Understanding planning regulations
Planning regulations balance your neighbour's right to improve their property against the interests of those living nearby. They cover the size and position of extensions, changes to a building's appearance, and alterations to how a property is used.
When these rules are ignored, the effects can be real: loss of natural light, reduced privacy, increased noise, or parking problems. If you suspect work is being done without proper permission, or has strayed from what was approved, there are steps you can take.
When does a neighbour need planning permission?
Not all building work requires planning permission. Many smaller projects fall under permitted development rights, which allow certain changes without an application, provided they stay within set limits on size, height, and position.
Permitted development typically covers:
- Small single-storey rear extensions
- Loft conversions within certain dimensions
- Garden sheds, greenhouses, and outbuildings below a certain size
- Some fencing, walls, and gates
- Solar panels on roofs, subject to conditions
These rights can be removed in conservation areas, on listed buildings, or where an Article 4 direction applies. Flats and maisonettes generally do not benefit from the same allowances as houses.
Planning permission is usually needed for:
- Large extensions or those at the front of a property
- New buildings exceeding permitted development limits
- Changes of use, such as converting a house into flats or running a business that changes the building's character
- Work affecting listed buildings or in conservation areas
Permitted development rules vary between England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The Planning Portal provides guidance for England and Wales. For Scotland, use ePlanning Scotland. For Northern Ireland, use Planning Portal NI.
Check your legal rights in any neighbour dispute. Takes 1 minute.
Try our Neighbour Rights Checker free, here on this site →How to check if permission was granted
Before raising concerns, check whether your neighbour needed permission and whether they obtained it. Every local planning authority maintains a public register of applications, searchable online through your council's website.
Enter the property address to see any applications, decisions, and conditions attached. Planning applications include drawings and descriptions, so you can compare what was approved against what is being built. If the work differs significantly from approved plans, this may indicate a breach of conditions.
If you find no record of an application, the work may fall under permitted development, or your neighbour may have failed to apply when required.
Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.
What counts as a planning breach
A planning breach occurs when development is carried out without permission, or when work does not comply with approval conditions. Common examples include:
- Building an extension larger than approved
- Using a property for a purpose requiring permission, such as running a commercial operation from a home
- Ignoring conditions about materials, working hours, or landscaping
- Erecting structures exceeding permitted development limits
- Removing trees protected by a Tree Preservation Order
Enforcement action is discretionary. Councils consider whether the breach causes genuine harm before deciding to act, and limited resources mean they prioritise based on severity.
Time limits apply. For most breaches, the local authority has four years to act. For changes of use and breaches of conditions, the period is ten years. After these periods, development may become lawful. Where a breach has been deliberately concealed, time limits can be extended.
Reporting a suspected breach
Report concerns to your local planning authority. Most councils have an online form, or you can write or telephone the planning enforcement team.
Include:
- The property address
- A description of the work or activity you believe breaches regulations
- When the work started or when you first noticed it
- Photographs showing what has been done
- Your contact details (some councils accept anonymous reports)
The council will usually acknowledge your report and may investigate through site visits, planning record reviews, and correspondence with the owner. This can take time, particularly with high caseloads or complex breaches.
If a harmful breach is confirmed, the council may negotiate a remedy, invite a retrospective application, or take formal enforcement action. An enforcement notice requires the owner to correct the breach within a set period. Owners can appeal, which delays proceedings. Failure to comply with an unappealed notice can result in prosecution.
You can ask the council for updates. If unhappy with how your complaint is handled, use the council's complaints procedure or contact the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.
Consider speaking to your neighbour directly. They may not realise they have done anything wrong. A calm conversation can sometimes resolve matters faster than official channels. If the relationship is already difficult, reporting to the council without direct contact is reasonable.
For complex or contentious disputes, seek legal advice from a solicitor experienced in planning matters. For further guidance, visit GOV.UK or contact your local council's planning department.
3 weeks ago as the trusses were delivered and as they were swung into place I informed the Planning Department. The roof had not been lowered and the trusses would accommodate a flat.
The roof went on at an unbelievable pace and I sent picture of louvre windows in both sides of the roof.
Our road is being closed soon for 3 for days to install gas to the property.
The enforcement Officer informs me the Planning laws are laid down in such a way that until the flat is occupied she can do nothing.
What is the likelihood of the builder getting retrospective permission for the flat?
Is there any civil action I can take to stop gas and the electrics for a flat being installed?
Michelle
It sounds like planning permission and/or building regulations are not in place as you would have had a letter with their plans and the opportunity to agree or dispute the plans.
It might be time to contact your local Council and/or try to find out if you can get a building inspector to go and visit the property. They sound like rogue builders and cutting corners could be detrimental to nearby properties and land.
Good Luck Laura!
I am concerned for the neighbours directly either side - that their houses do not collapse.
It appears to be a cowboy outfit doing the work.
Also the house is not in a safe location for large trucks and lorries to park. It is right on a mini roundabout. It blocks ambulances, buses and cars. There have been many near misses of very nasty accidents and potential punch ups between builders and terrified cyclists, motorbikes etc.
How do I find out if this is a legal price of work taking place?
Thank you for you time.
Kind regards,
Laura
The architect he is using is a RIBA qualified chartered architect he knows his stuff.
The extension does not effect our sunlight neither the privacy also it is below the 50% of the land owned. However I don't want them to get their permission granted as I fear it will devalue my home. What can I do
Similar to Gills comment from 17Mar I have sane issue of 3 windows set to overlook my living room after a self build next door has been granted planning permission. The original windows were much smaller on the plans provided to us so I didn’t initially have an issue. However, now that the skin of the building has gone up, the windows are around 2.5 times bigger and will directly over look our living room. Any ideas of rights here? Thank uou
no party wall agreement was put in place, nor was any Building Regs, They have excavated a Padstone near our foundations and no building Regs were put in place or Plans or Designs submitted to the council,
I got a Surveyor out today, who said I need to get in touch with the Building Control department and go from there ....
