Notice proposed works a few weeks before exchange…

[BelleBoyd]

Just received a proposal of works/party wall agreement (undated) from my neighbour for a loft conversion and I’m due to exchange in a few weeks. Seems an odd time to ask me to sign and I should imagine once I’ve sold the agreement is void anyway? And they would need to go through that again with the new owner? Would it be best to advise them to wait until the new owner is in?

I think it’s probably just whoever owns at the time. So they’re likely trying to get you to sign before new people as you’ve got nothing to lose. If you’re uncomfortable just say they’ll have to take it up with new owners.

Yes I did ask them to just wait a few weeks and ask new owners. But they said they wanted me to sign now. I’m just wondering if I legally have to sign or contest? And if I legally have to inform my solicitor and buyer? My solicitor says the sale enquiries have finished now and am waiting on finishing up my purchase so I really don’t want to mess around at this stage.

There was a similar thread not that long ago. Might be worth a search. iirc, your neighbour's need to wait. It needs signing with the new owners.

Morally, should you advise the solicitor to communicate to the buyer so they can make a decision on whether they want to move into a building site?
If this was on the cards before the property information form, it would have to be disclosed.
Maybe their solicitor (or them) have already discovered by doing due diligence by looking at local planning applications, because it will show up there.

Loft conversions aren’t really building sites. Having had one on on our other side it isn’t really that much inconvenience.
Loft conversions usually considered permitted development not requiring planning permission.

You need to tell your purchaser under your continuing duty of disclosure

I'd be furious with a neighbour that did this. I wouldn't be signing anything and I'd let my solicitor know about it and take it from there. It looks like they are trying to sneak it in quickly as they think you won't care as you are leaving.

Yes am very annoyed! Interestingly the party structure notice was undated and gave no dates or date of commencement of works. Also didn’t have my name or their name just the addresses. I’m wondering if that’s even valid?