New build - sloping garden - no retaining wall (photo)

[user143777534]

We are buying a new build and got to see the garden for the first time today.

Our garden is mostly level, which is great, but there is a really steep slope from the back of our our plot into the garden which backs on to it. It goes down about 2 meters as a steep slope/banking.

The problem is, they haven’t done a retaining wall, or any kind of stabilisation of the bank. This means sections of our fence are basically floating in the air, and although our plot is level until near the edge, it starts to slope away before it gets to the fence.

Not only does it look weird, I’m not sure what we will be able to do to sort it out. Anything we do to level the ground would need a retaining structure on the other side of the fence.

Any ideas?

See if the builder will do build a wall at the bottom of your garden and raise the garden. Otherwise you can do that or you can level part if it nearest the house, the flatten the second part as a lower level.
Our house had a twelve foot drop from the back door! Builders built walls and levelled the garden

I guess I am worried that there is nothing to build that wall on. The ground just drops away. It’s a really steep slope and a 2m drop. So if the wall was to be built inside my boundary it would need to be dug 2m straight down, and even that would affect the plot on the other side of the fence.

Now is the time to sort it out. Odd they have built other retaining walls and not bothered with your one.

Yes, the ones at the sides have retaining walls, but not at the back, adjoining ours.

Mot sure how to get them to sort it out? It’s a house building company rather than a self build. We have a professional snagging firm who will come in after we move in. Do I just get it added as a rather large snag?

I have a worry that over time the garden will just crumble away, but not sure if that’s a genuine concern.

We have a retaining wall of 12 foot. They kept it on our side/land leaving a gap so it didn't affect the neighbours land at the side. The land on the end of the garden has our retaining wall on a slope from right to left going downwards.

Ask to look at the original plans to see if it has been missed

You need to raise this now, it will not be classed as a snag as you will have completed on it and therefore waived any favour you had of getting it sorted.

I work for a house builder and my advice will be get everything done or at least put in writing before exchange or at the very least before completion. You won't have a leg to stand on post completion.

Don't complete until something is sorted.
Next door put a conservatory in, and dug the path around it about 3 inches lower than our flower bed. Every time I dug the bed, soil fell onto their path. It needs retaining (probably on your neighbour's side, if I'm understanding the photo) before you moved in.

😟

Are they likely to just accept it needs doing? Or is there some kind of standard that I can quote at them. I feel like I need professional support (no pun intended).

We’ve already exchanged, but obviously not completed.

Their houses are selling like hot cakes so is threatening not to complete will probably not hold much sway.

Personally I'd visit the site with a professional surveyor and pay for their professional opinion.

Their report will give you more leverage with the builders to address this now if it's a problem or later if they ignore it re: any potential issues in the future.

What I wouldn't do is just assume it's ok, even though that might be the case (it's hard to know without pictures from the other side of the fence)

Am I understanding it correctly there's a drop below that fence into someone else's garden? Is that property occupied? Surely they'd be concerned about risk of land slippage into their property?

Yes, I think a surveyor is a good idea.

The other property isn’t even built yet, but yes it will be somebody’s garden in about 9 months time.

the more I think about it the more worried I am. That corner is where we plan to build a home office. I don’t want to risk it ending up in someone else’s garden 😅

If that property isn't built yet could the retaining wall be planned as part of that? Would speak to the builder but obviously get confirmations in writing and I wouldn't complete without it personally.

Its possible property at the back has plans for a split level garden, then they would backfill directly behind yours and put a retainer in closer to the property being built.
we have split level and have a retaining wall on one side but not the other. The builders backfilled that area and then they put in retainers in halfway so we have steps going up to the top half of the garden which is the same height as the neighbours at the back.

It’s the only thing I can think of for not putting a retainer on the back. There’s no way they can give neighbouring property a level garden without securing the land first.
But I do also agree that you need to clarify this before completion.