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Original poster

Misplaced garden shed

38 replies

marthamydear · 22/10/2021 02:18

Hi,

Advice please if you can?

I am buying a shared ownership property and will exchange this week. The 2 bed property is a new build. For some reason the developers have put the shed in the middle of the garden with a path leading to it... It is very odd.

I asked the sales lady today if the developers of the property can move the erected shed to the end of the garden (where it should be placed) and they said no. I would have to do it.

It doesn't sound correct to me. Can I insist that the shed is moved to the correct place at the end of the very small garden? I am on my own with my son and it will be costly to have a workman come in to move the shed and relay the path.

Many thanks,

OP posts:

FortunesFave · 22/10/2021 06:04

Of course you can't insist. You saw what the property had in and around it when you agreed to buy it. Why would the developers pay to move it? It won't be free to move...it will cost money in terms of labour.

Bordernotboarder · 22/10/2021 06:06

That sounds very strange - I wonder if there is a reason it has been placed like that. I wouldn’t be happy either and would push for it to be moved.

MamsellMarie · 22/10/2021 06:06

That's weird - maybe it's because there is a drain cover or something that meant it couldn't go where it was supposed to go.

Original poster

marthamydear · 22/10/2021 17:16

I have emailed them. I think it is unusual that they haven't placed the shed in the right place. It looks as though they haven't moved it, but to have a path cutting through the small garden on lawn is just absurd. It looks unsightly, stops the sunlight and dangerous as my son can't use the grass to play.
Especially given next door has their shed at the end of their garden.

OP posts:

MrsFin · 22/10/2021 17:28

I bet there's something under it that they want to hide. Like a body manhole cover.

Original poster

marthamydear · 22/10/2021 18:16

To be honest I don't like manhole covers, but it is much better than a large shed plonked in the centre of the lawn in a small garden.

Has this happened to anyone else in a new development? It's Wimpey Taylor. Did you manage to persuade the housing developer to move the blasted shed into the correct position?

Thank you

OP posts:

Dontfuckingsaycheese · 22/10/2021 18:22

Is next door’ garden bigger? Our shared ownership housing association stated we could have a shed but each side cannot be closer than one metre to the fence. Which does plonk it rather centrally. We’ve been in 1.5 years. I still haven’t sorted shed base and erection! I think you’re lucky you get a shed included!!

Brownlongearedbat · 22/10/2021 18:49

It does sound odd. Has anyone else got their shed in a similar position? However, this is something you should have brought up when you viewed the house. If the shed was not in this position when you agreed to buy the house, you would be quite within your rights to ask them to remove it.
If you desperately want this house, I personally would just take the shed apart, store it to one side and reassemble it when I had the time/money, in a better place. Have they put a concrete base down? That could be more problematic. It all hinges on whether you agreed to buying the place with the shed in its current location.

StripeyBadger · 22/10/2021 18:51

Did you buy off the plans with the shed positioned elsewhere or was it already built when you put in your offer? Does anything you have specify the exact location of the shed or are you just basing it on where neighbours have theirs and where you would like it to be?

PicsInRed · 22/10/2021 18:53

Are you using the developer's solicitor? Or has your own independent solicitor provided a report to you? As a PP said, I'd be concerned by the strange positioning that something was under it that they didn't want you to see, e.g. a raised manhole, sewage pumping station access, you never know.

Original poster

marthamydear · 22/10/2021 19:10

Hi, thank you for replies. I viewed the house for the first time yesterday and the sales rep said that the contractors wouldn't move it as it is already laid out with path leading up to it and erected.

It doesn't seem right to me. I had the plans before the viewing and the plan shows the shed is included in the price of the property. It does not say anything about where the shed is positioned.

I overlook next doors garden and her shed is against the back fence where you would expect a shed to be with a path to the side leading up to the end of the garden to the shed.

Next door has an area of grass that does not have a shed in the centre of it.

I have written an email today to complain about the position and I have asked for the shed to be moved. I am concerned now that there is a problem beneath the fitted shed in the centre of the lawn.

It's so unsightly and it really affects the look of the garden. I don't believe I should have to remove the shed and paved path leading up to the shed as I did not see a plan for the shed to be placed in the centre of the garden.

OP posts:

ellyoctober · 22/10/2021 19:18

God that sounds awful.

And it's certainly not unreasonable that a shed that is mentioned on the plans (but with no location indicated) would be against a fence to maximise amenities in the garden.

This has obviously been done for some benefit to the developer (financial or time) but at great detriment.to the purchaser.

Could you do a rough diagram do we can imagine the placement?

StripeyBadger · 22/10/2021 19:33

I think there is a specific reason to your garden that the shed is located where it is. However, it sounds like they have fulfilled their contractual obligations by providing one and the path to it so I’d be surprised if they do agree to move it for you.

Does the shed have a concrete base?

Original poster

marthamydear · 22/10/2021 19:51

It is erect in the garden, I don't think it has a cemented base, but it has laid path to the shed.