Hellllpppppp any advise would be great x
My sister has recently heard that planning permission has been approved opposite her house. She also has a holiday rental next door which is her primary income. Of course building works will have a huge impact on her ability to let her holiday home. Does she have any grounds to appeal the planning or any loss of earning compensation she can claim?
Many thanks
They started ripping out, from their roots our fruit trees, shrubs and Rhododendrons. I went outside and told them to stop after noticing our trees, plants and shrubs in my neighbours front garden. I explained to them that they are ripping out, damaging and destroying our property. The older man said that it was the neighbour who told them that that was what she wanted them to do. A couple of days later they hired a mini digger, smashed our garage window and pulled up (by hand!) the mini digger to the back of the garden, where they began to remove tons and tons of soil and bring it down to the lower garden. Creating a level, which is a good 3-4ft higher than their neighbouring gardens. The final straw was when they climbed a huge tree (it was nesting season at the time) and began to saw off branches. Again I went out and told them that that tree is on the other neighbour's border. At this point the neighbour came out, I explained to her that it was nesting season and that she should ask permission from the neighbour, with whom the border is shared. She said that she's asked the workmen to remove the nests. I pointed out that it is a criminal offence to do that. These men soon left and did not come back. Then approximately 2 months ago. Once again, without any notice from our neighbour, I saw 3 men in the garden. After about 10 minutes I went outside, I briefly explained about the previous experience we had had. Damage has been done and no one (workmen or neighbour) is correcting or footing the bill that has incurred due to their negligence. The recent workmen/man firstly dug holes and placed concrete posts in our garden, claiming that they are putting up the neighbours fence. These holes caused root damage to our remaining trees, shrubs and plants. We told the neighbour that we will have to get Land Registry involved, to which the neighbour quickly replied, no, no need for that. Having looked briefly through the ownership of the land, it appears that the neighbours land is leasehold, not freehold. They have built a huge and tall decking area right at the back of the garden, which now overlooks a primary school playing field. I am aware that they have not had planning permission and these builders have not asked for the relevant paperwork. Just today, one workman was standing on our garage roof in our garden, the garage has already been damaged due to the previous workmen slamming the arm of the mini digger into it. He then proceeded to remove bricks from our wall above our garage. I have looked to see if they have work vans or any sign of advertising their company, but they do not, which begs the question: Are they insured? Any help and advise on what I
I was reading your complaint a couple times to picture the back of your garden. You’ve said the neighbours now have a clear view into your home and no help from lawyers. Alternatively another solution that may help. Can you raise the ground at the back of the garden then build a pergola so it reaches higher on the raised ground? Also, to save cutting out daylight to the nuisance neighbour you could use mesh netting or clear frosted film across the back of the pergola to block their view and drape ivy or fake plants down the back, and across the top and add some warm solar lighting nets down the back sides and across the top etc. I’d also consider moving my BBQ to the back so you don’t have the smoke and smell by your house on BBQ days. Other times the pergola could be a nice spot for a bunch of noisy kids :) to sit playing their music away from the house. It can be very effective stops the peeping Tom and gives you a nice view when you look at the back of the house. Karma :) good luck!
All down to jealousy with some neighbours
This has blocked us from seeing the night sky because the windows have lights in them all the time even at night. It is causing us a lot of distress. A lot of light pollution.
We can also hear them in their toilets.we can smell it to. When we sit in our patio.
What can we do. The council do nothing.
They now wish to increase height to eaves which will reduce light through glazed back door and side panel. But have not revised planning application. 1.5m gap between their wall and my back door and 2.5m high above my door sill.
Get know where with the Council and don’t even go near CAB! I’m just paying a lawyer to look into it. £7k is nothing in comparison to a substantial devaluation of property due to incompetence of someone else.
Even with a lawyer on board it’s complex. The notification it’s self is not grounds but worth checking planning reports against the councils procedure. I’ve found several errors which I’m hoping helps. I’ve also arranged a boundary surveyor to visit my property and to install metal polls marking boundaries for future reference.
These problems only go away if challenged. The Councils know most neighbours will moan and just go away! What a way to spend holiday funds?? all I want is a GT by the pool.
Will keep posted on my progression??
We bought a beautiful and well constructed new home last year. At the time of conveyancing we understood that Taylor Wimpey had plans to build more properties at rear of the property . According to the plans these houses were to be at the same level as ours so would not have impeded our privacy . Fast forward 12 months and I am now looking at what I can only describe as a three story monstrosity. The ground floor looks into the bedrooms, the second floor in to the kitchen and now a third roof window in to the garden . Whilst I am aware developers are encouraged to reduce the transfer of waste materials (rubble/broken brick etc) from site to waste or landfill, We realised very quickly that Taylor Wimpey ethos was to dump all building waste into the foundations of the house that had been built at the back of our garden . Therefore the 3 story house is much higher than the plans suggested .
Though I don’t have any evidence of the original topography of the building plot which Taylor had obtained planning consent with I am sure the land levels have been interfered with prior to footing being dug.
I have written to Taylor Wimpey numerous times asking as a minimum for some screening and I have lodged a complaint with our local planning office . No reply !
I am at a complete loss and it has destroyed our forever home .
Is there anything I can do .....???
lots of love to everyone suffering at the hands of other selfish people.
The building has now exceeded height when challenged at first argued point saying it hadn't then had to apologise blamed builders said he was speaking to planning dept ?Bank Holiday Tuesday came with builders continuing who are also installing warm roof? So building is just growing and growing all dust etc from chipboard and insulation coming into my garden
We are now looking at brick wall from conservatory and lounge have to keep blinds drawn.quality of life diminished husband poorly doesn't need this
I do not want a war with new neighbours but at same time can't believe what they say.
