My Neighbour's Home Improvements: Can I Object?

Originally written by Sarah Clark, updated by the editorial team on 21st May 2026

What Your Neighbour Can Do Without Permission

Most homeowners in the UK have what are called permitted development rights. These allow certain types of building work to go ahead without a formal planning application. The idea is straightforward: minor changes that have limited impact on surrounding properties should not need council approval.

Work that typically falls under permitted development includes:

Single storey extensions within size limits
Conservatories
Loft conversions with rear dormer windows, subject to size limits of 40 to 50 cubic metres depending on house type
Solar panels
Outbuildings such as sheds and summerhouses
Porches
Fences, walls and gates up to certain heights
Patios, driveways and hardstanding

Permitted development rights are subject to specific conditions. These cover things like height, distance from boundaries, and the proportion of garden that can be covered. If the work does not meet these conditions, your neighbour needs to apply for planning permission.

Flats and maisonettes generally have no permitted development rights. Listed buildings and homes in conservation areas, national parks or Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty face significant restrictions. Councils can also use Article 4 Directions to remove permitted development rights in specific streets or neighbourhoods, so work that would normally be allowed may require an application in these locations.

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When You Can Raise an Objection

If your neighbour applies for planning permission, the council must publicise the application. Practices vary between councils. Some send letters to nearby residents, while others post site notices or rely on online listings. Check your local council's planning portal regularly if you want to stay informed about applications in your area.

When you do find an application, you can raise concerns about how the proposed work might affect your property, including loss of light, overlooking, noise, or impact on the character of the area. Your objection needs to focus on planning matters. Personal disputes with your neighbour or concerns about property values are not grounds the council will consider. Stick to issues such as the scale of the development, its design, or its effect on your amenity.

You can submit your comments through your local council's planning portal or in writing. There is usually a set period for responses, often 21 days from notification. The council's planning committee or delegated officer will then consider all comments alongside planning policy before making a decision.

If no planning application is required because the work falls under permitted development, there is no formal consultation process. The work can proceed without council involvement. You may still be able to resolve concerns informally by speaking with your neighbour directly.

Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.

The Party Wall Act and Boundary Work

Separate from planning rules, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies when your neighbour's work involves a shared wall, a wall on the boundary, or excavation near your property. This includes work such as cutting into a party wall, building on the boundary line, or digging foundations within three metres of your building. The rules also apply when excavating within six metres of your foundations if the excavation would go below your foundation level.

Under this Act, your neighbour must serve you a notice before starting work. You can consent to the notice, request modifications, or dissent. If you dissent, both parties appoint surveyors to agree the details and draw up a party wall award. This document sets out how the work should be done and who pays for what.

The party wall process gives you a say in how work near the boundary is carried out. It also provides a route for resolving disputes without going to court. More information on party wall procedures is available on GOV.UK.

What To Do If You Have Concerns

Start by talking to your neighbour. Many disagreements over building work stem from misunderstandings, and a conversation can often clear things up. Ask what work is planned and whether they have checked the planning rules. Keep a written record of any discussions in case you need to refer back to them later.

If you believe work is being carried out without the necessary permission, you can report it to your local council's planning enforcement team. They will investigate and can require your neighbour to stop, modify or remove unauthorised work.

For questions about whether specific work needs permission, contact your local planning authority. They can advise on whether an application is required and explain the conditions that apply to permitted development. The Planning Portal website also has guidance on common types of home improvement and the rules that apply.

Where building work affects a shared wall or boundary, make sure you understand your rights under the Party Wall Act. If your neighbour has not served the correct notices, raise this with them directly or seek advice from a party wall surveyor.

The Next Step

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Showing 20 of 289 questions

Ask Problem Neighbours a Question

ProblemNeighbours Editor 08/08/2026 at 8:00 pm

@Barney Any new windows on that elevation will need planning permission because the wall is on the boundary, and privacy/overlooking is a valid ground for objection. Submit your comments to the council's planning department once the application is registered, setting out exactly how the windows would look into your garden and habitable rooms. The council can require obscure glazing and non-opening lower panes, or refuse outright if the impact is serious. Get your objection in within the 21 day consultation window.

