Beat time during purchase to approach neighbours about party wall

[samosamo]

Hi all,

I need help with this one. I'll be doing a loft conversion on a house im buying a flat it won't need PP. When and how is the best way to approach neighbours about this? After exchange? After completion? As we're new should we just post the usual letter, or even during covid times should we knock the door?

I'm really stuck on this one abd we want to get start as soon as we complete because we'll get the loft done before we move in.....

Thanks!

We weren’t really bothered by our terraced neighbour’s works, while it was annoying at times we weren’t stuck at home trying to work, homeschool and everything else. Lockdown building works on a terraced house would be a different experience altogether!

For the sake of longer-term neighbourly relations I would suck up a bit of a delay.

And as a previous poster said, loft conversions aren’t as disruptive to live through as a kitchen extension. Everything else aside.

exchange contracts; approach neighbours informally so we are at least human beings to them and they can see we are not inconsiderate types; formal notice to follow soon after. Complete while this is happening and then within month or so after completion the first works can begin

This probably is about 2 months though? You’re likely to have a month between exchange and completion, I know it can be done quicker but a month is common. So if you serve notice asap after exchange, allowing for a month to complete and starting works a month after completion, that’s two months.

Having said that - I have to say, our terraced neighbour had major building works all of last year and it really was hellish, particularly in the summer term when we were stuck at home, wfh and home schooling. And had all the doors open as it was so hot. We didn’t know them (they had just bought) and it wasn’t the best start to our relationship as neighbours.

I think aiming to start in July is more sensible. You won’t be able to avoid living through the works but at least in the summer there is no chance of home schooling and people will hopefully be able to go away off and on for some respite. Also weather less likely to delay work.

Thanks @minipie

How might they have made it better for you (besides doing no work!)? I'd like to get off to as best a start as possible.

I think they will not think you are 'considerate types' if you approach them with this before even moving in. They will be bracing themselves. Move in, be nice, have a few conversations over the fence while getting settled. Then bring it up.

Or maybe if you do approach them sooner say you are hoping to get it done earlier in the year to avoid them being disturbed in the summer months.

You will still need building regs for the works though so also need to factor in timing for their visits too. Could you defer to the Autumn when hopefully your DC will be back at school and neighbours will at least have the option of a coffee shop?

OP I think lockdown really makes a difference. We had a major extension which lasted 6 months, builders started about 8.15 and finished about 4. At 8.15, most people had already left for work / school and / or there was general noise from traffic, people out and about. By the time people got home from work or school neighbours were gone.

We're in a semi at the moment, 5 of us working from home / home schooling and neighbours (next door but 2) are having their roof done. 1 day was so noisy that all 5 of us gave up on lessons / Zoom calls. Everyone was understanding because it was one day. However if that was likely for weeks on end, I'd try and delay it by not signing your party wall notice so that lockdown might be over.

Thank you. That’s interesting.

We actually can't move in as is, so we'll be doing a lot of work to the house which doesn't need PP or a PWA.

So if they do choose to delay, which seems understandable, it'll prolong the banging etc. I had wanted to just do it altogether at the same time.

I'm thinking these neighbours might not be potential friends for life. Eeek

I guess we also don't know what the future might bring with covid etc.

@samosamo

Thank you. That’s interesting.

We actually can't move in as is, so we'll be doing a lot of work to the house which doesn't need PP or a PWA.

So if they do choose to delay, which seems understandable, it'll prolong the banging etc. I had wanted to just do it altogether at the same time.

I'm thinking these neighbours might not be potential friends for life. Eeek

I guess we also don't know what the future might bring with covid etc.

So you crack on with the other works while waiting. It need not prolong the process overall.

I don't think it means you can't be friends. I just think you need to be understanding that lockdown has brought a whole new dynamic to neighbours etc. It might be that they're key workers and out all day which means they'll just tell you to crack on, so a conversation might be the way to go. Just be live to their circumstances when you have a chat / talk about what you intend to do / serve the notice.

Hi @samosamo

We only realised we needed party wall a week before our works were due to start!! We appointed a recommended party wall surveyor and got it turned round in two weeks.

Don't panic!

Yeah! Let's see how it goes. I'll submit ASAP following a friendly informal letter and see how it all goes. I'll be considerate, but clearly also must consider what is best for us!

Just a quick add to your list, before the planning and letters are all done, find your builder and pencil in some provisional dates, this spring,summer 2021 is so so busy for trades we've been booking for our works since last year for this spring.