Change of usage of adjoining garage

[Katiebee]

The neighbours built a conservatory within weeks of moving in. It seems to fit all the planning/building regulations. However, I'm wondering if they've changed the usage of their adjoining garage. They never use the garage door, and they bricked up the rear door. I wonder if they've knocked through internally and are using it as an extra room. If so, would this be allowed? I know there are rules regarding how much by which you can 'expand' your property.

Thanks.

[Ice.Maiden]

What's it matter? Does it block your view?

[Katiebee]

Ice.Maiden - I cannot look out of my kitchen window or out of my kitchen door without having to look straight into their conservatory. I feel almost an intruder for daring to come out of my house at times. They use it as their dining room rather than just a casual relaxing area and it's not very nice having to feel I have avert my gaze so as not to offend them. My house is built a few feet higher than theirs which is why I can see straight into the conservatory, rather than the view being blocked by the fence in between us.

In A Pickle - the conservatory is a glazed construction built on to the house via the patio doors. It is not attached to the garage at all so blocking up the rear garage door would have no impact on the conservatory itself.

I have found the on-line planning application pages for my local council, but nothing is coming up for this road.

Thanks for your answers.

[flyciderman]

If you are worried about looking at them, why not go and talk with them?

You or they might be able to put up a screen or even a few plants.

It is always best to see if you can sort out this type of thing over a cup of tea and not in the courts.

[Katiebee]

Because of the difference in levels between the 2 houses, I'd need to put up at least a 4 foot screen, on top of the 6 foot fence that is already there. Not very practical!

However, this was a question relating to the possible change of usage of their garage, not about their conservatory, so it's sort of gone off the point a bit now.

Thanks anyway.

[buildersmate]

I'll try and answer your original question. It isn't a 'change of use' in a planning sense because the garge is part of the dwelling. A planning 'change of use' occurs when a house is used as a retail shop - that sort of thing.
To use the garage as a habitable room means they have converted a non-habitable room to a habitable one. This is a Building Regs issue - not a planning one. They'll probably have trouble selling it eventually, but that doesn't help you.
You can erect a fence up to 2 metres high on your side of the boundary. This must surely block the view? - even though the fence top would be much higher than the 2 mt on their side.

[messyjessy12]

i agree with ice maiden,whats it matter? are they polish by any chance

[bednobs]

i would be very surprised if this is what thy have done - imagne having an extra room with no windows at all!
and anyway, it isn't the problem, dosent make any difference to you, and dosent affect what you see

[Katiebee]

messyjessy12 and bednobs - why I am curious is my own business, whether it makes any difference to me is my own business and not for you to say it doesn't, and it certainly doesn't stop me asking questions if I want to. As it happens, there is a window. Thank you for your invaluable help though.

buildersmate - thank you for your answer.

[Ice.Maiden]

Perhaps if you told your neighbours that your view might be invasive, they'd put a blind up at the window, but I see that this really isn't the issue - it's about you wondering whether they have any rights to turn their garage into another habitable room or not. I think this'd be allowed, particularly if they own their house - and in which case I assume they've received any permission necessary.

[buildersmate]

The only permission required is Building Regs approval. And, no, one can't assume they know this. The majority of folks think Planning Permission and Building Regulations approval are the same thing - 'the Council do it'

[tufty7]

there is always the good old leylandi that will screen it .... as long as you top it out at the desired height and keep it trimmed....