Barney 08/08/2026 at 7:24 pm

My neighbours back wall to his house sits directly on the boundary between our properties. He wishes to install upstairs windows that overlook our garden, thus taking away the privacy we currently enjoy . Is he entitled to do this ?

macachoo 16/05/2022 at 10:46 am

my neighbour has started to build a porch plus extension on the front of the council home he rents, we are part of a terrace house and my neighbour has in his in fernet wisdom crossed the house boundary and has gone over to our property with the roof of the porch and then fixed it to the front of our house, i have contacted the local council and his housing officer who have done nothing about it, id like to know where i stand, its not the first problem we have had with the neighbours building he just replies I've got a mate at the council who sorts it out for me. This is beginning to seem the case as he does what he wants when he wants

Brandon1035 19/04/2022 at 6:10 pm

My neighbor who is in a council house has just had a lift put in there lounge which backs onto my lounge wall when they use this life the noise is so loud as the walls are thin in my house and also into my sons bedroom
Is there anything I can do as it’s driving me mad

Ross 03/03/2022 at 9:22 am

I am replacing my damaged fence between myself and my neighbour. My fence sits on top of a low wall with the wooden posts being bolted to short stumpy conctrete ones. The concrete posts are my neighbours side. My neighbour claims that the wall is his as are the concrete posts but the fence is mine. He is threatening to cut the concrete posts therefore ruining the integrity of my fence unless I allow him to build a wooden structure using my new fence posts as the uprights. He has cut the concrete posts already on the lower part of the garden forcing me to put concrete posts my side. Unfortunately I can't do this where he wants to put his structure as it woukd mean digging up my patio. Any advice woukd be greatly received.

Sami 25/06/2021 at 7:05 pm

Hi just need advise on what to do about neighbour who lives in complete dump semi detached house every time i do something to sort my house out he seem to get jealous i recently got a small extention i did tell them about it after the builder had started work he seemed fine with it but now it is complete all i ever hear is him moaning about my extention it was done within permitted development at the time i was unaware of the party wall but as soon i heard about it i went and mentioned it to him he was still ok with it in the end i didnt need the party wall as he has a conservatory on the boundary line but i needed on for the foundation but was too late for that i live with anxiety now that he has a problem and cant even enjoy my new extention please any advise is there anything he could do now that it is complete thank you

Scottie 07/06/2021 at 6:44 pm

Re plastic sheeting. We have been in touch with Planning and forwarded photos of plastic sheeting. They have advised that we are 47th in the queue and he will be receiving a letter and we will object but he can then apply for planning permission and the sheeting will remain in place even although he is actually breaking the law. Crazy or what. Very upsetting as we are looking at this eyesore from every window in our property and it is detracting from the look of my beautiful garden. Will keep you posted but don’t hold your breath

Unhappy 18/05/2021 at 8:22 am

We’ve been in our terraced 25 years and 18months ago had a pitched roof put on the existing extension which must be 35yrs plus old. Our next door neighbor has had an extension added to their property. They have had a pitched roof put on, that sits across an existing flat roof extension. They have extended to our extension and have removed tiles on our roof to “blend” their roof in. They have removed our fascia and cladding. All this has been done without our permission. When we asked the builder what was going on he said that our extension runs over into their property by 88mm. I said that their pebbledash runs over onto ours by 88mm. At the end of the day both the extension and pebbledash where already in situ before we moved in. We’ve just put a new roof on. The builder said that doing it the way he has makes it easier for him. Our extension has never impacted on their property and we asked permission to access their garden so the builder could put the cladding and fascia up. I need to know where we can go with this. It’s an eyesore. We haven’t spoke to our neighbors for over 18 years.

Ginge 16/05/2021 at 7:00 pm

I'm an 80 year old disabled widow who has neighbour to fide of my garden with long garden. He is in the process of building huge workshop/family room out of tons of what i think is cedar wood. I haven't received any planning plans so does that mean he is exempt? The building is very close to my fence and my living room. I'm sure he thinks i'm old and are not bothered. I've lived here for 50 years and never had any trouble before.

