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AIBU?

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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:
Euclid · 30/06/2020 14:07

The son of your deceased neighbour is behaving very badly in all this. All he wants is to get the money from the sale. It was very wrong of him to ask you not to object to the extension until after exchange of contracts.

If the intending buyers are sensible, they will come to speak to you about the extension before exchanging and may well pull out if they realise that you will make it extremely difficult for them. If you tell them that you agree, as suggested by the son, then you will be held to that. It would be foolish of them not to speak to you in advance because of the access issue, so you will have an opportunity to let them see how difficult you will be. This will not please the son but at least the unfortunate intending buyers will know the truth.

Karma might result in the next buyers letting the house to young sharers who will make lots of noise and party all night.

Thaddit · 30/06/2020 14:14

@Greenfingeredsue

And we cannot allow side access because it will invalidate our house insurance.
This surely is end of discussion on the access side of matters.

We had a NDN who came up with the bright idea of her builders using our side entrance to access their back garden for their new rear extension being built because ‘our lovely neighbours won’t mind’. The reason being she planned to go and live elsewhere whilst the work was done and didn’t want the builders traipsing through her house. I asked how the builders planned to get the building materials into her garden as our 6’ fence was in the way. She hadn’t thought of that. It didn’t happen and although she was not pleased the builders couldn’t care less and were always pleasant to us.

Weebleonaworkout · 30/06/2020 14:18

Blimey, you sound delightful. I hope the current owner who's selling has warned the buyers of the dickheads next door. Our neighbours are having an extension the moment. Straight forward 3m job. A bit of noise digging for 2-3 days, the odd sound here and there of a cement mixer, a bit of banging and sawing. It's not even been 2 weeks yet and they're just awaiting the roof. Seriously, construction will be finished within the month. It's of no concern to me and I'm really happy for them. What's wrong with you? You sound like right miseries to me. I just hope you never need to rely on neighbours for help with anything because you'd certainly be told where to shove it and rightly so.

LizzieMacQueen · 30/06/2020 14:23

I'm glad you've checked your deeds because terraces often do permit access through gardens.

SoupDragon · 30/06/2020 14:34

@Greenfingeredsue

And we cannot allow side access because it will invalidate our house insurance.
And yet a few hours ago it was just to cause them extra expense, hassle and because your builder/surveyor friend said you didn't have to. How convenient.
Piglet89 · 30/06/2020 14:40

@Greenfingeredsue I honestly didn’t believe neighbours like you existed until our own showed their true colours. And now I learn there are more of you.

Makes me so depressed.

TheGreatWave · 30/06/2020 14:44

I have to credit you with the fact that you have left no stone unturned in your quest to try to prevent it happening.

However, as I said earlier, this is often how major neighbour disputes start. Tread carefully.

Deelish75 · 30/06/2020 14:47

If before exchange, the prospective buyer calls around to introduce themselves and discuss the extension they are planning, are you going to be honest with them about not using your garden for access?

Euclid · 30/06/2020 14:50

I am sure that, if you approached your insurance company about the access issue, they would allow it for an increased premium and with various conditions imposed. The neighbours would of course have to agree to pay the increased premium and to ensure that their builders abided by the conditions. So that objection can be dismissed.

ParkEndStreet · 30/06/2020 14:51

OP, you sound bitter and truly awful.

Why are you ignoring EVERYONE who is telling you that you are BU??

Piglet89 · 30/06/2020 15:17

@ParkEndStreet people like this never listen and are so blinkered and selfish that it prevents them from seeing anyone else’s perspective.

Piglet89 · 30/06/2020 15:18

I’m still reeling from the fact that this isn’t a wind up, Tbh.

Clappingforjoy · 30/06/2020 15:23

Come on OP your been very precious and a potential neighbour from hell

NavyBerry · 30/06/2020 15:33

I think I can guess why your previous neighbour died😬

Soubriquet · 30/06/2020 15:45

Ok fine, you don’t have to allow access.

It makes things more inconvenient for them, but they can still go ahead and do their build.

So why are complaining about them having an extension on their home if they don’t touch your garden and wall?

Yes it will noisy.
Yes it will be dirty.

But it’s a temporary thing to put up with.

So as you so elegantly put, suck it up

LIZS · 30/06/2020 16:45

If you don't allow side access (your choice unless deeds specify an easement) it is likely to be a longer and more disruptive job. They assuming they buy it, may potentially be really good neighbours but let's hope you never need any favours.

YouDirtyMare · 30/06/2020 16:55

@NavyBerry

I think I can guess why your previous neighbour died😬
Hahahahahahahahahaha
GnomeDePlume · 30/06/2020 17:05

Not allowing side access must make it tricky for the window cleaner or does your insurance only specify that possible builders for next door will invalidate your policy?

Builders are used to building in difficult to access areas. Being awkward will slow the build up (and extend the time of disruption for you). It wont make that much difference to cost as all it will mean is materials being barrowed through the house (which will be done by labourers not builders).

As PPs have pointed out, without access to do pointing you will be left with a side wall which wont be as well finished.

Engage with your new neighbours, give reasonable access and you can then expect the same in return eg when your wall needs maintaining. Be difficult and your neighbours wont give you the time of day.

Doodar · 30/06/2020 17:08

my parents extended their large London terrace, no rear access, even got a mini digger through the front door.It will make no difference having no side access. Their neighbours wouldn't allow access so they now have to look at a badly pointed wall as the builders had to build from my parents side. choose your own party wall surveyor, it makes no difference. You're stuffed if you think you can stop them.

GreenTulips · 30/06/2020 17:14

They assuming they buy it, may potentially be really good neighbours but let's hope you never need any favours

More than likely they are just builders out for a fast buck

Turn up cause disruption and sell to a huge profit.

Doubt you’ll need any favours

Kateguide · 30/06/2020 17:59

Genuinely staggered that OP refuses to acknowledge the overwhelming vote and consistent feedback that YABU. Almost Trump - esque.

OP I am just going to give you a slightly different take on this. All your protestations will NOT stop this extension (or any extension for that matter) from going ahead. Your NIMBYism is just your opinion and will have no sway with the council planners.

However, if your neighbours do decide to build and do nice extension, your house value should benefit from this. It is to your advantage that this project goes well. Plus if you play this right, you will get eternally grateful neighbours. Why wouldn't you want that?

Please be kind OP

SoupDragon · 30/06/2020 17:59

If the buyers are themselves builders, why did they have a builder round to look at building an extension?

VodselForDinner · 30/06/2020 18:43

OP, genuine question but do you have any medical issues that make this a bigger thing for you?

One of the first behavioural changes we noticed in my MIL when she got Alzheimer’s was her obsession with their neighbours. She was constantly ruminating over what she thought they were up to (conspiring to copy her) and just a lot of off the wall stuff.

Piglet89 · 30/06/2020 18:56

Yep, a friend did wonder whether my neighbour had got the beginnings of Alzheimer’s - her objections were just so irrational (including referencing to a side return extension as “over-large” which is just insane, really). You would have thought we planned to build the Shard in our back yard.

GreenTulips · 30/06/2020 19:54

If the buyers are themselves builders, why did they have a builder round to look at building an extension?

Do you watch the property programmes? Buy - pay a builder - sell for £50K more?

Easy money.