I'd say the one exhibiting bad behaviour here is the OP. You catch far more flies with honey than with vinegar!

JaniceWebster · 28/06/2020 14:55

Do you really not get why people don't want to live next to a building site for a number of months - especially while we're all staying at home more than usual??

don't bother, some posters are only here to start an argument and abuse other people. Of course in real life they would react very differently if it was affecting THEM!

SoupDragon · 28/06/2020 15:02

@JaniceWebster

Do you really not get why people don't want to live next to a building site for a number of months - especially while we're all staying at home more than usual??

don't bother, some posters are only here to start an argument and abuse other people. Of course in real life they would react very differently if it was affecting THEM!

  1. they haven't even bought the house yet

  2. as it happens my neighbours are planning a large rear extension. I can't say I'm looking forward to it but I'm not planning to be a dick about it like the OP is.

AlexisCarringtonColbyDexter · 28/06/2020 15:15

Of course in real life they would react very differently if it was affecting THEM

It has happened to me. Sure, it wasnt exactly delightful but it was over in a few months and I managed not to be a spiteful bitch about it. It IS possible lol.

RoryGilmoresEvilTwin · 28/06/2020 15:22

I really hope the ops new neighbours collect wind chimes and install a hot tub 😂

Why be so petty and mean spirited?!

Gulabjamoon · 28/06/2020 15:27

@JaniceWebster

That doesn't make any sense. If your neighbour cannot do any building work without trespassing on your property, they are planning something very wrong

But this is OP’s reasoning / plan, so it take it up with her! RTFT. Not sure why you’re getting her up with me!

Gulabjamoon · 28/06/2020 15:28

*het up

JaniceWebster · 28/06/2020 15:35

Well, what I meant is that it doesn't matter if the OP builds a shed or a greenhouse or whatever. As long as it's in their own property, it won't affect any building work next door.

They hypothetical extension from the hypothetical neighbours cannot be dependent on access to the neighbours own property.

Gulabjamoon · 28/06/2020 15:43

Agreed, tell the OP @Janice

JaniceWebster · 28/06/2020 15:48

well, what I would tell the OP is that every single buyer might want an extension anyway, and she might be better off with a neighbour that seems decent, than with an antisocial stranger or someone who AirBnB the property and different guests have loud parties any evening of the week!

Building work IS a pain, but there's so much worst...

LolaSmiles · 28/06/2020 17:19

Do you really not get why people don't want to live next to a building site for a number of months - especially while we're all staying at home more than usual??

It's part and parcel of having neighbours. People renovate houses. People do DIY. People might extend to have the house that meets their needs to give them a home they can stay in long term.

Honestly looking on Mumsnet at times shows how it's possible to have a TV series about nightmare neighbours. Some people on here are so bloody uptight about everything and are proper little NIMBYs. 'i don't like the lawns being cut, don't like the drive next door being pressure washed, don't like that there's a tree in the garden next door that was there when I bought the house, I essentially own the road outside my house so shall be annoyed if anyone parks there because I didn't care enough to buy somewhere with off road parking but do care enough to cone off my space, I don't like the fact next door have been landscaping their garden, don't like the drive being redone, would go out of my way to object to extensions, complain if there's a noise on a Saturday afternoon'.

BeautifulBirds · 28/06/2020 17:27

I think you should let them know you would oppose planning permission before anything is signed. Gives the current interested party fair warning of the issues they will encounter and years of ill feeling between neighbours.

Nottherealslimshady · 28/06/2020 17:27

So you're deliberately going to wait for them to buy the house, knowing they want to extend. THEN build on your own land to try to prevent them being able to build on their land that they just bought with the clear intention of extending.. well you're LOVELY!

Why be so bitter and malicious?

84wood · 28/06/2020 17:40

We are in a horrid position. We are live and let live people and would only object to a planning application if there was a serious problem. We never have.

We moved to our new home before lockdown. We want to do a double story side extension up to the boundary line. There is already a building up to the line. The plans are completely within the council rules. We made a serious effort with the neighbour impacted. Gave him plans and wine plus talked through at length over the phone. He ended up going nuts at us and involving other neighbours. The objections made are things like - we like your plants and you can’t remove them so well outside planning regs. But it is so upsetting especially as the downstairs is for a very poorly elderly relative as an annex.

Interestingly we would have paid for some work to the neighbours impacted property. Like a new path/fence etc to say thank you. But they invoked their right to a party wall award costing nearly £2,500 so we will be sticking to the terms. It is very short sighted as that part of the neighbours property needs some work!

84wood · 28/06/2020 17:42

So if we’re you op I’d think about trying to make the most out of it because some work will be done.

MrsHuntGeneNotJeremyObviously · 28/06/2020 17:49

Think the irony of people spewing bile at the OP while telling her what an awful person she is, has been lost on some posters.
I'd be very surprised if everyone on this thread who has criticised would be happy with noisy, disruptive work going on for months.

Girlsjustwanna · 28/06/2020 17:51

Life must be hard for you, op.

Gulabjamoon · 28/06/2020 17:52

@MrsHuntGene - care to give any examples of the 'spewing bile'? Or is just that anyone who disagrees with you is spewing bile?

No one has said they're happy with noisy work but sometimes it's a fact of life.

SoupDragon · 28/06/2020 17:53

I'd be very surprised if everyone on this thread who has criticised would be happy with noisy, disruptive work going on for months

There is a huge difference between simply being "not being happy with it" and being a dick.

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