I think I am within my rights to insist that the shed and pathway is removed as I am now not unnerved by the reason for this position.

I am waiting for searches and paperwork from solicitor this week. I used the solicitor the HA recommended to me as I was told they are experienced in new build Housing Association shared ownership sales.

It is one hell of a snagging issue and I haven't completed or exchanged yet.

I'm more concerned about what may be hiding under the shed now. Could it be that the contractors have been lazy and couldn't be bothered to poisition it at the end of the garden?

If it is a sewer works entrance and they've tried to cover it up without my knowledge would it be advisable to not go through with the sale?

I'm watching Coronation Street atm and there is a big story line about a sink hole! I would want to know if the shed is covering up unstable foundations as it's a new development.

Next door neighbours garden is exactly the same size as my property. It is exactly the same size house. The only difference is I am end of terrace with the gate beside the shed (if you see what I mean?!)

More delays. Great!

OP posts:

Original poster

marthamydear · 22/10/2021 19:55

Stripey Badger. I was not told by the housing association that there would be a shed in the centre of the lawn with a pathway cutting across to the shed.

It is not on the plan at all. It doesn't say anything about the shed being placed in any position in the garden, only that a shed is included in the price.

I feel like I have agreed to something I do not want. The rest of the house is fine when viewing.

OP posts:

sleepingrabbits · 22/10/2021 21:32

I have a TW house they are just idiots really, well their contractors they use are. Yes get them to move it, they have a team for snagging works on finished properties. Don't let the sales people fob you off. Could be something as simple as a slight slope that means they do need to lay a proper base and can't be bothered. They just just to rock things off and things like common sense goes out the window, it's all tick done, not done properly or well.

Flufferty · 22/10/2021 21:46

I genuiy can't understand why you think you're within your rights to insist on it being moved. On what grounds?

They told you a shed was included and it's included. The fact that you'd prefer it to be in a different position is your problem, nobody else's. You souy like hard work.

Flufferty · 22/10/2021 21:48

And my first thought when reading the title of your thread was " how can someone lose a garden shed,"

Flufferty · 22/10/2021 21:50

You didn't see a plan for the shed to be placed in the centre of the garden, but unless you saw a plan for it to be placed somewhere else, you don't have a leg to stand on

Titterofwit · 22/10/2021 22:00

Can you take a quick look round the area to see if there is any other middle -of -the- lawn sheds around.
Do a proper check as far as possible and if there are none in the same development you have a good argument for believing the shed is covering something up.You can use your information to back up your argument. Otherwise you will get some idiot who says a shed is a shed and it doesnt matter where it is on the property.
I have never ever seen a shed in the middle of a garden with lawn around it. The natural home of a shed is at the boundary - or at a push alongside the house so that the garden can be used to its best advantage.
If you wanted to grow your own food it would be a big drawback for example.

Original poster

marthamydear · 22/10/2021 22:19

Flufferty you sound quite unpleasant. I am not hard work. I am looking for advise from people that are helpful. You are not helpful. Unless you are a solicitor that works in property and developments?

You don't really know the answer, do you? Get out of bed on the wrong side? Seriously. It is a big deal as I was not told about the shed slap bang in the middle of the lawn and an eyesore. I am paying a lot of money for a share in this house. I can't imagine you'd be best pleased if you were in this position. Thanks

OP posts:

KatherineofGaunt · 22/10/2021 22:29

You need to ask or find out why it's there. It must be hiding something.

There is no way anyone would assume that a shed that comes with the property would not be against the fence somewhere. No-one would consider the middle of the lawn as a good place to put it. Therefore it should have been on them to specify the odd positioning to potential buyers, surely?

Please find out what's under there and report back, OP. Can you ask your solicitor for the ground under the shed to be part of any searches?

NandoLorris · 22/10/2021 22:30

I used to work for TW and have worked with other housebuilders. It will be there because the contractors found it easy to put it there, and no one cared enough to put it in a better place. End of. Taylor Wimpey won't move it. Seen it hundreds of times. Sorry. I'd make your peace with it and focus on other things.

Original poster

marthamydear · 22/10/2021 22:36

Thank you, when the search comes back from the solicitor I will ask why this has occurred.

NandoNorris - that is terrible. Why wont the contractors be asked to put the shed in the correct place? Why can they get away with that - a ruined garden that isn't usable because the contractor couldn't be bothered to do their job properly.

OP posts:

NandoLorris · 22/10/2021 22:43

@marthamydear

Thank you, when the search comes back from the solicitor I will ask why this has occurred.

Not terrible, just how it goes. The developer's contract is with the housing association. The housing association will have signed off the house as completed and accepted the condition of it at handover. Taylor Wimpey are under no obligation to move it, it's the housing association's fault. They should have told TW it was incorrectly positioned and had it moved prior to signing acceptance at handover. It's not that the contractor didn't do they're job properly, they probably did it in the best, most efficient way for them. Happens all the time on shared ownership plots because they know the housing associations don't check or won't argue.

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