Misplaced garden shed

[marthamydear]

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,

Honestly just be annoying, find the site manager, phone constantly. Be that person and get it sorted.

BEFORE YOU EXCHANGE go for another viewing, look at the floor of the shed and see if it's covering anything up. It should be obvious.

Also study your environmental searches carefully. I read everything in my conveyancing pack and noticed that there are Thames Water drains under the land of the property next to the one I am buying, but nothing under mine (so I will be able to go ahead with the extension I am planning to do in a couple of years).

You could always suggest you are going to withdraw if they won't move the shed. It does sound an odd place to have sited it, so you have my sympathies.

Yes, you're probably right. I'm sorry. I hope your get it sorted

I would be inclined to think something is being hidden. Get them to confirm.
Personally manhole in the garden I would avoid having seen the mess when a sewer has blocked & flooded a garden)
The shed really does need to have a base & not just be plonked in the garden, the base will rot quickly.
A shed us not going to be tricky to move & I wouldn't make it a dealbraker.
A base can me made out of a plastic inter interlocking grid square this sort of thing www.diy.com/departments/active-products-plastic-grid-shed-base/971435_BQ.prd

& I would not replace the roof with felt I would use one of the rubber roof kits. Replacing felt is easy, but this just saves yourself a job in 7 years. A rubber roof should last the lifetime of the shed

Drains are everywhere on new builds, you don't have a manhole in the front there will probably be one in the front especially if you are detached or end of terrace. We had one in our grass and I made TW come back and make our patio bigger and they put a cover that holds a paver during snagging. No cost to me.

In the back even

@marthamydear

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!

If it doesn’t have a cemented base then you will be able to see what, if anything it covers, by going inside.

Unfortunately, based on what you have said, I don’t think you are within your rights for it to be moved but I can completely understand why you don’t want it located where it is.

The HA almost certainly recommended that solicitor because they benefited from it in some way, not because they are the best company/person for you to use. They probably have a financial agreement for referrals rather than anything dishonest but I’d be hesitant to use them purely because I would want to use someone who I knew had my best interest at the forefront.

I hope you can get it sorted.

Drains, sewers, pipes etc should be on the deeds/searches. It would be more convenient if it were moved now but realistically nothing would stop you doing so later unless there are covenants in place (unlikely if ndn has one in a different place). Tbh the fact there is one at all works in your favour as many new developments have conditions requiring planning permission.

OP, I remember looking at a house for sale 10-11 years ago and it also had a shed in a strange position

All I can remember is that it was a brand new shared ownership property. We did raise the positioning of the shed with the sales agent. I can't remember what they said, only that a certain amount of storage has to be provided hence the shed

We decided not to buy the house

From what I can remember the shed was randomly placed near the start of the garden which was small and there was a big gap between the shed and the fence. It looked absolutely stupid

Most sheds are normally put in a corner out of the way. I'd just look elsewhere tbh

@marthamydear

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.

Dangerous 😂😂😂

Just move it yourself, they ain't going to.

Did you take a photograph by any chance? I would just like to see the layout.

Although I can see you're distressed by the situation moving an empty shed a few feet along is really easy and it wouldn't stop me from buying a property.

Firstly I don't think there is a right place for a shed I like mine nice and close to the house my owners like it in a corner on the far side of the garden another neighbour has theirs midway down the garden. It is just not where you would like it.
The tricky thing is you are buying a shared ownership property which will be on a tighter budget for the developer so harder to negotiate.
The shed should be on paving slabs ideally held with concrete if it is not the shed will rot very quickly. It is possible to move an erected shed using cylindrical fence poles to roll it to it's new base. You just have to consider how important it is to you.

Thank you all. I will wait to see the solicitor search. If it can be moved to the end of the garden I guess I could do it.

ChocolateOrangeInhaler - yes dangerous. Ha ha. If my son runs around the garden and runs into a great big garden in the middle of the garden, he could knock himself out. TBH I'm more pissed off that I wasn't told about the position of the shed and they went ahead regardless and put it in a crap position. WT should not do this.

The solicitor can explain more in the week ahead. I am supposed to exchange and completeon Wednesday and move in on Friday.