Neighbours extension

[Mink654]

We have had over two years of hell with our neighbour and their incompetent builders! Tresspassing, damage to our property, not using basic safety measures. Our house has been fixed reluctantly (another story) by their incompetent builders. They have breached the plans, different finishing materials have been used, they have increased the amount of bedrooms agreed, their outside extension facing us has been left unweatherproofed and unrendered which looks awful. I have placed a breach complaint to the council - the plans agreed with council state what should have been done, bedrooms etc! They used an independant building inspector who started quoting 'be careful if I were you, your starting a neighbour feud and you'll have trouble selling your house', I was informing them of the damage to our house at the time! A green party cllr came and told me if I went to the papers I wouldn't be able to leave the house due to a hate campaign against me and my family from the public. I have now been told there are no breaches by the council, they are all on the plans in black and white... what do I do next? The council are now telling me it is nothing to do with them! Appreciate any suggestions, way forwards - they have and still are making our lives a misery

If the footprint of the build is the same size as plans, then I’d tend to agree with inspector, the internal layout probably won’t be given too much attention by anyone. If they had permission for a single storey and built three then that’s another thing, but internal layout isn’t going to be of any concern. How they’ve left the bit of the building facing you is also not going to be of any concern - they’re under no obligation to make it ‘pretty’ for you. Their building , their choice. Put a fence up and some tall trees etc?

The council have confirmed the above to you it seems in saying no breach, move along. I’m not sure what advice you’re after? It’s one of those where I bet if the neighbour posted on here they’d say something along the lines of just finished extension and the nosey so and so next door has given us two years of hell and won’t leave us alone what should we do.

Did the extension need planning permission, or was it built under permitted development?

In terms of planning the number of bedrooms doesn't really matter. If PP was required, the external dimensions of the extension and window locations can't change from the approved plans, but the internal layout is not an issue.

The finishes are a tricky one - have the building works actually finished?

Hi Seeline, the back extension has been finished their side. The front of the house and front garden have yet to be completed. I have received numerous emails from the neighbour and builders stating the building work will not be signed off until the wall has been weatherproofed and rendered.

Meant to add, the extension was a knock down of old and rebuilt. The dormer was a new extension which needed planning permission, this had mentioned finishing materials to be used on the plans

I'm near the end of a renovation / extension project. My neighbour has also complained about the rendering not being finished / painted (and an endless list of other issues!!), but the weather has been so awful that it has been hard for the contractors to finish it as they need a dry spell. I'm sure they will finish the outside as soon as they can.

Regarding the rest, as they have stated, the works will need to be signed off by Building Control, so if they have been incompetent and done anything that would affect your property then that's when it will be identified. It's building regulations approval that is key at this stage.

...just to add that the change in materials probably won't affect anything. As long as the new materials comply with building regulations, the council will be happy.

So your issues are:
Different materials
Internal room arrangement changes
Unfinished wall
Damage to your property.

The last item is the only one you have any reason to have a problem about.

Did they submit any variations during the build? Internal layouts are rarely fixed, finishes may be especially if in a Conservation area, AONB etc. Are you attached that they caused damage or need a party wall agreement?

So the rear extension was permitted development and didn't need PP?
Planning aren't going to be interested in that.

I think there's a lot you're not telling us here. Damage to your property is a fair complaint but you're complaining about them splitting an internal room in two. Wind your neck in I'd say

Hi LIZS, yes we are attached. We had a damaged drain, mould appearing, holes in roof (more than one occasion). Trespassing, even erecting scaffoldng without permission, broken patio etc
They started without a third party wall agreement - I didn't know they needed one until a colleague and I were discussing the damaged they had caused and refusing to fix until they had finished the extensions.

Thank you for answers etc and the advice of reeling my head in, also the theory of me being a nosey so and so!

I asked for help, a simple answer of 'I don't think there is any alternative because the council have answered and there's no breach would have been quite suffice!

Complaints about damage should go through party wall surveyor, nothing to do with council,

Personally I would stop complaining because it sounds like you're not going to get anywhere & you'll waste your time & energy on this losing battle. I'm sorry though that this has happened to you, I hope that it'll reach the end of the work soon.