New neighbours extension plans

[Greenfingeredsue]

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?

@MrsHuntGeneNotJeremyObviously

Some people like to build stuff in their garden, get a porch put up, redo the bathroom and kitchen, get the drive re done, add a conservatory, put up a second shed, put decking down, change their windows, have someone on the roof scraping the moss off . Like I said, some people are tinkerers. Some of this is not a bother but some of it is. Especially if access to your own house is blocked by their workmen. Of course people have a right to do these things, but sometimes they are annoying or inconvenient to their neighbours, who also have rights.

Everything you are describing is general house maintenance / improvement. Usually done once and lasts years if not decades. I'd you give all the jobs you describe 2 weeks each, it's circa 12 weeks. Genuinely, who are you talking about?

I'm just saying that for some people doing these things is a hobby and they can usually find something to do.
I used to live next door to a couple who redecorated on a loop - their business and it didn't affect me but none of it was necessary, they just enjoyed it so found stuff to do.
Anyway, it's not really relevant to the thread, I was just thinking that I could see why it would annoy the OP, and since she doesn't even know the new people I don't think it's terrible that she doesn't want them to build using her garden as access, especially if it inconveniences her with noise/mess.

OP, if you try and make it difficult for them to extend, but they do it anyways, you'll just be prolonging to noise and disturbance. Better to let them have access to get it over and done with.

You sound charming, OP

"The son (Who I get on well with as I did with his late mum) told me. He said the prospective buyers are going to knock on my door to see if we’d object to the extension. He knew I probably would but asked me not to tell them this until the sale is complete!"

Well isn't 'the son' just a peach. Wants to sell the house and walk away with the money, leaving the buyers dealing with obstructive neighbours (you).

Why don't you just do the right thing? When the prospective buyers knock on your door - BE HONEST.

Tell them you will object, and you will not allow use of your side passage. If they decide not to buy, that would be the right result, because the son is trying to sell them a whole load of trouble. And you will have new neighbours who detest you and being on bad terms with your neighbours is never a good thing.If you lie to them now, they will know you have lied to them and led them to buy a house they will never be able to make into their home. Are you really OK with doing that? Be the accomplice of the weaselly son, who - let's face it - you'll probably never see again? But is happy to leave you with neighbours who hate you for what you did - on his behalf.

Get a grip. Be honest. If the sale falls through, so be it. Other buyers, who might not be interested in extending anyway, will be along.

Do NOT lie for weasel-son, you will be the one living with the consequences, he won't.

Some people like to build stuff in their garden, get a porch put up, redo the bathroom and kitchen, get the drive re done, add a conservatory, put up a second shed, put decking down, change their windows, have someone on the roof scraping the moss off confused. Like I said, some people are tinkerers.
Like I said, some people are NIMBYs who like to have a good old moan about people making their house nice.

How dare they take moss off their roof?
Decking so they have somewhere nice to sit? Outrageous.
Do gardening? Dear me have they not read the Mumsnet rule that any use of a garden other than sitting silently is antisocial.

You sound a bit cantankerous Lola. I never said it was outrageous to do any of those things, only that sometimes they inconvenience the neighbours, who are under no obligation to be cheery about it or facilitate it at the expense of their own peace and quiet
I guess to me nimby is excusable when it's literally in their back yard.

Not cantankerous at all, more amused that people doing home improvements and maintenance warrants being branded an endless tinkerer and then talk of neighbours having rights. It's like all the threads of people complaining that next door's children play in the garden, next door had the audacity to pressure wash their patio one afternoon, next door had the hedge trimmer out one afternoon and the following week mowed the lawn. Each time it seems based on this idea of a right to have nothing but peace and quiet.

It's like several AIBU threads in one.

Bit of a leap there!
Tinkerer is said with some affection - my mother is one. Can't leave shit alone, even when nothing needs doing.
I don't think neighbours have a right to total silence but they shouldn't be subjected to lots of noise or activities which affect enjoyment of their own home

But as AIBU shows, what some people to be reasonable is actually an unrealistic expectations of having neighbours.

I'm not big on DIY but home maintenance is reasonable and it would be fairly unreasonable to be complaining about people doing their gardens, putting sheds up etc.

We've got neighbours who are currently landscaping their garden during lockdown. A few months ago another neighbour was having their drive done. It's just part and parcel of having neighbours. Meanwhile I have relatives in an area full of people like the OP who absolutely love an opportunity to whine about something or other than someone wants to do or has done. My favourite complaint was that they didn't like someone having painters to paint the render on the house, having spent previous months complaining about a different house for not being kept tidy enough because the paint was faded.

