To deny neighbour access to render extension?

[Amberlynnswashcloth]

Semi detached neighbours are building extension within millimeters of the shared fence allowing no access from their own property for maintenance. Predictibly, they now want access to my garden to render the outside and to do this they would need to remove the fence and everything near the fence like my seating area, storage box, potted plants etc. I don't want to agree to this. There's the inconvenience of not being able to use our garden, DCs wont be able to play outside and I'd have to keep the dog in. My main issue is that the layout of the houses means the wall is literally right outside my kitchen/livingroom window which feels really close and intrusive and when people are working on it they are literally looking right at me sitting in my house. I don't want workman coming any closer into our space - we are trying to enjoy the nice weather and it's been quite disruptive as it is.

Anyone had experience with this? Its really stressing me out as I don't like to be deliberately obstructive but I strongly don't want to agree to this and feel it's not my problem to solve. I accept that refusal might mean forever looking at an ugly wall but I plan to grow something climbing to mask it.

They are waiting for an answer.

AIBU to say 'no'?

Edited to add that they don't want access right now - just at some point.

Then they’re incredibly stupid - trying to save a penny and cost themselves a whole lot. Speak to your home insurance and check the position on legal fees as per your policy. They need a party wall agreement AND if any of your windows / garden are now blocked a right to light agreement. You have them over a barrel as they will be in breach of any funding taken out if you’ve not been consulted and consented - it could invalidate their mortgage.

If you’re able Invest in mounted cameras at various points (indoor through windows so they can’t easily cover them) or not obviously placed, along with regular photos.
and reply ‘with as there’s no legal party wall agreement, I’m going to have decline (Prefably in writing ie email/txt so they can’t deny receiving it, reaffirming any verbal discussions as an audit trail (as they sound like they don’t care whether you agree or not)
ensure your access is locked and the cameras are on recording incase they try and access by climbing your fence/damage your property/trespass & deny your quiet enjoyment & safety for your kids/pets/you/property
dont feel bad ..they won’t!

As usual, first post nails it.

Ridiculous. Just hope you never need any cooperation from your neighbours if that’s how you behave.

What type of goodwill could most people possibly need from someone who build away from the boundary with no notice, their builders climbing over the fence no permission and then wants to be cheeky enough to ask to move ops stuff to render their own extension.

Pretty much zero id say.

Good luck op!

Some really helpful suggestions. Thank you all!

You can say no, but I’d keep in mind future consequences. If I was in their position and you said no, I’d probably spend the rest of my time living there engaging in petty revenge. Calling the council at any hint of noise, reporting any issue I could possibly find etc

Weird how they didn't worry whether op might do that before they built a hulking great extension though.

No she doesn’t.

If people want cooperation from their neighbours they should probably stop and think before building selfishly designed extensions

There is no ‘right of light’ anymore. However, council planning would have taken all of this into account when assessing the plans and onsite visit before hand. There is a mathematical degree of light you must allow, the planner will measure this .. they did with ours recently.

A party wall award would almost certainly not have been required. There’s no reason why the extension’s foundations would have needed to be deeper than those of the original semi, so the 3m rule isn’t relevant.

There absolutely is still a right to light and it is not down to the planners solely. It never has been.

Absolutely say no. 1st there should be a party wall agreement look this up. 2nd if they can't render now the maintenance will intrude in the future. 3rd in very similar circumstances I said yes to a neighbour and I completely regret it with the project lasting months being very disruptive. In the end I had to have the confrontation to get them to get everything finished. It left a huge mess. Learn your rights complain re party wall immediately and you don't have to explain just refuse . I would also install a camera asap into the space in case they encroach.

I think I'd let them, but in Autumn when its less disruptive for you.

I have, I am accommodating with my neighbours, but I’ve also had some equally testing neighbours, who have removed fence panels and damaged my property significantly, including the fence posts and windows (repaired at my cost) rather than knock the door and ask for access.
but you do you !

I never quite understand why people
build using porous materials requiring rendering when that relies on uninvolved parties consenting to access etc.

My idiot neighbour didn’t bother getting rendering on his blocks and he build so close to our own wall that he couldn’t have had it rendered even if he wanted. I often wonder what the point was of doing it that way rather than laying proper bricks for the external wall. If he’d actually bothered to come and speak to us we’d probably have split the cost of an adjoining wall as had happened with the owner before him so we could have extended too. He built the ugliest extension on his extension and while it breaches his planning permission there wasn’t much we could do. He’s a twat

What ever you agree to now & in future get it all in writing for them to sign so there's no dispute at a later date & you have proof of what you agreed to. State that you'll allow them to enter your garden at a time that suits you & your family, they can take the fence down as long as it's put back up exactly how it is now & any damage to your property will be paid for or replaced. Also mention that any future work/maintenance they may need to do that involves coming on to your property is requested with plenty of notice & will be at your discretion & it's not guaranteed you'll agree, your decision will depend on timing & what you have going on at the time. If you're planting things right next to the fence close to their boundary line let them know as this will impact if they can do any work without destroying plants/shrubs etc.

If it’s that close to your boundary likely needed party wall agreement

Tell them they can do it in the winter when you're not using the garden

Ask to see their planning permission for this extension- was it sent to you as an interested party when they ( presumably) Applied for it. If not why not. Do they even have planning permission?

This

Might take 2 days as will need to leave to dry

so they remove the fence and your chairs

they will replace it

kids can play in the garden but not where they will be doing the work

doubt the workman will be desperate to gaze into your kitchen.

you are simply being a pita for no real reason

You sound like a proper bellmet

Funny that, because my architect and local planning officer told me differently. ‘Right to light’ is not a thing, however consideration to neighbouring windows must be taken. It’s a 45degree angle from the edge of your extension to the middle of the neighbouring window.