How would I find out about planning permission granted to neighbour's house before we moved in?

[tellnoone]

The previous next door neighbours added a big extension before we moved in so I'm presuming it needed planning permission. It has a flat roof, is right next to our fence, one of the upstairs rooms has double doors out and there is a fence all round the top. It overlooks our garden. They never used it as a balcony but unfortunately it has been sold and the new neighbours do.

We want to see if there was any specific terms in the planning permission about it not being used as balcony - How would we go about finding out about the planning permission that was given? Are there public records etc?

Depends on your council. Our local council has a searchable database on its website where you can find out that kind of thing. Others have databases you can search but only by going in. Ring up the council and ask is the best thing.

My guess is that if they got planning permission to have doors out onto it, they probably also have permission to go out there and use as a roof terrace/balcony. but only a guess.

Why not have a quick look on the planning section of your council website to see if they have an online searchable database tonight, and if not, give them a ring tomorrow?

You can also go into the council offices (you may need to book ahead) and request the planning permissions for the house.

I have to say, though, my parents' new house has just the same set up, and they seem to have permission to sit on their extension roof and nose at the neighbours. They don't, but they can.

Most have searchable databases now - go to local council website, find planning section, you should be able to search on postcode.

I can't see how planners could prevent them from using it as a balcony in practical terms though.

I mean - they could stop them putting in a wall or railings, I expect, but can you really stop them from just sitting out there?

How can you put a covenant in to stop someone accessing part of their property? How would you enforce it if such a thing existed?

You should be able to see the records though. Very edifying it is too

If your council has a freely searchable database, you can also nosey at all the records that were refused which is even more fun!

if it didn't tho i think there is a limit on how far back they can take action if that makes sense?

"I can't see how planners could prevent them from using it as a balcony in practical terms though."

The roof would have to be suitable for walking on for a start. I thought (from watching proprty programmes) that you needed planning permission to use a roof as a terrace. If so, I would have thought it would be specifically listed in the permission.

Either contact teh officer at the counicl planning office who is responsible for your area or look online if pp application was relatively recent ie since 2000. It is unusual for a direct view to be passed but it depends whether there were nay objections lodged at the time. Maybe the neighbours had a verbal agreement not to intrude ?

Thanks for all the replies. Our council website is rubbish so I will have to ring and probably go in and see the records. All I know is there was a verbal agreement between the previous neighbours and the previous owner of our house. We didn't question much because I was 8mo pregnant when we bought it and I just needed to buy something and it is a fab house, the balcony being the only negative but it wasn't a problem at the time because it wasn't used. It's not a huge problem now either I suppose, just thinking about it being off-putting if we ever sell so would like to know what the official position is.

(Railings - that's word I was looking for! not fence on a roof )