Hi,
I own a share of the freehold together with my upstairs neighbour (maisonette - just 2 flats) and I’m planning to remove 2 structural walls and re route some of the upstairs pipes that current goes through the middle of my living rooms.
I can’t say I’m in good terms with the neighbours but we keep things practical despite the mutual hatred.
My lease is pretty loose and give grants to do whatever I want except structural alterations.
I know I have to have approval and provide engineering calculations and do the party wall award. I’m also prepared to pay a fee as changing the pipes will mean they need to be out of their flat for a day.
The renovation will be around 4 months long and I’m worried they might not grant me consent.
Can someone explain to me what reasonable grounds to withhold consent means? If Im doing everything properly (and even considering any potencial extension/dormer in our calculations as I know they have planning permission for it), what could they justify their grounds on? The pipe re-route is a nuisance but not really material? Same with construction noises.
Im sort of resigning to the fact we might need to go into litigation. Has anyone been through this?
Thanks