Neighbour building summerhouse on my boundary

[Mumteedum]

Builders are here right now which I'm already pissed off about. I knew they were building a summerhouse but no idea it was going to be as big. It's the entire width of their garden along my fence. My fence sits on a retaining wall and I'll need to replace the posts at some point soon as they've cracked. I'm wondering if they caused this when they took the trees out.

Do you think I'll have issues with water? It's a pitched roof. It's above my fence height. I'm just wondering about it rotting my fence with bits between their structure and my fence.

I'm really stressed and unwell with chronic illness. It's a beautiful day and I'm hiding indoors.

Report them to your council.
one for the building itself \one for working on a sunday
https://www.lbbd.gov.uk/pests-pollution-noise-and-food/report-nuisance-noise/noise-construction-work#:~:text=Works%20by%20builders%20or%20contractors,on%20Sundays%20or%20bank%20holidays.

They say Works by builders or contractors should only be carried out from 8am to 6pm (Monday to Friday) and 8am to 1pm (Saturdays), not on Sundays or bank holidays. If construction work is carried out outside of these hours you can report it as nuisance noise by using our online form.

https://contemporarystructures.co.uk/what-time-can-builders-start-work/#:~:text=and%20resident%20comfort.-,What%20Time%20Can%20Builders%20Start%20Work%20on%20Weekdays%3F,depending%20on%20the%20local%20authority.

I’m pretty sure they shouldn’t be building on a Sunday - double check on the various planning advice resources and if they’re breaking the law, tell them to pack it in.

Can you check where the water will run off?
Our neighbours have a large shed (I moved here after them and their shed was already built). The water ran off onto our wooden shed and rotted one side completely as well as the wooden fence.
We could see it happening but were hesitant about saying anything.

We eventually had to replace the shed and fences and we had no choice but to approach them because it would just happen to the new shed as well. They were very understanding (to be honest they could already see the damage) and replaced the guttering so the water drained into their garden instead.

good luck OP

I've grown a pair and just asked the man stood on the roof when they're finishing and how close it is. He said 1.30pm ISH and that it's 50cm away. I mentioned water and he said it'll drain their side.

It probably isn't breaking any rules other than Sunday working. Just hope there's no repeat next weekend. I'm sorry I'm being so wet. I have just got myself in a state because I'm feeling shaky and unwell.

Thought I heard him say the words dog kennel so will hope that's not included. Their dog barks a lot as it is. 🙈

Thank you all for the encouragement.

Well done for getting the answers. As I understand it the working hours only apply to large commercial builds and not DIY or one off constructions in a garden such as this, so I don’t think they are breaking any rules as they don’t apply here. I guess at least you know it’s got an end point and hopefully before summer proper comes so you’ll still have plenty of garden time!

What sort of business? They need permission for that. Especially if cars /parking will me adding to the traffic in your street.

Just had a look over the fence now they're out. New wood is their roof, then my retaining wall and my fence.

It's not 50cm.

They run a home based office business and have admin staff come each day.

They need permission from the council to run a business at home don't they? Can you look on council portal and look for pp? Ring them tomorrow..

Mention that to the planning dept.

If you think that runoff from the roof could cause issues with the foundations of the wall, that is well worth mentioning as well.

Whilst running a business from home doesn't always need PO, if they actually have employees working from their house (or shed!), it is likely PP would be required.
Anything that means there is an impact on neighbouring amenities could mean pp is necessary so visitors, clients, employees, noise, dust, fumes, parking etc.

Are you going to speak to the council OP?

If not, maybe posters can compile a list of things you need to ask yourself?

Your neighbours seem to be taking the piss. Very inconsiderate.

I'm likely not going to this week tbh. I've a huge week ahead at work. I just can't cope with more stuff.

They've run an office from home since before I lived here. It's two cars a day. Its not a problem just now in their home office particularly apart from I lost privacy when they cut down trees to make way for this building. I'm just not sure about if they move into the new garden house. I'll have to wait and see. I've just done some googling and sounds like it needs pp if they were going to use it for business.

I'm also not sure if they should have it based on height and how close it is to boundary.

Plus it talks about building on decking. I don't know what they've used for a base but they've built it on an area which is much higher than the base of their house. It is a tiered garden.

In any case, it is poor form that they didn't tell me. Especially after I put up with months of disruption for their extension already.

I will see how the week pans out and try not to stress. I'll have a think about whether to talk to council. I don't want to be spiteful. I just want some reassurance and to be able to use my home in peace.

Thanks for the support. I'm a woman alone and I hate this stuff.

Just email the council planning department, op.
If there’s no permission granted they’ll send an enforcement officer round to see if all is in order.

@TeaandScandal but they'll know it's me won't they? 😫 I'll think about it.

Lots of advice here and understand that you find it stressful, but a word of caution about rushing off to contact the council at this stage. Well done for speaking to them today and try and continue dialogue if you have queries.

I’d suggest that you have a look at the Planning Portal and click in the interactive house to check if what’s being built could be under permitted development. As already mentioned, there’s no 50 clearance requirement under planning regulations.

On using the summer house for their business, you’d need direct information rather than supposing/assuming. Here’s the thing (and I work in this area), if you contact the council and they send out an enforcement officer (some won’t due to staffing/resources challenges), they will need to state what they are investigating and the information in the (your) complaint. They shouldn’t disclose who has complained, but it’ll probably be obvious to your neighbours that it’s you. One of three outcomes:

1- the officer will identify no evidence of a breach of planning
2- the officer will identify a breach and probably require your neighbours to submit a planning application
3- the officer will identify a breach, but decide that it’s not worth taking action

On the use of the building for business, without evidence, or until the business use becomes established, or neighbours confirm, there’s not much the council can do.

But, your neighbours might think you’re a busybody, trying to cause problems, and acting behind their back. Whatever the outcome, remember that you’ll still need to live alongside your neighbours and don’t want to switch stress about what they’re building with stress about their reaction/behaviour towards you.

Most people don’t intentionally breach the planning regulations and I’ve witnessed many cases that have turned incredibly nasty because of perceived/actual accusations, and too many assumptions instead of conversations.

Noise, dust, inconvenience etc can bee a right ball ache, but in reality the best thing is often to look forward towards it coming to an end. So, do your research and have a conversation is my advice.

Run off from a roof is a lot different than rain though, as its rain from a big surface area concentrated onto a small spot.

Well you've three choices @Mumteedum

1. Live with whatever they do

1. Move

1. Contact the council

So from doing some brief reading I think it is permitted but building regs seem to be something different. It says about fire safety which is concerning, that there should be a gap. It's entirely wood and built right up to my fence.. I have a lot of decking and it's nearer my house than theirs. If I did call council, is it only the planning they'd check?

On further reading maybe it isn't 15m2 so doesn't need b regs.

Time for bed I think. I'll be too busy with work to think about it tomorrow. Maybe that's best.

Planning and Building Control operate under separate regimes. Based on your latest concerns you need building control to check it out. Planning is not concerned with safety issues.

My understanding (after a bit of googling) is that if they will have employees working in there then it will need full planning permission - its totally different to a home office which can be done under permitted development.

@dollymixedup I don't know yet. I'll have to wait and see.

Remember, when you want to move, you need to declare any neighbour disputes. Try to keep it informal and friendly.