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Original poster

How straightforward is it to buy the house next door and knock through?

5 replies

NeopreneMermaid · 24/06/2013 15:24

We live in a semi and have been considering extending (awkward) or moving (too sentimental - DS born here) and the house next door has come up for sale.

We could afford it at a stretch (probably) but has anyone any experience of converting two semis into a single detached? What's planning permission like?

I don't doubt conversion will be a pita but is it worth it?

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MNHQ

OliviaYouCannotBSeriousMumsnet · 24/06/2013 20:38

Not very

MNHQ

OliviaYouCannotBSeriousMumsnet · 24/06/2013 22:39

@aftereight

I'm not sure what would happen re council tax and utilities though if two separate houses were joined to make one larger one?

We disconnected phone and gas and water in the new side and connected everything off the old side.

But we pay electricity twice - cos it was v complicated to split those.

If it's your forever house you won't be reevaluated for council tax until you come to sell.
But we had a man from the tax office when we'd finished come to check that there was no kitchen i.e the "extension" wasn't a dwelling in itself.

HTH

MNHQ

OliviaYouCannotBSeriousMumsnet · 24/06/2013 23:18

@VBisme

You contact the local council and explain that you're making two dwellings into one.

They get confused and excited, but ultimately they come round and revalue the single dwelling for council tax.

When we were told that we had to pay for 2 properties I said that one was not occupied then. They changed their minds.

It may depend on where you live.

Yes that's what I meant - had to prove it wasn't 2 properties so we weren't charged for the new property
But although we have made the other property bigger they can't put the charge up I don't think until the house changes ownership

MNHQ

OliviaYouCannotBSeriousMumsnet · 24/06/2013 23:20

@nemno

And when you stop using gas and water on one side you can stop paying the standing charges too.

And yes to that too.

MNHQ

OliviaYouCannotBSeriousMumsnet · 24/06/2013 23:21

@OliviaYouCannotBSeriousMumsnet

Yes that's what I meant - had to prove it wasn't 2 properties so we weren't charged for the new property
But although we have made the other property bigger they can't put the charge up I don't think until the house changes ownership

AFAIK this is the same if you add e.g. a duplex extension to your house too.

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