Is it true that nothing can be done after 4 years? How could he get a planning permission to built over the boundary? Or maybe it's not so obvious, and i am wrong, and he is right?
The planning for the garage also states that it is to be used as a garage for the enjoyment of the family as anything else would have an impact on the areas parking.
To make matters worse the wife has now opened a dog grooming business in a separate room in the garage, which means we are going to end up with clients coming and going making parking even worse.
Do I have a case to put to the council and who do I send it to?
My neighbour has built an extension and in the planning permission it stated that first the demolition of the garage before commencing with erection of extension which he has not done as just taken door off.This is affecting the light into my garden.
Does he have to knock it down as planning stated?
Also I have a detached house and his property is now 2ft away from mine and they play loud music day and night.
Where do I stand?
I appreciate your help.
Kindest regards
Stuart Johnson
she has now asked the council for a dropped kerb. It is the siting of the dropped kerb that worries me as the driveway would then be literally on our border with her property. She has a shed which would have to be demolished in order to facilitate the driveway but this shed is attached to our shed. We paid a lot of money last year to have our shed restored and we are worried that she won't make good any damage she causes and that removing her shed will cause the party wall to let in water. We won't be allowed on her property to do any remedial work and she sure won't do any herself.
Also she would have to demolish the wall that is between her garden and the street. I fear that our wall may be damaged where it meets hers. I wonder if I have any rights to object or if there is any legal letter I can send her in advance to guarantee compensation if she either doesn't finish the work and makes it look even worse than the tip it is already. Also, she has a perimeter of about 100ft so it is very annoying that she has chosen to park all 4 of her cars right next to the boundary wall.
Additionally, she will have to either excavate or build higher for the driveway as the houses are lower than the road. Is she allowed to lower or raise the level of her garden alongside the (garden) party wall. I'm sure it would make the brick wall unstable if it was lowered.
Were the applications put on line after a certain year?or should they be showing as far back as 1997?
My new neighbours from 2017 had their semi detached house renovated for over a year with a loft conversion, rear extension and garage converted to living room. They didn't want to pay for a party wall agreement and I felt too intimidated to insist. The neighbour instead looked around the house. He has harassed me a few times asking to buy my house saying I'd be better in a flat. I've said I've no intention of moving. They haven't spoken to me for 3 months. Since the works have been completed, their slamming of doors and such is a lot worse and can hear them clearly in their rear extension which I didn't expect to as its outside our house and chairs scraping across the floor. Is there anyone from the council who can check their planning application was carried out accurately as I can't help thinking things have been built to create maximum disturbance to try to make me move house. The neighbour occasionally parks in our garden but police are powerless and he was hostile when I complained once. However the slamming problem is what is making me lose sleep.
First floor window shall be of a design not capable of being opened below a height of 1.7m above finished floor level and shall remain so glazed and non-openable.
Does this mean that they are not allowed to install standard windows that open.
Can I submit a complaint to my local Kent Council and force them to change the design of the windows that have already been installed.
What could I do if they accept the planning application which was voted in favour by councillors???
Thank you ??
We have written formally to the Planning Dept however they suggest he's working from home & his business address is elsewhere so we have no right of appeal - is this correct ?
I hadn't thought about the permissions etc because it's a big shed. It's a friend who's pointed out how big it is and close.
After such a long time is there anything I can do. He's the most vile of neighbours and no conversation was held when he put it up.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks
what can we do and who to complain to?
Thanks
Is this allowed without planning permission.
Thank you
It’s clear glass window. Should it be a frosted glass?
Apparently we should of served a party wall notice, we were completely unaware this existed. We’ve built next to the party fence, and the foundations haven’t gone below nor underneath. No damage has been caused to any property nor has this been mentioned. I feel anxious that this isn’t going to be the end . Does know if they can take whatever they feel we’ve done wrong, further?
For nearly 3 years our neighbour has been doing works on their house.
The extention they have built looks like a child had built it with just bare old bricks exposed.
Some of the bricks used in the building were taken for a skip down the road and wheelbarrow back to their house.
My concerns are that the building is not safe.
Their guttering just pours into our garden when it rains.
My concerned are my walls will become damp plus the noise of water pouring outside my back window is a nuisance.
DIY continues most nights at 7pm .
This is not classed as unsocial, but that is the time we sit down to watch TV at the end of the day.. ..only to listen to drilling
Cannabis being smoked in their back garden the smell comes into our house and we have to close the back door and windows. It's not good particularly when my Grandchildren are at my house.
On many occasions I have tried to communicate with them. Letters , knocking on their door i only gets greeted with the door slammed in my face.
I spoke to my neighbour and said I would call the police about the cannabis if it didn't stop.
The neigbour said it wasn't her it must have been her son and slammed the door.
This must have worked as no smells at this time.
The Council have helped when rubbish/rubble was left at the front of the house for 6 months.
Still the issues goes on leaving me frustrated.
I live in a detached house with attached garage at the LH-side. The other side of the house has my gated passage to get to the rear of the property; the passage is approximately 1 meter from my neighbours garage wall to my gable end and identical house.
My neighbour intends to build above his garage using its footprint but this will then create a 1 meter passage between my gable end and his new gable end wall above the garage and create a dark Enclosed passage. Does the neighbour need to have planning permission to enclose this space and will they require scaffolding erecting in my passage way.
I appreciate the noise is a seperate issue, but...
He has now built a timber extention to his, already anple, etention.
The noise is, of course, unbearable - Industrial size circular saws and drills, etc.
But, can I do anything about this further extention of his ever growing domain?
I live in a conservation area but Council dont seem to be over-concerned, he did not seek any agreement albeit 'only a bikeshed' my house now looks like a terraced house.
