Would a neighbouring extension put you off buying a house?

[whatthej3ff]

We live in a terraced house and our neighbours are just about to start work on an extension to the back of their home. We're looking to put ours on the market soon.

Would you be put off purchasing a property where work was going on next door?

Yes it would (unreasonably) put me off. We viewed a house where a house across a courtyard was about to have extensive work done and the idea of skips, noise and hassle instead of enjoying our new home made us back away.
It is unreasonable because they could start 6 months later.

In a way but it’s likely to be 3 months or so for the whole conveyancing process so hopefully the bulk of the big noisy work would have been completed by then and then at least you know there won’t be any more building! Other houses the neighbours could start an extension at any time!

No, because I’d assume I’d get planning to have an extension too.

@GeneLovesJezebel

No, because I’d assume I’d get planning to have an extension too.

This.

No it wouldn’t put me off.

Maybe. Depends on whether I wanted an extension too, and whether the extension next door had plans I could see to judge the effect etc. The more built it was the better, really.

We didn’t offer on an otherwise lovely house that had a full build going on next door, because it was too much of an unknown quantity.

Does it negatively impact your property or show its potential? Any planning consents will show on Searches anyway.

No of course not, becayse it takes on average four months to complete and you’ve not even sold yet.

It depends on how big and whether it blocks any view or light or looks like it impedes on my boundary. I have seen some where there is a window in the extension which looks right over the patio of the neighbour. That would put me off.

I agree with @RoseMartha it depends on what sort of extension.
And no extension at a time of the viewing doesn’t mean no extension forever. We arrived on the day of completion to find neighbours’s scaffolding partly in our garden. The positive was that everything was done and dusted by the time we actually moved. So I would advice focus on the bright side.
Our friends had similar experience only they moved and building works started the week after. It was very inconvenient and actually affected their property a bit but the previous owner agreed to everything so it’s late to do something about it. And he didn’t disclose the info to buyers.

Thanks all

Yes, if there was any kind of boundary or party wall agreement, which I'm assuming there would be

It wouldn't put me off at all..

Wouldn't put me off. Surely you'd look at it as a positive that perhaps in the future you could extend too

Depends how much work was going on. Loft conversion/ quick low level extension wouldn’t bother me, I’d be thinking oo I could do that too.

But if it looked like a 6-12 month project then of course that would put me off.

As others have said, I'd see it as potential for extending too.

I'd wonder whether the extension is what prompted you to move, and I'd also wonder whether any issues that affect your home (e.g. party wall, drains, gutters etc near the boundary) might not be picked up or dealt with properly due to the move.

@blanketyblanked

Yes, if there was any kind of boundary or party wall agreement, which I'm assuming there would be

Sorry but this doesn’t make much sense. A party wall award is made to cover what works will be done and agree costs of damage if there is any relating to the works. It basically just means that the neighbour’s house is protected. Why would that put you off?

Is it going to keep any sun/light off my house or garden, would be my main concern.

Property prices are so extortionate around here that it’s a good bit cheaper to extend than move up a bit. So masses of houses have a kitchen or loft extension, or both. TBH you’d have a job to find a house where there probably wouldn’t be either in future.