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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Neighbours loft conversion - is permission needed?

28 replies

greatherewegoagain · 07/03/2022 15:23

Name changed just in case

Can anyone tell me what permissions someone needs to do a loft extension in a terraced house? Building control, planning etc

Do they need a party wall agreement? What I should be concerned about, or even if I should be concerned given it's not unusual to have done. I am the ajoining house. They are the end house.

Just heard them talking outside about scaffolding and craning beams out.

They seem to do works themselves and I'm concerned they may not be qualified, work might not be done to the required standards and for loft extension in particular I'm not really sure what I'm worried about, maybe fire risk, damage to my property etc

I've got no objection to works being done properly but also they aren't the most considerate of neighbours and never give me the heads up (I know they don't have to but would be polite).

Last time they had works done, I ended up having my weekends disturbed for weeks on end with loud drilling which vibrated the house and banging all day both days from 7am and late into the evenings.

They don't speak to any other neighbours and just ignore them when they've tried.

OP posts:

CottonSock · 07/03/2022 15:25

Yes to party wall agreement and building regs. Planning permission depends.

TeenPlusCat · 07/03/2022 15:26

We're detached. Needed building regs but not planning permission as not changing outline of the house. If we'd stuck a dormer window on we'd have needed planning too.

Original poster

greatherewegoagain · 07/03/2022 15:26

@CottonSock

Yes to party wall agreement and building regs. Planning permission depends.

Thank you for such a quick answer. Do you know where I would start to find out about this? Would it be the local authority?

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pussycatunpickingcrossesagain · 07/03/2022 15:28

@greatherewegoagain Start by phoning your Local Council and asking for Building Control. Hopefully they'll be able to give you some help.

Original poster

greatherewegoagain · 07/03/2022 15:32

Thank you. I'll see if I can give them a call now

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Wnkingawalrus · 07/03/2022 15:37

Depending on where you live you might be able to search the local planning portal for a planning application.

They will definitely need a party wall award for a terraced house. They don’t need your approval as such, but they do need you to agree to the terms of the award.

They will need building regs sign off.

LIZS · 07/03/2022 15:42

It may be Permitted Development but still to follow Building Regulations. Have you asked them?

Original poster

greatherewegoagain · 07/03/2022 15:50

Thanks for all the replies.

I have spoken to building control they have said nothing has been submitted to them but they will come out tomorrow for a site visit.

I did say it was unlikely that they would be home as they work and they have said if they aren't in they will write to them asking them to call them back and arrange an inspection.

I haven't even tried speaking to them. They aren't approachable as I have witnessed them shouting at other neighbours before and when I did try to say hello, give a wave etc when they moved in / are coming in and out they just ignore me.

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Original poster

greatherewegoagain · 07/03/2022 15:51

There's nothing on the planning portal for the address either but I can see other applications for loft extensions for other properties in our road.

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Blueskyyy · 07/03/2022 16:00

It may be under permitted development, but it is good practice to get a certificate of lawfulness for this, but this isn't compulsory.

Depending on the type of building work, then a party wall agreement may be recommended.

It's in their interest to get building reg sign off, but not compulsory. It will just effect saleability if they don't get it.

billy1966 · 07/03/2022 16:17

Let the building department do their job.

Clarify what hours the work can be done during.

Contact your own house insurance for advice too.

Be wary of them putting scaffolding on your property.

billyt · 07/03/2022 16:23

Don't assume they will do a Party Wall Agreement.

A house along the road here has just be changed to another bloody HMO. No PWA was in place with either neighbour. Apparently, the cowboy developer doesn't believe in them

Thewindwhispers · 07/03/2022 16:23

They probably don’t need planning permission (but googling will show you what does).

They will need a party wall agreement if they’re touching the joint wall.

They sound a real pain 😕 I’d get reading up on your rights now OP re what is reasonable working time etc.

BlingLoving · 07/03/2022 16:34

Yes to party wall at the very least. However, are you 100% they're doing this imminently? I mean, from when we first had people out to start looking at/talking about our loft to when we actually did it was about 18 months. One of the conversations with a builder would definitely be around what options there are for scaffolding etc. So in our case, we had a few architects and builders out for initial discussions. Then proper drawings, then proper building quotes. And only THEN did we start process of sorting party wall agreement and planning permissions.

Original poster

greatherewegoagain · 07/03/2022 16:39

Thank you all for replying it's been really helpful.

I'll do some reading up tonight so I can get a better understanding particularly about the party wall agreement and building regs side of things.

I've got no objections to them doing the works at all but it needs to be done properly.

I think what worries me more is the noise. I work from home mostly at the moment so if it's going to be loud I'd rather know as so I can work round that, change the days I go into the office etc and I would at least like some quiet time over the weekend without feeling like they're drilling in the same room as me like it has been.