What can I do?
Neither I or any of my neighbours have seen any plans or received anything to tell us about this construction.
I have contacted the Council, who I assum gave
the planning permission, to raise a complaint.
What happens if I am right and this Construction is being built too close to my boundary fence.
I believe the wall is a firewall and don’t understand why they did not vent the extraction fan through the roof rather than coring it through the wall.
Can anyone please advise?
Regards,
Kevin Bell
They have now spent all lockdown getting ready to convert this 'garage' into a house & plan to extend it & they have separated their garden into 2 halves, added drainage etc in anticipation of getting the planning permission in and passed. Before they had the garage done they told us they knew someone in the planning department who would get the plans passed (it was too close to the boundary & yes it did get passed).
We had a good idea the house was planned from the start (far too nice to be a garage)
We think if they get permission for this 'garage conversion' it will leave the doors wide open for all our neighbours to build houses in their gardens(including us if we so wished)
Would they get planning permission for this 'conversion'
He also for the past almost 2 years has been working from home a lot, causing a lot of noise to the point where we cannot have the windows open during the day. Surely he would need some sort of permission to be using his home as a construction yard?
What can we do?
They are putting in new windows and doors
Thanks in advance
Can we get planning enforcement to remove it ?
Please advise.
In the last month they have internally renovated their house and have done no external works, however they have boarded the windows with insulation board against the windows finishing off with a plasterboard finish internally. We now have a view of 3m of kingspan insulation boards and battens running across the top half of the wall since they did not line the windows first with any film. It's a very undesirable look - like a permanent building site.
They will not undo the work and are ot willing to pay for film on the windows to put on the external side of the windows.
Do I have any rights in this matter. Its apparent that they did not want to go through planning a and building regs to demolish it and build a brick wall and so they did the cheaper option and just boarded the windows internally.
Guidance will be greatly appreciated.
We all have right of access to the road to access the backs of our houses / our designated private land.
One of our neighbours has children. Their house was extended removing the majority of the garden immediately adjacent to their house. They do, however, have a reasonable sized plot of land on the opposite side of the private road that they use to park their vehicle and house a medium sized shed.
The children are being told, by their mother, to play on a plot of land that they do not own. This is causing ball damage to fences and constant landing of balls on cars. On at least one occasion significant damage has been done to another neighbour’s van which was fixed, and paid for, by our “problem neighbours”.
They are also constantly parking on other plots of land.
There have been several verbal and written requests to stop both activities.
The neighbour has now stated in writing that she will continue to use the land as her children’s playground despite the requests.
What can we do? It’s causing untold stress and anxiety.
After many years of living in this apartment My down stairs neighbours finally moved in and indoing so also built up their ground floor verandah into rooms. When doing their co instruction they had confirmed that if and when. We want to build atop the same they would have no problem and even extended the pillars they placed in a way to accommodate what was promised to us. All this was done with appropriate consideration to paid at the time of construction.
Now that I am ready to build they wont let us build which seems to be coming from an ego fit that they are having as they have encroached a much larger space than they had originally suggested.
I am of the firm belief that the society president will affirm. Our request to build but I would like to know what options I have just incase it doesn't work out with requests and amicable solutions thereof.
Thanks
AB
He did not place the required notice of proposals in our street and therefore nobody had any ideas of his converting this mid terraced of 4 house into a HMO.
Once we were aware of his proposal 48 of the 50neighbours signed a petition against this. He is the 49th and the 50th decided to stay on the fence.
Does anyone have any ideas? Know what my rights are? Please if you can Help me, I am 68 years of age.
When we have both cars parked, at the moment there is an 'open space' on the neighbours side in which you can walk through and take a wheelchair comfortably through.....
However, my neighbour who currently uses their property as an office is planning on changing the property into 4 different sections/flats..
Their plans include extending the current fence/gate further forward to the front of the property... thus taking away from the open space currently used by my mother to go in and out of her annex.
If they were to do this... it would mean there would be minimal space for her wheelchair and pretty much no space to get in and out of the car from the neighbour side either....
So is there anything we can do to? So my mother can maintain her wheelchair access area?
We’ve asked him not to use it but he’s ignored us. We don’t think it’s got planning permission or building regs but I don’t know how to find, anyone got any ideas?
two years ago, the same farmer is planning to put a temporary building in order to claim residence.
Does he have the right to do this?
Please advise.
I've checked on the Council Website and there is no record for any applications for planning permission for his address.
How would I be able to find out (if possible) if my neighbour followed Building regulations. Is there any time limit on Building regulations or is a hypothetical failure to follow building regulations lasting?
She is afraid to complain and cause a rift. But now it gas gone too far and the neighbour is avoiding her. The dust Is in side and outside the house.
Where should she go for advice?
The worst scene is the attached side where a beam has been removed which is part of a major structural supporting beam in her house.
She’s really desperate. Can anyone advise?
The problem is my balcony was built by the previous owners without planning permission and is not demised on my lease. It does not officially exist and despite having been there for more than 10 years, its was built in defiance off planning refusal. I inherited all this and now have to decide what to do. I don't want to negotiate with the difficult neighbour as he is not trustworthy. I would like to build a small balcony bolted to my home - with enough room for a chair. But as I am not the freeholder I can't really touch the outside. He is not the freeholder either. I thinker has done the work ion breach of building regulations and without informing the freeholder whose tesponsibility this is. I don't want to be a snitch nor do I want to start world war 3 by reporting him to the Council and to the freeholder - but I have to make my flat safe and replace the non demised balcony either with a Juliet balcony (which the Council would allow but which is really the freeholder's responsibility) or preferably something a little bigger to replace my lost (non demised) asset. The freeholder is notoriously lazy, shady and reluctant to do anything that won't make him money - which this would not. What is my way forward?
