Advice Please As I'm Getting No Help

[Zumbagirl]

Hello, the house adjacent to me has been bought and the owner has turned it into an HMO. He has turned it from a 3 bedroom into a 5 bedroom. He applied to build a 6m extension which myself and the other neighbours objected to as it was going to be so imposing and it was refused by planning on the grounds that it would take away light from my garden from 11 am onwards and I would lose visual amenity. He then went on to build a 3m extension which is acceptable, I have no problem with that. We have had constant building noise for over two years; lorries coming and going, ruining the grass verges. Now, without even mentioning to anyone he has decided to build, for want of a better word...... bungalow, half way down the garden. It's an L shaped structure made out of bricks with three windows in it. It looks just like a one bedroom bungalow.It's so imposing and he's not even put the roof on yet! If he puts a pitched roof on it I'm going to lose all visual amenity, precisely why he was refused the extension. He told another neighbour that it's going to be a gym/storage but I don't believe it as he has an empty double garage for storage. I believe he is going to put more Tennant's in there. I'm so fed up of the noise and having builders looking at me all day thru my patio doors. I have a 2m high fence and this building is way higher. I contacted planning and they said when they came out in September and inspected the ground work there were no breaches, this is now November and no further inspection has taken place. Surely this size of structure can't be permitted development? It's looking right into my garden, it has three windows. I've completely lost any privacy as well as visual amenity and I'm sure when the roof goes up I'll lose light too. I'm hoping to downsize in a couple of years but now I'm so worried this has devalued my home. The last two years have been so bad that the neighbours on the other side of him have sold up and moved before this structure went up. I'd really appreciate any advice as I'm so unhappy and worried this will devalue my home. These are family homes and this guy seems to want to turn the house into a hotel. Thanks

[Bazile]

Is Zumbagirl allowed to post picture on here ?

[Zumbagirl]

@basile he has joined the roof tiles with lead flashing and run the waste pipe down the neighbours wall not his own! He has left a gap of literally 2-3 inches between the two extension walls. I mentioned to the neighbours that they should check what he was doing as he dug down very deep and it could've disturbed their foundations but as they were moving they didn't want to rock the boat. I feel sorry for the new buyers as they knew nothing of this "bungalow" until they'd moved in

[The Builder]

Good luck Zumba.

Perhaps you could get back to us when you know more. We'd love to have your feedback.

[Zumbagirl]

@basile I wouldn't have a clue how to do it!!

[NellieMay]

Bazile. The OP says

//There are pipes sticking out the ground everywhere and he joined the roof of his extension on to the neighbours extension. //

That comes under party walls.

[Zumbagirl]

@The Builder I will for sure and thanks for your advice, really appreciate it

[Bazile]

ah right - his neighbour has an extension as well - i miss that

[NellieMay]

He has used the neighbours wall to support his roof.

[NellieMay]

I wish you luck too and hope you come back to us with some good news.

Great advice from Jack and The Builder.

[Zumbagirl]

@Nelliemay yes I think you're right, I have seen it and it would seem that way. The owner next door told him not to do it but he went ahead anyway. He also done it at the front when he built his porch and he pushed out their guttering

[The Builder]

Tacking onto next door's structure without a Party Wall Agreement in place is totally out of order.

I despair of solicitors sometimes. How could new buyers complete with all this going on?

Also, where are Planning and Building Control when he attached himself to next door?

[Zumbagirl]

@The Builder they were informed by the owner and myself but didn't even come out. When the new owners surveyor came out nothing whatsoever was mentioned on the survey! The sellers were pleased as they just wanted out but I feel for the buyers. The bungalow hadn't even been started yet, they didn't start building it until 2 days after the new owners moved in! As there was no planning application for it, it wouldn't have been found on a search

[The Builder]

Oh dear, this gets worse.

When selling, one of the enquiries concerns any knowledge of disputes with neighbours.
So, the previous owners said "no" to this?

[Zumbagirl]

Yes they probably did because they never actually had a dispute with him. They told him not to do it, he did then they put their house on the market

[The Builder]

Mmmm......... asking him not to attach might indeed constitute a dispute.

Anyway, I've got to go now. I look forward to seeing how you get on :o)))