DOLLY 15/04/2021 at 1:32 pm

next door to us there is a grade two listed building which is currently divided into flats. the landlord changed two years ago and since then the back garden that was, has now been turned into a builders yard, he brings in rubbish from other sites that he owns, and he has added all sorts of ad hock wooden buildings to the rear of the property. He now seems to have turned one of the sheds which abuts our dividing garden wall into some sort of wood workshop and has had a chop saw going all day for several weeks now. We are unable to sit in our garden because the noise is relentless. The building works on the property started two years ago when he first took over, we were understanding because we knew it was an old property and the flats needed attention , two years down the line we are at our wits end. We have tried to discuss these issues with him to no avail. We are also in a conservation area, but we cannot seem to get our local planning department to help, we are unable to speak to anyone due to covid and staff working from home. For all the work he has carried out he has never once sought any planning permission.

Crazy 11/04/2021 at 8:34 pm

Can my neighbour build a bedroom above my kitchen which also comes on to my land

Dormer 02/04/2021 at 7:14 am

We already have a dormer on our bungalow and plan to extend it at the rear. Plans already drawn and builder appointed. The existing dormer butt's up to the roof line of the party wall and the extension will do so at the rear. Is a party wall agreement required for the works? Thank you..

Anonymous 31/03/2021 at 7:40 am

Has there been any advice to Scottie. I also have a neighbour who has plastic sheeting above his fence, but about 6-8 feet. Is this allowed, or are there rules in which I can have him take it down?

Scottie 25/03/2021 at 2:27 pm

Neigh has a 6ft6 fence. We took down some diseased trees and he has put up a plastic sheet about 4ft in height above his fence attached to seven stain,ess steel poles. Is this legal and does he need planning permission, He states that he does not want to see our house but has not planted any trees in his garden.

A 24/03/2021 at 11:53 am

I'd like to move the wall (owned by me) attached to my neighbour's leasehold property. Will I need to get permission from my neighbour or the leaseholder to make this change? The wall joining on their house will need to move. The wall itself will remain on my property

Poo 02/02/2021 at 8:51 am

Hi people building a summer house / bar / games room in garden , do they need permission

T 31/01/2021 at 1:22 pm

My neighbour has gone ahead and proceeded to do a lot room. He has not ask us for a party wall agreement he it doing the work himself. Unfortunately his not a neighbour whom you can talk to to discuss anything. We can her the rubble coming down the cavity walls. He has also installed steel beans . I have contacted the council whom has told me they can’t do anything. He has also add to sky to the front roof and did want to add a further two to the rear which we stop as the roof needed attention. Our property this the end property which is attached to his . We don’t know what to do and he stay carry on with the work. We not seen any paper work or if it done to fire regulations etc .
Awaiting you reply

Titch01 26/01/2021 at 1:26 pm

I am seeking advice regarding my neighbours proposed extension. I have just received a letter from surveyors confirming the proposed extension, it states that foundations will be excavated and that the Party Wall Act applies to me. Since my neighbour moved in (7 months ago) it’s just been constant banging which I accept as he’s just moved in, however, his constant noise (also no soundproofing on his front room floorboards in a semi detached house) and now this is more than I can bear right now especially being in lockdown. My question is, can I legally make my neighbour put off the extension for a few months as his noise is really impacting my mental health. Another issue is that he is the freeholder where as I am only a local authority council tenant so I am not sure whether I have any rights at all. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Shu 22/01/2021 at 6:14 am

Hi I wanted to know the in my garden after my fance how many inches should be a gap to building a extensionI me and my neighbour

gm3087 30/11/2020 at 8:14 pm

So I share a roof ridge line with my neighbour. Our semis are
chalet bungalows separated on each side of the roof pitch. So I
own one side of the roof pitch and neighbours own the other side
roof pitch meaning the ridge line is shared between us both.
So my neighbour, rented property, has today taken of their tiles and
the joint ridge line, without notifying me. It has been left bare
no cover over the ridge line. They are having their roof replaced
so have new felt all up their pitch side.
Can I complain about this? Should they have notified me of removal
of a joint ridge line? Does this come under the party wall agreement?

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