If the work of your neighbour has resulted in this "artificial" channelling, you may be able to seek damages/redress in the civil courts. Seek advice from a legal professional first.
Njs
This is a bit complicated but basically we have a really bad relationship with our neighbours. We did an extension and they did theirs 2 years before. Thing is, because we live in a conservation area, they've built theirs higher against the planning permission they were given. The difference is noticeable when comparing both houses.
Is there anything the LPA can do once the building the extension has been built?
He has installed two windows about 1 foot high and 3.5 feet wide which open onto my property/ garden.
So physically the open windows will encroach upon my space/airspace!
I have windows near there also but they are within my boundary- about 1 metre from the edge. His windows look directly at mine.
Is there something I can do about this?
The guy is a bully and he is relying on the fact that I am a single woman who he can intimidate.
A few months ago my neighbour claimed he had a leak in his property and that the cause of the leak was our roof?.On inspection by a roofer I called he said the problem was not with our roof but the roof of our neighbour.The roofer explained this to my neighbour and in doing so highlighted that when in the past my neighbour had a new roof put on his house the work had actually encroached on to our property by about 12inches.Since this we have had no communication with our neighbour and are at a loss as where to go next.Please could you help. Thanks
Many thanks .
Dawson .
None .
Thanks .
Dawson . None.
Dawson .
:(
His original building is detached, the new shed is approximately 50m away from the house, 15m from the road and because he has raised the height of the garden by adding bulk loads of soil to it, the result is that the shed is approximately 7m height from the original ground level to roof.
Do we have a case to appeal?
We have had a building company out to have a look and discussed our proposals with and they were concerned that our neighbours dorma was built right up the the boundary line of our property (centre of the shared chimney) and they had concerns that's it should be back on there side a required distance to comply with building and fire safety regulations!!! Is there a required distance that the dorma should be from my chimney breast and if so what must I do to also go ahead with having my own built. Where and who can I contact to find out if the correct permission, inspections and drawings that they must have followed and passed to ensure all building and safety regulations/legislations have been adhered to.
When planning permission was sought I raised objection that it would take up limited parking space we already had. I was told that would not happen, as they were not allowed to keep vehicles from the garage on the street.
They have and over the years it has got worse, leaving vehicles parked up for weeks at a time.
I used to ask them to move them and they would, but now deny they have parked them even though I have them on cctv doing so.
Who do I need to contact to try get it resolved..? Environmental or planning as I am being the run around by the local authority.
if I get them moved I think the staff from the other businesses will just use any parking it frees up.
I have already sold my car due to the hassle of parking but have my van for work and now can't get that parked due to the business taking the spaces.
We were told that the eco house and would be "buried into the earth" and is a downsize.
Nearly 2 years on its not finished but is huge and completly overlooks our house and land.
The neighbours son is an architech who designed the property, however he and his father have fallen out and not spoken in a year. We believe this may be something to do with the method of the build.
Is there anything we can do not to ensure the building is to spec?
Talk to your neighbour and see if there's anything they are willing to do.
Ask for legal advice. If the window really opens on to your property, this is trespassing into your airspace and you may be able to do something about it
A solicitor will also be able to confirm your rights regarding privacy
Erect a trellis or similar so that your privacy is protected
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thank you
Builders have commenced and are clearly building a habitable room, not a garage. I have objected to building control/planning dept who state that because a further, invalid, application has been made for change of use from garage to habitable room they are not going to take any action. I suspect this application was submitted only after my complaint and I suspect planning department may have given the nod to the neighbour and stated that planning permission will be granted so that it is OK to go ahead with a habitable room.
Surely this is flat wrong. Surely you can only build to what you have permission for and, if you want to build something else (eg change of use) you apply for it and wait the outcome of the planning permission.
The correct course of action for any planning officer worth his salt, surely, is to issue an enforcement notice (Planning Contravention Notice) because extension is not being built to the plans that have been granted. Otherwise, anyone can build anything, anywhere, anytime and if pulled up by the council can apply for planning permission and council will doubtless grant it. Because they always do.
I consider my local council to be endemically and systemically corrupt.
Reason permitted development rights were withdrawn was because council considered plot to be fully developed. Now council allow near doubling of floor space. Disgraceful.
Any comments?
The fence erector says that the posts for the existing fence had been placed 8cm into my garden to accommodate this wrap around decking. It looks like the impact has been that the neighbour has gained an 8cm by 20m strip of my land. The neigbour stated that as the decking and fence have been in place for over 5 years (before I bought the house) there is now nothing that I can do about it. I have checked my deeds and emails from my solicitor and there is no mention of loss of any land due to the fence position. Can I insist that the neighbour reduce the size of the decking to ensure it is within her boundary and not attached to my property so that the new fence can be erected along the original boundary line?
Thank you in advance for any advice.
My neighbour has a barn in her garden. The wall of the barn is a boundry wall, my neighbour already has access to drive along the drive to the rear of her property. The owner has created a 12 foot opening into the barn wall onto my garden creating access into my garden through this new entrance, no planning permission is given, no permission at all from us
Please advise
My question is firstly, can the council enforce removal of rubbish so our builder can access and repair the boundary wall and secondly can council planning department enforce removal of the extension lean-to outbuilding and corrugated roof or will this have to be a legal matter that we independantly pursue through the courts. We have tried to keep this amiable with the neighbour ,but are getting nowhere. Thanking you so much in advance.
With Thanks
I live in a terraced house and my neighbour has a one storey extension that has a window that looks directly into our garden. The building itself also reduces the amount of light that we get into our garden and dining room.
We are currently in the middle of putting up a new garden fence at the legal height of 2metres but wanted to go higher in front of our neighbours window to gain privacy. Where do we stand on this?
She has objected saying she will lose light through that window however whilst doing our garden we have removed a large bush which has been there for many years and so even if we did go higher with our fence she would still get more light than before.
