Anyone been in similar situation? Extension up to our boundary.

[extensionnextdoor]

Our neighbours are planning an extension up to our boundary. We haven't seen the drawings yet.

They are detached houses but our 1m or so-wide path is our only access to our garden as our house doesn't have a path the other side.

The workmen will need access to our side for the work to take place.

We want to be neighbourly but obviously need to ensure our house isn't literally undermined.

And need to keep disruption to a minimum.

Would we need a party wall agreement? What else is there to think about? Especially if you've navigated this yourself.

We have legal cover on the home insurance so can contact them for information too.

I would ask them their plans for future maintenance if they can’t access that side of their house in the future?

Also depending on the access, do you need insurance or something written in place about access, damages, timings and the like? Wanting to be neighbourly is less important imo than maintaining your property + peace!

Yes they will need to get a party wall agreement and they will have to pay for a survey (or 2 if you want your own done or just want a different surveyor) and any legal fees for both of you.
Also you dont need to give their workmen access to your garden, any and all work should ne done from their property not yours.
Make sure that none of their gutters or roof hangs over the boundary. Also think about how.much light you will lose and if any windows will overlook your garden.
Basically be very selfish when thinking about the impact that their decisions could make to you and your families quality of life and the resale value of your house, these things are more important than being neighbourly

Thanks. It sounds to me as though we'll need a planning solicitor and maybe a surveyor to look at the plans and party wall agreement.

Bear in mind that if you don't allow them access, you will probably have a very ugly wall to look at. Not necessarily due to spite, but lack of access means they have to work in an awkward, restricted way.

I wouldn't want their scaffolding on my 1m only rear access either though.

You are unlikely to need a solicitor, but you can contact your insurance legal cover, if you have it, for advice.

The neighbour has to pay for your PW Surveyor, which can be the same one as theirs, or a separate one, which will cost them a lot more money. Wait to hear from the neighbour about the PWS, don't just appoint your own - unless they start work illegally without a PW Agreement in place.

I'm not a lawyer though, just read a lot about this.