Semi-detatched bungelow - neighbours converting basement - will it effect me?!

[Missushb]

Hi, looking for any anecdotes

• neighbours are converting their basement in to a living room and kitchen. The excavation work made one hell of a noise, but that's finished now, and other work seems to be going on, which is causing minimal noise to us. Does anyone have neighbour who have done this - could my house have been damaged in any way? Our neighbour did tell us he had had architects in to draft the plans etc, and that they were insured so im hoping its all ok! Im just also wondering about noise implications, am I likely to hear much noise from their basement? its a 1940's house, soundproof wise its ok, we do seem to hear noise from their attic though, which is also converted. Thanks, would be helpful to hear opinions.

Have they dug out a lot?

There should be no noise - the ground will absorb any sound.

Has the LA building regs people signed off on it?
Did a proper builder do the work?
These sort of jobs need proper ground work/surveyors rather than an architect. I'd guess the arct. was managing the project?

Party Wall Agreement?

I would be asking questions OP.

I know, that's why im a bit concerned - we haven't had anything. I did a search on the local authority website and nothing came up regarding a planning permission application! At one point our neighbour said the architect said they would need to come in and check our walls, then nothing happened. It is a builders firm who are doing the work, I think its a local builder everyone seems to use - some other neighbours brother!

Have a read of this.

In your position I would be concerned about your foundations, your walls and your ability to create a basement in the future.

The fact that they do not appear to have followed the letter of the law on this would make me very uneasy about the quality of the work and the possible detrimental effect on my own house. I would also be concerned that when you come to sell you will not have the necessary documents: party wall agreement, surveyor's report, etc. to confirm that your house is sound following your neighbour's works.

Speak to building control. Speak to your neighbours. These kinds of things can be tricky - I would phrase it that you are concerned about the effect the excavations may have, both for you and your neighbour because the architect and builders do not appear to have followed the correct procedures with regard to a Party Wall Agreement, etc.

Actually you do not need to get a party wall agreement. You need to inform your neighbours that you are having work done then they can come to you and request a party wall agreement if they want one. But I am sure they will have needed planning permission and building control so if there is nothing regarding that on the website then you need to contact someone.

Nikki I don't think that's right? My experience has been you have to give written notice of works and if nothing comes back from your neighbours the default is that you have fallen into dispute and either works don't go ahead or it needs to be resolved, usually at the expense of those doing the work.

Building warrants sometimes tend to be in a seperate section of the planning dept. Im not sure they will have needed planning but will have needed a warrant. Do another search making sure you are searching the warrant section.

Thanks everyone. Nightswift I will do that, thanks. Never thought of that, checking building warrants

We've had a basement garage converted to living rooms. You don't need planning permission but it must be done to building regulations. Also there is nothing actually attached to the neighbours wall - sounds odd I know but the way tanking is done it isn't - the plasterboard etc. is attached to a freestanding wooden frame.

Random - the rules on planning permission are different depending on whether you are converting an existing basement into liveable space or excavating a basement where there isn't one or just a crawl space.

Party wall agreements are needed for basements depending on the angle of your underground wall from your neighbour's wall for example and are not dependent on you attaching things to the party wall.

Ah okay, that does make sense!

Ours was just a conversion into liveable space and no changes to the angle by the party wall. It's certainly not something I'd want a general builder to do though...