Also the window that looks into our garden is not the only light source to her extension. There are also 2 windows, a door and a roof light to the building.
Please can you let me know if her need for light is more highly valued than our need for privacy?
Would we need to submit planning permission for a higher fence in front of her window?
Many thanks for any help
We are not sure how long this shelter has been there as the previous owner is not being very helpful. Are they allowed to use our outside wall to attach their structure if they had permission from the previous owner?
I feel like I should have been asked permission for the previous people to build onto my wall & people have said they should have.
Please can you tell me if I can do anything.
Last year we had a new neighbour move in, it is business women she owns a shop and uses her garage as a storing facility. Ever so often a huge truck pulls up and off loads things overnight and blocks the road and entrance to our home. We have a pan handle house and her house is directly in front of ours. Last year she sent someone with a paper to sign saying she is going to put up a building. We refused to sign and asked that she come over and speak directly with us but she never arrived. Today they started building. They are putting up a double story building a foot from the boundary line . It will mean our drive way will be totally unseen which will be extremely dangerous , we will not be able to view the road etc from our house either and also we know that this will effect the value of our home drastically. The people in the building will be able to view directly into our two main bedrooms. Also our lives are at risk because she will be using the bottom to store things for her shop which will eventually attract more crime. The lady never informed us or ever came back with plans or anything . What can I do?
Now new plans bu new neighbours have been submitted to extend out the back of the same building so that all light will be taken from this kitchen window. Planning dept say the harm has already been done ( by the illegal extension) so losing the rest of my light is not enough "significant harm." Is there anything I can do to get this initial extension taken down or back to agreed size, and thus stopping the new application being viable?
Cheers.
We have since found out from the builder he is putting 7 bedrooms each with their own bathroom, no living space and 2 kitchens. There could be between 7 and 14 people living in this property. I am contacting the council tomorrow but how can he think he can get away with this ? Just build it first and the fight the council for ages ? He owns a lot of properties and I'm sure he must know that it will get declined and he will have to rip it all out or am I missing something?
Many thanks, Sally
My neighbour bought the bottom of my garden from the people I bought the house off.
He built a nice fence which was fine but then started parking a caravan on there. He has since gravelled over the area and has started park huge transit vans on there. It looks a right mess and there are also people coming and going.
He runs a disco business from his garden too, it's just a nightmare.
We moved to Lichfield for a peaceful life. My wife has got early onset Parkinson's and we really just want to live as stress free a life as possible.
Can anyone help?
Kind regards
Wayne
initial complaints have been responded to basically saying that the council don't care if they change their property once it is built - meaning that it will be a 4 bedroom property and they aren't bothered.
We have very limited access down the side of the property, as we have motorbikes behind our front gate, so wonder how they can enforce access if we tell them that they are not are not allowed on to our property.
They didn't even ask us about the extension, and also they have harassed us for nearly 10 years, so we don't feel like we owe them anything!
Thanks
We recently moved house and are in the process of getting planning permission to build an extension. As part of the process we looked into our neighbours extension which was built before we moved in and have found that they have not built it according to the planning permission. Instead of it being stepped in from our boundary, they have built on our boundary, removing the fence that was originally and replaced it with their wall. This means their foundations will be on our land. Is this allowed and if not, is there a time limit in which a complaint needs to be made?
Thanks
only now found out that we needed party wall act and permission off neighbours
they are kicking off big time, hsve send apology letter but think it's going to end up with solicitors any advice much appreciated
Our property is a Grade 2 listed and I'm very worried that the works will have a negative impact on our property; small cracks and damp patches have appeared in the plaster on our wall.
We were not advised or consulted about the works. The same neighbour has now taken down an internal wall and more cracks have appeared. The neighbour has told us to mind our own business - is there anything we can do?
"The Transferee must not carry on or upon the Property trade or business and must not use the Property for any purpose other than as a single private dwelling house"
My neighbours at each side have the same covenant in their deeds too. However, one of my neighbours started using air B&B to rent one of her rooms. Initially this did not pose much of a problem, but since the summer season she has clients turning up via our shared access almost every day and it is becoming overbearing.
Can this covenant be enforced to stop this business continuing in the way it is?
In the case of a building, enclosure or container within two metres of a boundary of the curtilage of the dwellinghouse there must be a maximum height of 2.5m.
as the builders could see into our home.
I have attempted to speak to our neighbours about other concerns relating to the extension but they seem to ignore everything that we have raised with them. They moved out at the start of the work and they do not return very often, I have not seen them since well before Christmas.
What can I do?
No outbuilding should by constructed on land forward of a wall forming the principal elevation.
Outbuildings and garages must be single storey with maximum eaves height of 2.5 metres and maximum overall height of four metres with a dual pitched roof or three metres for any other roof.
In the case of a building, enclosure or container within two metres of a boundary of the curtilage of the dwellinghouse outbuildings must have a maximum height of 2.5 metres.
We're not aware of the regulations regarding chemical toilets so it might be worth a call to your local planning officer.
The plans do not show this. Does this contravene building regs? They did not need planning permission.
Since completion they have now submitted a planning application for two more dwellings on land that is adjacent to our home. This will significantly impact our property and our enjoyment. Whilst this is completely underhand is there any legal recourse here as he clearly knew his intention to submit a planning application whilst selling the property but didn't mention it. Had we known of this it would have impacted the selling price etc
Please help.
I have a good eye and the corner of the house should be at the intersection of a boundary. It is not.
