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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Any Building Surveyors here?

5 replies

snowsjoke · 10/05/2024 17:36

Wonder if anyone can advise re; neighbours structural works? We are both mid terrace Victorian, two up two down, galley kitchens originally. New neighbour has bought the house next door and has applied for PP to demolish existing conservatory and build a single storey extension. We bought our house with the extension already done and she has asked, verbally, to use our footings which I'm not keen on. She will also be creating a third bedroom and bathroom by removing the chimney breast from top to bottom and installing an extra window which will now overlook our kitchen sky light and patio.

We are not opposed to the works but have some concerns. She hasn't sent any kind of party wall notice yet to us or the neighbours on the other side (and has said we'd need to pay for a surveyor ??). We also dont want our foundations being used as we're not sure how structurally strong they are ourselves although I assume ours was signed off at the time (quite a few years old).

We have an opportunity to comment on the planning portal and don't want to be adversarial but at the same time we're anxious about structural problems affecting our property. What do we need to say?

OP posts:
Nanny0gg · 10/05/2024 17:40

My friend is going through this at the moment and it's hell!

They've basically ripped the house out back to brick and moved/taken out walls and the chimney

She's been frozen in the winter, they've intruded into her loft and the noise is unbelievable. She's now worried about her extension

The council don't care (permitted development allegedly)

Be very careful!

snowsjoke · 10/05/2024 18:30

Not looking forward to it. I wouldn't mind if it was one big job but it's a complete remodelling. I also think it's being over developed- two bathrooms and a third loo in the bedroom (which is next to our bedroom wall).

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MojoMoon · 10/05/2024 18:46

Planning permission and party wall agreements are separate things - worrying about your party wall is not a reason not to give planning permission. There may be valid planning reasons to object (potentially if you are now being overlooked) but you need to separate the two issues in your mind and treat them differently.

There are two choices on party wall- a joint independent party wall surveyor can be appointed and paid for by your neighbour. The surveyor represents the party wall, not either of you.
Or you can choose to have your own separate party wall surveyor - again the party undertaking the building works should pay. In either case, the party wall surveyor is representing the party wall.

If you refuse to co-operate and a certain amount of time passes, the party wall surveyor can issue a legal party wall award setting out what work is permitted and who will bear the costs.
So this is just to point out that you cannot block your neighbour from undertaking legitimate works. You also must allow the surveyor access with 14 days notice.

If you are concerned about your foundations, you need to ask a structural engineer to examine the property - building surveyors are not able to provide structural rulings, but are primarily about property valuation.
You could ask your neighbour to pay for the structural engineer.

snowsjoke · 10/05/2024 19:38

Thank you@MojoMoon. We definitely won't object but want to be sure that any building works are carried out correctly. At the moment there is a small gap between our extension and the existing conservatory. I would prefer it if that gap stays and they have their own foundations.

OP posts:
Pickles290 · 27/05/2024 21:38

Hi I'm not an expert but have just gone through party walls surveyors foundations etc as the one building an extension .

It sounds like you have no idea what foundations you have in place and building regs have changed over the years they may require deeper footings now. Your foundations will have been put in place to bear the load of your extension . Only a good structural engineer will know, and if they are good they will dig a hole and find out ( as ours did we dug an inspection hole they assessed the ground conditions and the depth and thickness of the existing foundations. Is your extension wall right up to the boundary ???? Or is set off a bit ?

Also worth noting that not all party wall surveyors are the same !! Anyone can act as a party wall surveyor and I mean anyone !!! Don't be fooled by the "surveyor" in the title !! I would suggest at the the time it comes to appoint one perhaps get your own . Find a very very good one check them out and find out what qualifications they have. But in my opinion the only one who can advise is a good structural engineer . Good luck

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