Building against neighbours extension with their agreement

[daz1981]

Hi,

We're currently undergoing an extension on our semi-detached house which includes a single storey extension at the rear. Our neighbour added an extension to his house in the past and is keen for us to build up to that, in order to prevent any gaps between the properties, so we avoid damp issues etc. His extension is close to the boundary but not over it, so it's not a party wall.

We get on well with our neighbour, who used to be in the building trade and is now retired, so he's very knowledgeable. His only concern throughout the project has been to ensure that the walls are watertight and properly flashed together, so we've started building based on the verbal agreement that we can build against his existing extension.

My only concern is that we have nothing in writing to say this is what was agreed, so if he disputes this in the future, it would cause us major problems to try and fix. I'm thinking of drafting a simple agreement letter stating what work is being done and some basic drawings for how the walls connect to try and capture this, which we can both sign this to show we're in agreement of the work. Does this seem like the right approach, or does anyone have any other suggestions? I'd prefer to avoid solicitors if at all possible, both for the cost this would incur and also because we have a good relationship with the neighbours, so I don't want it to seem too formal. I just want something to cover us if the need arises in the future.

Thanks in advance for any advice on this.

I'm not sure that would work without someone legal gettin involved. Purely because I'd be nervous if he sold and the new owner wanted to make any changes to the extension, you effectively would be over your boundary and unless he deeds are changed nothing written between you and the neighbour would hold up

Please get an agreement drawn up by a solicitor!! I acted in a boundary dispute once where a building was 2 inches over the boundary and it went all the way to trial. Sensible district judge did not order demolition. It turned out other neighbours' garage was 4 inches onto my clients ' land so both coild just stay as they were! We had suggested this as a compromise at outset but neighbours were adamant they wanted our clients extension down and took it all the way. I won't even scare you eith how ridiculously high the costs and surveyors ' costs were!!