neighbours extension

[norton]

we had an existing extension probably 20years old built just of the boundary, our neighboyrs have just built one right on the boundary leaving a gap of about 6" so neither of us can get to our walls in need of repair, and also they have a pitched roof we have a flat so going to be difficult for us to renew roof seeing that we can only just get our fingers down between the two walls is this allowed

[Postdog]

Not sure of building regs, but there is only so much you can do without planning permission, and if this was of the size that required it, and they applied, you should have been notified of their intentions. I know I was when my neighbour wanted to build an extension.

I'd check with your council if I was you - maybe they can throw some light on how you stand.

[norton]

Thanks for that I will give them a try.

[gazzawazza]

Norton, I've just been through the planning/building regs procedure and wanted to build up to 700mm (2' 4") from the boundary. The wall would have had a door and a large window facing my neighbours.

My building control officer ( who was very helpful) told me I couldn't do this unless I reduced the size of the openings on that elevation which I did and have now had permission granted. This was all due to prevention of fire spread, and he explained that the person next door was within his rights to build right up to the boundary (as long as his openings were not too big, in other words a blank wall as will be the case in your neighbours' wall).

It really depends on whether he needed planning permission to build his extension. If he didn't, then only building control would have been involved, and as long as he complied with the above he will have been granted permission by the building control officer. However, this all means nothing if he has gone ahead and built ignoring planning and building regs procedures, in which case the building could be contravening regs. and therefore he could be made to demolish it.

Hope you understand all of this, if you haven't, let me know, and I'll try and explain a little clearer.