They are a bit of a nightmare with parking, parties etc but I'm generally live and let live as long as it's not affecting me too much. Living in a terrace you're always going to be affected by neighbours one way or another but I like it here and so that's the compromise.

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Original poster

greatherewegoagain · 07/03/2022 16:40

@BlingLoving

They were saying when they bring scaffolding next week so it sounded like a done deal.

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Original poster

greatherewegoagain · 07/03/2022 16:42

@billy1966

Let the building department do their job.

Clarify what hours the work can be done during.

Contact your own house insurance for advice too.

Be wary of them putting scaffolding on your property.

Thank you. I think that's a good point about where the scaffolding might go. Even though they were talking about it it didn't cross my mind that they may want to put it anywhere other than on their own property so I'll make sure I check that.

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BabbleBee · 07/03/2022 16:48

I had my loft converted around 8 years ago. I needed a party wall agreement with my neighbours. We needed planning permission for the velux windows at the front of the property, but the dormer at the rear fell under permitted development. It all had to be signed off for building regs at the end, which included having to change bedroom and lounge doors for fire standards. We also had to cover / replace some internal glass for fire standards. Our builders worked 8-5ish on weekdays, 8-1 on Saturday and not at all on Sunday. It’s a huge space but didn’t take long.

DillDanding · 07/03/2022 16:49

It's in their interest to get building reg sign off, but not compulsory. It will just effect saleability if they don't get it.

This is not strictly true. Councils can take legal action for breaches of the regulations - and loft conversions to create habitable space are always notifiable. Not submitting an application is a contravention.

BridesmaidPanic · 07/03/2022 16:52

You've done the right thing contacting Building Control if for no other reason than they'll realise that they've got to do it properly.

Hopefully if it's other neighbours that have had cross words with them in the past they'll think it's them that's contacted the council rather than you!

As to what they can do this is the official link - www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/loft-conversion/planning-permission

As to noise, they are required to keep the noise between 7am and 7pm Monday to Fridays, 7am - 1pm on Saturdays and no intrusive noise on Sundays or Bank Holidays.

If it's done outside of those hours, have your council Environmental Health team's contact details to hand.

Champsandbubbles · 07/03/2022 16:54

Hi,

As an adjoined house to yours then yes they should have a party wall agreement in place. You can agree between yourself and the other party, there are documents online you can use and always have photographic evidence, or otherwise its a paid assessment where the other person is liable to pay which is very expensive . If they start work without this I'm of the understanding work can be stopped until this has happened.

I say this as we're a semi and recently had an extension completed to our property that ran along the party wall and alongside their garden therefore we needed this. It's to provide security to the other party that should we have caused any damage to their property in the renovation that we would be liable for any damage costs.

I hope this helps 😊

Seasidemumma77 · 07/03/2022 17:04

Mid terrace. We didn't need planning permission but did have to submit plans to building regs, have them inspect halfway through and again at the end. We also had to have party wall agreements, also scaffolding company wanted written agreement from both neighbours as scaffolding would over hang their properties

Halllyup17 · 07/03/2022 17:12

They'll need planning permission if they're changing the front of the roof by putting dormers in. Dormers to the rear can be done under permitted development as long as it's under a certain size. Party wall and building regs will be needed regardless.

Original poster

greatherewegoagain · 07/03/2022 17:13

Thanks again for all the comments, the link and the times are particularly helpful.

As I said before I have absolutely no objections to them doing it. They have young children who share a room currently and so need the extra space hopefully the children being in separate rooms will stop the constant bickering I hear and then the parents can stop screaming at them at full volume

I'd just like any really noisy works to be done at a reasonable time so I still get a bit of a weekend and for works to be done properly so it's safe.

I've emailed planning as well who have l ready come back to me and will be checking their end. They have also given me details of how to contact environmental health if the noise is outside of the permitted times.

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Original poster

greatherewegoagain · 07/03/2022 17:17

@BridesmaidPanic

You've done the right thing contacting Building Control if for no other reason than they'll realise that they've got to do it properly.

Hopefully if it's other neighbours that have had cross words with them in the past they'll think it's them that's contacted the council rather than you!

As to what they can do this is the official link - www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/loft-conversion/planning-permission

As to noise, they are required to keep the noise between 7am and 7pm Monday to Fridays, 7am - 1pm on Saturdays and no intrusive noise on Sundays or Bank Holidays.

If it's done outside of those hours, have your council Environmental Health team's contact details to hand.

I'd like to think that but as I'm the only one attached that's really affected they'll probably know but I'll cross that bridge if it comes to it. Hopefully it won't!

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