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?

@HollyGoLoudly1

Why do you care if they extend the house?

Because it will impact on OP. I know this because we had exactly the same situation. Old man next door died, house is sold to a couple in their 70’s and wtf they want to extend on the side, right up to the boundary fence. We were never warned when the work would start so basically came home to our drive and two cars full of brick dust, the windows, window ledges and door step full of brick dust. Then they have the drive done so there was weeks of concrete dust all over our drive and cars. They had printed concrete so we came home work to find the spray that they used all over our drive, the bushes at the front of the house, the post box. Every fucking time they have something done it impacts on us. We’ve had nearly two years of this. Beyond sick of it.

You don't want to stop the sale, but want to make them suffer once they have moved in? How nasty. I'm guessing that you don't get on with any of your neighbours?

You and your husband are seriously going to build a shed/greenhouse on the boundary in an attempt to make it awkward for a hypothetical extension to be built? You both sound pathetic.

Why are you so obsessed with access? If they want the extension it will be built, most builders are quite experienced at this sort of thing it may surprise you to learn.

Not sure with attitudes like this why you live in a terrace... sounds like you don't like people disturbing your way of life at all. I would suggest either letting go a bit or moving to somewhere isolated.
I can assure you building work can be done without accessing your property or using your ground for scaffolding - it will just be a bit more tricky and consequently may take a little longer. Builders & scaffolders are used to dealing with tricky access it's a consequence of building in lots of situations.
As others have said they probably have the right to permitted development so to a certain extent (how much depends on situation) they may be able to extend without planning permission.
If you are worried about noise & disruption I would be making friends with the new owners and trying to work with the them to agree to restricted hours, tidy working and considerate parking, ask that builders don't blare radios and if they are going to do particularly noisy activities (drilling, breaking concrete) that you have advance notice and can be out. Being petty is much more likely to cause friction & petty actions back.

The harder you make it for them the longer it will take

As others have said a 3 metre 2 storey rear extension is normally permitted development and won't need planning permission. Probably best to get used to the idea and act reasonably.

We tried to buy a house that met our needs but none were quite right. So we bought a house where the elderly person who owned it had died, and we did it up and extended it. It’s in the perfect place for schools, shops and transport. That’s why we bought it.

So OP, I'm guessing this is a reverse?

They may not need planning permission they may be covered under permitted development.

You could totally refuse them access. Then any brick walls they build near the boundary will look awful because they can't finish them properly and you can have a good moan about that.

You sound like a miserable twat OP. I hope they build a two storey extension that takes three times longer than it should do because of you being obstructive.

I am wondering wtf they can’t just buy a house that meets their needs?

Yes, YABU. Very.

I say this as someone who had to endure years of my neighbours building a (horrific) extension: YABU

You really do sound so mean and bloody unreasonable, OP.

We're moving house tomorrow, with.....get this....plans to extend out the back!! If it turns out our new neighbours are like you, I'll be very disappointed.

"We don't want them to"

Honestly, you really should just move to the middle of the woods and be done with it.

People have extentions all the time. Stop being so outraged!

If you do build a greenhouse it won't stop them doing their extension, and that might lower the light levels in your greenhouse slightly so it will be a waste of money. And who builds a greenhouse right next to their house anyway. If you have that much money to waste then go and buy an island to live on.

OP you are a weird and batshit neighbour, I can't stand my neighbour, but I think I would prefer living next to her for the next millennium than living next to you for a year.

Oh so you're okay to do what you want to your house but god forbid anyone else to do the same?

Why are you so keen on making this about you OP?? it's got nothing to do with you! Ffs...some people

Wow, you don’t come across well OP.

Neighbours doing building work is inconvenient, yes most definitely but it is temporary. You would be quite unreasonable to manufacture a reason to object, as by the sounds of it you wouldn’t have a valid reason otherwise.

So you're going to go to all the hassle of a shed and green house just on the off chance you're not inconvenienced? Good grief.

You sound so miserable. Wanting a fight before they have even bought the place. I am so glad I don't have neighbours like you!!
We are currently having a loft conversion and extension done. No scaffolding in the neighbours property. We are very conscious of the noise and our neighbours are thankfully nothing but understanding. In fact they are excited for us and how nice our home will be when it's done. The reason we are extending rather than buying a bigger house is that it is far cheaper to renovate this house than it is to buy one that already suits our needs. We love this area and our neighbours.
Would it really be so difficult to just be a kind human being and happy for people who are just trying to make the most of what they have.

@SilverOtter

Wow, your poor unsuspecting future neighbours

This. ^^

The best way to avoid having your neighbours upset you is to live in the countryside with no neighbours!

You could be spoiling a potentially good relationship with lovely neighbours, who you probably be living beside for years to come.

Are you jealous that they’re extending their house? I

This whole post is bonkers. YABU

Just a point: If it’s single story and under 4m they won’t need planning permission...

Jesus. Your poor neighbours to be. I wish I knew who they were so I could warn them.

Houses are expensive where I am, so we’ve bought the best house we can afford on a decent size block in a good area near trains and schools. We hope to demolish the house and build an amazing new one to fit our expanding family. Unhappy neighbours are not going to stop us