I'm concerned they are in breach of planning regs as nothing was applied for. They have assured me it is not, but I would like to know where I can go for independent advice. I don't want to report and then have the neighbours hating us. We feel overlooked and encroached but if the development is permissible we will get on with life. However if I get the planning dept involved either way this is going to cause friction. They have also said they want to develop the loft when they buy, we are really concerned about the noise transferring down to our bedroom so would also like advice in this. Who should we speak to, please help, we want to do the right thing, but it is also making us want to move away. Many thanks
Thank you
Cannot extend beyond the plane of the existing roof slope at the front of the house
Cannot be higher than the highest part of the roof
Should have no verandas, balconies or raised platforms
Side-facing windows should be obscure-glazed; any opening should be 1.7m above the floor
If you feel your privacy has been compromised, check with your local planning office.
Firstly can I ask if he would need additional planning and regulations for an increase in size
Secondly is he allowed to put this so close to my property.
Your help is greatly appreciated
Thankyou for your time
We live in a semi detached, the house next door has been bought by a man and since October they have been renovating it. We have recently been told by a family member who knows the man,that he is converting the house into student accommodation. By the amount of noise and rubbish, and what we can see, they have ripped down walls and installed en suite bathrooms, (so although we have not been able to speak to the man who is doing this work)it seems like this is what he is doing. Is this something that he would need planning permission for? I have checked our local council website and cannot find any applications? As a family with young children we are a little concerned! Any help would be appreciated, thanks
Thank you for your reply. The neighbour's side bathroom window did not have planning permission. I have checked the plans for an extension our neighbours have built. They have only just begun to use their home as work has progressed over a year or more, we didn't even realise the new window had side openings until recently. It is impossible to speak to our neighbours, we tried and they ignored us because they did not build to the plans submitted and used our garden without permission for access - for months. We complained and there has been animosity ever since.
It isn't worth fighting is it? It is so hard to walk away from people who abuse the system and all your complaints are upheld but they are a 'civil matter'. Ok, trellis it is but it will be very high!
My mum lives in a house with a shared driveway (shared by 4 houses, all with one allocated space each). Their neighbours have blocked their space off by moving and adding to their garden fence, making their garden bigger. This now means that the house next to them are unable to use their parking space as they cannot maneuver their car into it. Furthermore, the fence looks like it is going to fall down at any moment as was not installed properly. Should they have applied for planning permission to do this? And would they have to complete the modification to a required standard?
I look forward to receiving your response.
Many Thanks
I am in a semi detached with an extension on the back. This extension has 4 very small up high Windows on the adjoining wall purely to allow light into the room (you cannon see into my neighbours garden without having to use a ladder). Are they allowed to also build an extension without planning permission being that I have windows that their potential extension would 100% block? The Windows were there before we moved in over 12 years ago. Any advice would be greatly appreciated - thought of it is becoming very stressful.
Thanks in advance.
I have been told it is 14 years but can find it officially documented anywhere
our neighbours use there house as a location site for photo shoots and commercials - we have film crews turning up almost every week. last week there was an outside flash that went off throughout the day - directly through one of the windows ; dog was terribly upset for the 3 days
people are continuosly in the back garden and can see directly into ours - kids don't go out in summer
is there anything we can do? they are obviously using there house to make money - but is there a limit to use of a private property to be used in this manner?
They didnt need planning permission for this as the additional insulation was less than the permitted 17cm in depth. However they initially painted it white which looked great and reflected brightly into our rooms but they decided it would be too diffiult to keep clean, hence the red colour. But if the end results has impacted so severly on the neighbouring property, is there anything camn be done?
Thank you.
The neighbours next door to my mother have applied and have been granted planning permission for their kitchen extension. This extension juts alongside my mums own kitchen and there will be a small gap between the properties. My mother signed a document to say that they could excavate next door (no copy given of that). When the walls etc were built, the owner of next door house approached my mum and verbally said the builders would be taking tiles off her kitchen roof. (Assuming this was for the purpose of the guttering in between the properties,however the neighbour didn't explain why the roof tiles would be taken off). There were no plans shown to my mother about the extension or the guttering by the neighbour.
My mum was concerned about the tiles and phoned the councils planning permission department. They said the neighbour didn't have the right to do that.
Now the neighbour is annoyed that my mum asked the council for advice and also about the tiles. There has been guttering that has been erected but there is water collecting in between the two properties and nothing being done to improve the situation. My mum has written to the neighbour to see what they plan to do with no reply. Building control from the council came around to look at the problem and said it was a civil issue. They advised my mum to write to the neighbour to ask for the box guttering plans.
What do you advise we do in this frustrating situation please?
Many thanks.
We live in a 1930's mid terrace and our previous neighbour build a rear extension with our consent. They asked us if we wanted a party wall or not. We agreed to a party wall on the boundary line. They put a flat roof on it which did not cross over the top of the party wall.
They sold their house and the new owners altered the roof so that it crosses over the top of the party wall and overhanging down onto our side. This is potentially preventing us from doing our own rear extension.
We contacted the council who said the extension had permission granted and met regulation, but this was the previous neighbours work. The new neighbours did not ask our permission at any stage or indicate what work they had intended doing. We received no notifications or consultations for agreement from the council or from them. We have. Explained this to the council and had no response back.
What grounds do we have to make them alter the work such that their roof does not overhang our side of the party wall? Is paying for legal advice our only option? This would seem very unfair if it were the case. We are concerned this issue may even prevent us from selling if we wish to do so in the future.
Hoping for some advice, cheers
the council has told the developer 5 of the windows must be obscure as
they either look directly into our garden or in to our conservatory this was to be in perpetuity
and set out in a 106 agreement now 3 months later the council has accepted a non material
amendment to remove the obscure glazing partly because 2 of the apartments have
insufficient light,my question is how can I get help about this or do i just have to accept it?
The other day I removed 5 bricks from the wall as they were a danger to my children who were playing outside. My neighbour called the police who luckily told him I could remove bricks if I wanted to as it was my wall too.