I think the OP is scared about living with months of noise and mess and her garden being potentially trashed by other people's building works and she's gone on a preemptive strike. An 'attack bring the best form of defence' pov. She might not be someone who just complains about everything. She may just be a person who is getting unknown neighbours who have already expressed an interest in doing the sort of work that they know a neighbour might have a reasonable objection to (which is why they've put feelers out already) and OP wants to minimise impact on her property and lifestyle.
I think a lot of people maybe don't realise how much their normal house maintenance can disturb their neighbours. Or that some people who are doing house improvements can take quite an entitled attitude towards their neighbours property when it comes to access.
I do remember once, sitting in my kitchen which had double doors leading into the garden and some builder just climbed over the wall from next door and put a ladder up so he could access the conservatory roof he was building for the neighbours. Didn't even knock on the door to ask. Just assumed my garden was okay to use At that time I had a garden surrounded by high walls so it was very private - I could have been sitting there bf my baby or walking around naked or shagging on the kitchen table (although I would have shut the curtains ). I think it's this sort of thing which worries people.

I would understand apprehensive about potential disruption. Many people would be.

Most people wouldn't be thinking of ways to try and be as awkward as possible or disrupt work before the house has been sold, and they certainly wouldn't be hoping to raise garden buildings to add to their case. OP's approach does sound very much like a chronic complainer.

The builders in your case were totally out of order, but given you seem reasonable I highly doubt you'd be sitting at home thinking of ways to be nice to a potential buyer's face whilst plotting to be as objectionable as possible if they improve their home.

You don't have to allow scaffolding in your garden. You just say, "no".

And if the side entrance is yours then you can refuse access.

I do agree that it would be better for all concerned if she was upfront about her views to the potential new neighbours before they buy. She doesn't owe the current owner anything and he's going to sell and leave her to it.

It's awful, OP, that you're happy to collude with your current neighbour to swindle the buyers of their property.

It sounds as though the buyers asked the seller if there would be any problems extending - he's said no. They've asked if you'd have a problem with it - he's said no (and asked you to tell them so, knowing you wilI object after the sale is complete).

So these people are putting up all their hard-earned cash for a home they can afford, only to find out that because he wanted a sale and you wanted - what, to be obstructive?) they're stuck in a home that's too small and doesn't suit.

With a gloating neighbour to boot. Why not just be honest and tell them you'd object? Leave the ball in their court.

they're stuck in a home that's too small and doesn't suit

Only because they’ve assumed they can use another persons side access!

They’ll be the ones stomping on the new neighbours - they’ll have to pay extra to get the materials on site

Not OPs problem

OP you need to have a look at The Party Wall Act as they may well have to pay for a survey of your property before and after the build to make sure there is no damage to your property. Ask your surveyor.

green
They've not assumed anything. Extensions can, and do, happen with limited access.
They've mentioned a desire to extend. The OP has decided to be nice to their face, wait til the sale is through and then be a pain in the arse.

If the OP really hates extensions and is going to do all she can to obstruct their potential neighbour's plans, why not be honest about it? That way the OP might avoid the house going to someone who wants to extend, or at least the new owners know what they're getting into.

Sitting around trying to look up various ways to be obstructive to someone who hasn't even got the house yet is the sign of someone who is quite vindictive and likely to be a PITA to live next to.

I feel incredibly sorry for the people who are about to move in next to you.

You are being insanely unreasonable.

OP, take no notice of all this noise.
You are under no legal obligation to allow access through or onto your property.
It would be silly to do so if it invalidates your house insurance because if there was damage done or an accident you would not be insured.

But tell them before they exchange contracts.

And calling someone a nasty cunt means you are as delightful as the OP Lynnm63

@lynnm63. Wow your language is tragic. Save it for the pub

[quote Jeeperscreepers69]@lynnm63. Wow your language is tragic. Save it for the pub[/quote]
Not as tragic as a nasty mean spirited sad woman who is salivating at the thought of allowing a couple to buy a home knowing she’s going to be the neighbour from hell. I wonder if you’re the OP under a different name.

@MrsHuntGeneNotJeremyObviously

And calling someone a nasty cunt means you are as delightful as the OP Lynnm63

So you think the use of the word C U N T to describe the mean spirited OP is as bad as the behaviour of the OP. I’m sorry I though this was a Mumsnet not a Victorian drawing room.