Do I just suck this up? Building costs

[norma1980]

Hi

2 brothers applied for planning permission for 2 houses on same site next door to each other.

Each house was to be built by each brother as their home.

Permission for both houses needs to implemented very soon or it will expire and may not be granted again so needs to be implemented.

We're going to implement and satisfy pre commencement conditions now so don't lose permission.

It's costing us £5k to do this - minimum works being carried out.

Our works implement the permission for bother houses so we're also saving the brothers house from expiring.

He's not paying a penny.

Difficult because builder will only be pouring the corners of the garage for our house (that's all we're doing to implement permission) so it's on our site but basically implementing brothers house.

I'm pissed off. Not sure house else to work it. He's intending to build out so he is benefitting as well.

I just know if it was him spending £5k he'd ask for a contribution and make a big scene he has before.

My husband is scared of brother and won't raise it.

I'm not well off this £5k is coming from savings.

Do I just need to suck this up - that it's fair brother not contributing despite benefitting from our works? Any other way we can do this please?

If pp were that exceptional , are you sure you could freely sell it on for profit or is it tied to a specific use ie agricultural work or family which would seriously limit its market.

Hi @LIZS it's a permission for 2 houses. No occupational restrictions or other restrictions. It was borderline passed before hence not confident would be passed again.

I suppose I thought that as the brother is intending to build out and we're not it would've made sense for him to incur the £5k as (as others have said) this will be taken off the total build cost and so if he's intending to build the house it won't go to waste but with me it will

So their plot becomes your large patio? Not all bad, maybe?

@lljkk other way around. We're not building our house but he is building his house so our plot will likely become his garden

If your plot will become his garden is it even worth much then? Why doesn’t he just buy it off you?

How old are you? Why are you so worried about children’s inheritance? How old are your kids? If they are adults maybe just give them the land and let them figure it out.

But to be honest if you re concerned about stumping up £5k you should be thinking about your own finances before your children’s inheritance as it sounds like you don’t have much financial flexibility. Do you have sufficient pensions?

Surely the brother will start the work not wanting planning to expire? And if he's sneaky enough to twist your arm into paying for it, be careful he doesn't steal your land. Added to his as a garden for years, unused by you could give him rights. Fence it off and lay out the planned house foundation etc.

@smartiesnskittles one of the planning conditions is that the plot is divided in 2 with a hedge so that's what we would intend and we will protect the plot but ultimately he'll have an empty field next to him for his use.

It's not that we can't afford £5k but if it's a wasted cost then prefer not to spend it.

Just wish DH would have a discussion with brother about this. If brother intending to build his house then better he implements permission. Brother lives in a caravan at present so at some point he'll need to move. I'd contribute obviously to getting any of the brothers foundations poured (as implementation benefits us also) but feels unfair that we're getting hit with whole cost of this especially as not intending to build out.

The whole thing is ill thought out. Did you not have a contract agreed? Utter madness
Was this initially the brothers idea?

@Oooooooooooo1 yes the brother's idea. No contract and no discussion. Tried to get permission varied for one of the houses (which would've meant each house then effectively had own permission) but planners said no. Any variation would need to cover both houses.

You can't have it all ways, you are doing this for your benefit, and upset that it benefits the brother too. The cost to you to increase the value of the land is £5k. If this is important to you, for the inheritance, then do it. Forget what the brother is or isn't doing. Weigh up whether the £5k spent now will give you a good return in the long run. If you'd happily lose the value on the land to spite the brother then do that.

Good point @TiredandLate I just need to get over this.