Can I take the wall down even though my neighbour doesn't want me too? I would be simply making it safe as at present it looks as though it could collapse at any time, probably as a result of supporting a carport which I doubt meets building regs.
If the carport collapsed as a result of me taking the wall down would I be in trouble? I need to do something before an accident happens. The council are not interested and I cannot afford a solicitor.
They are convinced they have access - what is the best course of action?
Additionally this are of my garden has been ruined by them during the provision of the extension to the house and driveway. They will not repair it.
My concern is that once we start digging down the one metre required by the Council, what will happen if this unsettles his building and worst case scenario it causes problems to ours. Who will be liable in that circumstance?
my son has seven cars on his drive belonging to himself and family he has been told by the local authority that he needs planning permission for these cars and also their storage
storage ??????????
can you please give me some advice
As the fence is already at the maximum hight allowed, how can I stop this intrusion of privacy? at the moment I can barely have my bedroom curtains open.
1.installed stand alone solar panel about 4 ft from boundary near house. Planning Portal on Gov.uk says cannot have one within 5 m of boundary - "limits must be met". When we grew plants on that part of fence they mysteriously "died". How do I get this limit enforced?
2. erected a weather station/anemometer on a 25 ft (about) post in middle of his garden. It is overbearing and when it catches the sun, it flashes into our bedroom as it turns. The makers say 6 ft pole is sufficient. How do I get this removed/reduced ?
How do I avoid "punishment" from my neighbour? We are pensioners.
In our case loft has been already approved by the council. As for the extension we asked for 1,5m more than permitted development and waiting for council decision.
So my issue currently is: a) 1.5m extension (neighbour keen on fighting back) – regardless the “clear UK rules”, council is making a decision based on the neighbour’s opinion rather than common sence and looking at real justification of neighbour complain to remove any “envy” driven reasons before making the decision. b) Loft – even though, loft conversion has been approved, and it is exactly the same as neighbours – the very same neighbour has an issue with that – hence the question on few cm. Btw. a sqm in the area costs £10.000 and few cm away equates to half a meter to be precise. Now multiplied with a length of 7m we are looking at 3.5 sqm = £35.000 - so it’s not just a “few centimetres away” ?
Party wall agreement is on the way and technically nothing to do with the length of the neither extension nor loft. It merely allows neighbour to agree for us to execute building work at the boundary line. Technically, this is yet another way of getting some money for bunch of surveyors? even without a PWA after 2 months of notifying the neighbour of the building work we can start building. Also, if they don’t appoint surveyor we can appoint one and they cannot stop surveyor making notes of the state of their property before building commence. So this is an easy one.
What amazes me is how envy can blind people. Just little thought put by the neighbours would allow them to see that if the property that is being refurbished attracts more value, subsequently the neighbour property can also benefit from that. But for them it seems that this is not a business driven decision, just pure emotions.
I recently bought a terraced house (first time buyer), so you can imagine the excitement. The excitement though lasted very short when I discovered that in the UK house owners are up to 80% dependent on the "good will" of their neighbours.
Nice.
I would like to build 4.3m rear extension (previous owner from whom we bought the house already has a permitting for 3.5m) and to build a dormer (loft conversion - elevating back side only)
My neighbour (on the left) would like to build a rear extension as well. btw. she already has built a dormer.
The dormer:
Her dormer is leaning on our party wall - she doesn't have a party wall agreement
Her dormer is flat with the back house wall.
Well I would like to do the same with my dormer. Also it seems that this is under permitted development and already received the permission from the council.
Building is about to start
Now my neighbour complains that if i want to do the same as her I have to raise (build and of course pay for everything) the party wall that will stand between our dormers. Or she suggests to move my Dormer away from the wall for 50cm away from hers, in which case I cannot maximise the space of the loft.
Could someone advise what the rules are around this? or at least where to look for them? Planning officers are not really helpful - it seems that the once I met are not sure how to read the architect's plans to start with.
The rear extension:
My neighbour would like to build 3.5m rear extension.
I would like to build 4.3m.
Her response is:
"I will also apply for 4.3m but if my neighbour on the other side disagrees then I will stop you building these extra 70cm"as it will take the light off my extension
Is this normal (?)
Do I have any rights here? I don't think so.
Oh....not to mention, she disagrees for us to change the stairs in our house and to remove the wall between living room and dining area - she is not sure how but she thinks it might impact her :-S
I was looking for a home to raise our baby due to be born soon but now I can't wait to build whatever I can and sell this house asap.
Take the money and invest anywhere but not in UK as this is just a joke! ! !
Thanks for reading this. Any advice you can give me to get out of this situation before I get into labour will be much appreciated.
We were warned last year that they planned on putting in the velux windows, but they didn't have the decency to tell us that the work was about to start, or that the plans had changed to include a massive dormer.
We have planted 4 conifer trees to try and regain a little bit of privacy, although it'll be a few years before they are mature enough to do much, however the neighbours are now complaining about these trees and saying they effect their right to light.
What are my rights in this case? I am feeling incredibly frustrated that they seem to be able to do what they want and I can do nothing. We bought our property 5 years as our forever home to bring our family up in and I can't bear looking out of any of my windows at what they have done.
Any help would be much appreciated!
1.2m. Thus giving the impression that the extension itself will only project 2.7m on our side. when in effect it will project 3.9m. Speaking to the planning officer he advised that with the 45 degree rule 2.7m was over but acceptable.. his advise to me was to watch when the building is started and if the wall is any longer to complain. Is this correct?
Last year my neabours & I payed for a replacement fence
My neabours asked for the fence to be lowered at a window
In their extention to let in more light which I agreed with
As time has went on my wife & I feel this window to be intrusive.
Because we can see into their extention window & they can see into
Are kitchen/back garden. My wife wants to rise the part of the fence
Which was lowered to the same level as the rest of the fence.
Any thoughts?
Thank you
Thanks
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