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Original poster

Extension advice

18 replies

kirstikids · 02/08/2006 13:14

Hi
I'm just after some advice. I live in a link detatched house and am thinking of having an extension.
I would like to go over the garage. Apparently they would build a seperate wall so we would not be detatched to neighbours by garage any more. There would be a small 8" gap all the way up.
I also have a single storey extension at the back that I would like to extend on top of!
A few years ago over I just breifly mentioned that people could always extend over garage if they wanted more space. She snapped "well that wouldnt be very nice for the neighbours would it"
Other houses on the estate have done over garage extensions or/and back two storey ones!
I'm just worried this lady will go mad.
Is ahe right. Am I wrong to want to extend? surely its above MY property. Do other people have problems when extending?
We are only on Hello terms, but still i'd hate to upset anyone!
Thanks for any advice

OP posts:

theladyvanishes · 02/08/2006 13:36

Dont take any notice of her, we are (fingers crossed) extending in the next few week above and behind our garage. When you apply for planning permission they give your neighbours a month roughly to voice any concerns they have, if she is complaining to be awkward they won't take any notice she needs a valid reason for it not to be done. We told our neighbours in advance and have apologised for any mess and inconvenience its going to cause them. Go for it if its going to improve your home

throckenholt · 02/08/2006 13:40

if it is not overlooking the neihbour any more than other existing rooms I don't see the problem.

Would they knock the existing garage down to build the new wall ? That might affect their wall - if so you would need a party wall agreement.

Also before you go further check to see if the existing foundations could take the extra weight.

LIZS · 02/08/2006 13:44

Are you currently only linked by the 2 garages or do they have a first floor wall from which you'd build in 8" ? What happens to the party wall ? As long as it doesn't affect their light or property directly then any objection to PP would probably not be upheld, although they would be notified as a matter of course. It would obviously be better if you consulted them before hand so at least you could try to appease them and avoid any objections.

Original poster

kirstikids · 03/08/2006 11:25

Thanks guys
They would build the new garage wall in my garage, on my land so don't think I would need a party wall agreement.
I know its silly as I don't really talk or socialise at all with them, but I guess I worry too much about what people think.
People extend every day so why should I be any different hey!

OP posts:

zippitippitoes · 03/08/2006 11:29

If you need new foundations then there are some party wall rules regarding building new foundations below the level of the exisiting neighbours..so it does depend on whether there are adequate foundations there already as building regs are now quite tight

throckenholt · 03/08/2006 12:15

definitely you need to check out the party wall rules - if it is within a certain distance and below a certain depth you need to get their agreement - and at least a month before the work starts I think.

zippitippitoes · 03/08/2006 12:19

how old is your house? I suspect from what you say that new foundations will have to go below the level of their foundations

I think for the foundations party wall agreement it's actually more than a month but it depends how co operative they are

however planning permission will probably take about 3 months minimum if there are objections it will most likely have to go to committee

zippitippitoes · 03/08/2006 12:26

is it the two garages that are next to each other?

Donbean · 03/08/2006 12:36

Regardless of planning permission/party wall/building regs even if you do EVERYTHING right legally i think that you are still going to upset this woman no matter what.
Bite the bullet, do what you have to do and accept that there may be trouble ahead.
You cannot win, if you are not on over friendly terms then nothing is lost but dont be surprised if things turn nasty.
(been there, done that, got the extension and some very sour grapes for neighbours )

brimfull · 03/08/2006 12:46

We had major problems with our neighbours over an extension.We had to go through surveyors using the part wall agreement because the boundary wall is within a metre of their property.
I would strongly urge you to try and sort it out amicably with your neighbour ,get a copy of the party wall agreement from the local council.
It ended up delaying our building by 6 months and costing us atleast £2000 to sort it out.
This was after we had planning permission ,which they did not dispute.They still had the rights to stop the building a day before it was due to start.
I seriously hope your neighbours are not sad fu%*ers like ours,but be prepared.

zippitippitoes · 03/08/2006 12:50

if you do get planning permission then they will use other means to make life as difficult as possible, so prepare yourself as they can't actually stop you building

throckenholt · 03/08/2006 12:53

go round - talk to them , take a copy of your plans so that you can point to things on it - and work out what their problem is. If it is something that you can resolve then do so, otherwise try and come to a compromise. At least then you know you tried.

zippitippitoes · 03/08/2006 13:02

I was going to say that if they don't have an extension over their garage then you could suggest that they build one over their's at the same time with the discount that would benefit you both

LIZS · 03/08/2006 13:26

btw is there a reason for the 8" gap ? It seems a bit odd - too small to ensure it is kept clean and not big enough to look properly detached, assuming it would be visible from the front ? Do you ened ot redo the foundation of that wall to build above in which case perhaps they'd prefer you to redo the existing wall instead if it is feasible ? You could ask what they'd suggest and see if involving them helps their attitude ?

Original poster

kirstikids · 04/08/2006 14:05

Husband says it is only a 1" gap.
The garage in between is made just by timber from houses wall to neighbours wall, so foundations would be needed before we began.
The architect/drawing man is coming next week. He's drawn the plans for most extensions on the estate so hopefully will put us straight.
Thanks guys

OP posts:

sunnydelight · 04/08/2006 19:33

You need to check local planning law. We bought a house with a ground floor (side) extension two years ago and were assured by the vendors that we could build above it. When we submitted an application it was rejected out of hand because you have to leave a metre gap between you and your neighbour's boundary on the first floor (you can build right up to the boundary on the ground floor). Other people had done it but permission was granted before the rules changed so there was no argument. Do check before you spend money on it - we learnt the hard way!

zippitippitoes · 04/08/2006 19:38

that's interesting we got planning permission to build a house in our back garden which is 4 to 8 inches away from the neighbours house in march 2005

the neighbour who had just built the house thought we had to leave a metre gap but we didn't in fact

brimfull · 04/08/2006 20:31

we extended on the first floor which is within a metre of next doors property,so that rule didn't apply to us ,or I'm sure my neighbours would have used it!

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