Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Original poster

Planning permission granted and problem neighbours

65 replies

pickledbatswings · 27/07/2024 15:55

We are having problems with our neighbours. We got planning permission granted which is for a wet room for a disabled person. The neighbours will not sign party wall act and so we have to get surveyors out at a cost. They are also contacting them about everything and anything which is being billed to us. I feel like this is being done as someone is disabled in the house. Is there anything I can do.

OP posts:
Original poster
pickledbatswings · 27/07/2024 18:31

IFollowRivers · 27/07/2024 17:30

It is totally legitimate for them to want their own surveyor (paid for by you).

Ultimately it will protect you both and if you can't afford to pay for it I'd question the viability of the whole project.

Who said we couldn't pay for it. Just coming to get some perspective 😂

OP posts:
Original poster
pickledbatswings · 27/07/2024 18:37

C152 · 27/07/2024 17:36

Nothing in your posts suggests your neighbour's actions are because they have some sort of issue with disabled people. They are perfectly entitled to use a different surveyor, and to ask that surveyor questions regarding the build and potential impact on their home. I would object to any neighbour accessing my land to build.

Fair enough

OP posts:
SkiingIsHeaven · 27/07/2024 19:02

They can't stop you doing the work but you might end up paying for three Party Wall Surveyors.

Deserthog · 27/07/2024 19:12

Were you the ones who wanted to put scaffolding on the neighbours land and were arguing with them about costs ?

Original poster
pickledbatswings · 27/07/2024 19:18

Deserthog · 27/07/2024 19:12

Were you the ones who wanted to put scaffolding on the neighbours land and were arguing with them about costs ?

Nope, not us

OP posts:
RivkaTheBold · 27/07/2024 19:25

Not many people want a bunch of builders in their garden. I wouldn't agree to this under any circumstance.

Original poster
pickledbatswings · 27/07/2024 19:29

RivkaTheBold · 27/07/2024 19:25

Not many people want a bunch of builders in their garden. I wouldn't agree to this under any circumstance.

It's a small patch of grass by the side of their house in the front garden

OP posts:
LIZS · 27/07/2024 19:34

I suspect it is the access which is the issue. Can the builders not build from the inside? Is there no gap between? Have you offered to pay and reinstate any damage?

Original poster
pickledbatswings · 27/07/2024 19:39

LIZS · 27/07/2024 19:34

I suspect it is the access which is the issue. Can the builders not build from the inside? Is there no gap between? Have you offered to pay and reinstate any damage?

It's a patch of grass, so it's not like it's landscaped. We have said we would cover any damage and they can obviously oversee what we are doing every step of the way. Everything had been very friendly, so we are surprised that they are refusing to talk to us. I guess we just have to see what the surveyors say in due course. It doesn't help they have picked someone 200 miles away

OP posts:
Original poster
pickledbatswings · 27/07/2024 19:40

LIZS · 27/07/2024 19:34

I suspect it is the access which is the issue. Can the builders not build from the inside? Is there no gap between? Have you offered to pay and reinstate any damage?

We have said they will build from inside, but it might need to be accessed from the other side at some points even with doing that

OP posts:
LIZS · 27/07/2024 19:56

It does not matter that it is bit if grass, it is not yours to use unless they give permission. It sounds as if they are wary and exercising their rights under pwa. Why are you building up to the boundary?

Tracker1234 · 27/07/2024 20:02

It’s the having to use their land that is doing this. The other side ALWAYS say it’s waste land, only a little bit and of course they will make good.

Surely there must be another way of building it without having to use their land.

Original poster
pickledbatswings · 27/07/2024 20:28

LIZS · 27/07/2024 19:56

It does not matter that it is bit if grass, it is not yours to use unless they give permission. It sounds as if they are wary and exercising their rights under pwa. Why are you building up to the boundary?

We are building almost 1 meter from the boundary and we have been granted planning permission, so I don't understand your question. All I was asking about was the the party wall agreement which has been answered already...

OP posts:
Original poster
pickledbatswings · 27/07/2024 20:31

Tracker1234 · 27/07/2024 20:02

It’s the having to use their land that is doing this. The other side ALWAYS say it’s waste land, only a little bit and of course they will make good.

Surely there must be another way of building it without having to use their land.

As I've already said, this is the only way of building a wet room extension on our property. Our architect has explored all options....

OP posts:
Blushingm · 27/07/2024 20:37

A meter from the boundary isn't very far. Planning permission is granted but that doesn't automatically negate the views and condemns of your neighbours. How far away from the boundary dart is your house at the moment?

LIZS · 27/07/2024 20:38

So why not limit builders to the 1m?

MixedCouple2 · 27/07/2024 20:41

Did you spewk to them pre planning permission. Do you have a good relationship with them?
I find that is usually a massive cause for them being difficult.

We had neighbours at the back of our garden who were nasty people and very rude and they built a massive eztension that goes right to our fence and overlooks our garden. They never spoke to us or warned us or asked permission to see why a we thought. They went ahead. So we we went ahead.and complained to the council.

OhcantthInkofaname · 27/07/2024 20:46

Don't give them permission to contact your surveyors. Tell them if they contact them it's going to be at their cost.

PonyMcBony · 27/07/2024 20:52

OhcantthInkofaname · 27/07/2024 20:46

Don't give them permission to contact your surveyors. Tell them if they contact them it's going to be at their cost.

They have to pay for the surveyor and the neighbour is entitled to have one of their choosing.

Original poster
pickledbatswings · 28/07/2024 11:53

Blushingm · 27/07/2024 20:37

A meter from the boundary isn't very far. Planning permission is granted but that doesn't automatically negate the views and condemns of your neighbours. How far away from the boundary dart is your house at the moment?

So one side is the garage which is on the boundary and the wall of the garage is in their garden. Other side is the same with their garage. We are planning to extend the garage forward to build in the old part of the garage and make a wet room and having a half garage so we still have some storage

OP posts:
Original poster
pickledbatswings · 28/07/2024 11:55

MixedCouple2 · 27/07/2024 20:41

Did you spewk to them pre planning permission. Do you have a good relationship with them?
I find that is usually a massive cause for them being difficult.

We had neighbours at the back of our garden who were nasty people and very rude and they built a massive eztension that goes right to our fence and overlooks our garden. They never spoke to us or warned us or asked permission to see why a we thought. They went ahead. So we we went ahead.and complained to the council.

We showed the around the house and told them the plans and they nodded along and were more than happy to be matey with us and borrow things from us and be neighbourly. They stopped speaking to us when planning permission was granted

OP posts:
LIZS · 28/07/2024 11:57

If you are extending existing walls, which form the boundary, forwards where is the 1m gap? On their side?

icantkeepdoingthis · 28/07/2024 12:06

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

Blushingm · 28/07/2024 13:44

@pickledbatswings a diagram might help to give an idea?

Spirallingdownwards · 28/07/2024 13:46

pickledbatswings · 27/07/2024 16:49

We have invited them over before the planning permission was done and showed them what the plans were and asked if they were happy, which they said they were. As soon as we asked the party wall to be signed they have refused to talk to us in anyway and will not let us use the same surveyors as them.

which is what they are entitled to do by law.