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Dividing line between two halves of a semi-detatched house

T

tracerman

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southampton , hampshire, UK
Some time ago my adjoining neighbour built an extension on the back of his house . Timber-framed and clad in UPVC boards . The basic structure came up exactly to the mid-way line between our two houses . However , his barge-board and wrap-over felt flat roof came over the dividing line by about 1.75 inches .
We are seriously contemplating a brick and tile extension which as things stand would mean giving up a small part of our land . What is the generally accepted protocol here ? , do we have to just swallow it or should both parties steer clear of coming up close to the "line " in principal ? .
Some guidance appreciated .
Steve
 
He's in your space and shouldn't be, he shouldn't encroach over the line.

Not sure what you do about it now though... :eusa-think:
 
Nothing should overhang the boundary. This is a common error, with walls being built hard up to a boundary, but gutters etc overhanging. Was there a Party Wall agreement in place for the neighbour's works? There certainly should be for your proposed extension, and if there is any dispute about your neighbour's work, then you need a solicitor involved. Don't give up your land.....build to the boundary and require your neighbour to alter his roof.
 
Our neighbours had an extension built back when we only had a conservatory. The conservatory tapered away from the boundary and was spaced back by the gutter width so we had no overhang to the boundary at the join to the house and was a couple of inches away from the boundary at the conservatory front.

Our neighbours builder followed the line of the conservatory rather than build square to the house so they built on our land by about 2".

We hadn't realised this when it came to build our extension. We approached them to share their external wall as it was silly for us to put a foundation next to theirs. Being generally awkward to deal with they said no. No problem just a bit of extra cost.

With the conservatory gone their badly built wall was exposed and obviously wonky and i soon realised on our land. Showing them the wall and pointing out where they had built made them suddenly more helpful.

So pointing out your neighbours encroachment might be enough to have them agree to have the roof altered. In your situation I'd get my builder to do it as a goodwill thing rather than legally force them to do it.
 
Thanks for those comments . At the moment I cannot see whether their extension is encroaching by reason of not being square which would make matters worse . If we were to insist we wanted ( also) to come up to the line , we might be able to do that if their barge-board was removed and their felt was grafted ( sorry cant think of the correct term ) into our brickwork - wouldn't it be tricky though for the brickie to lay bricks close up to their UPVC ? , how would he be able to do a neat job of the mortar on our neighbours side ? .
If the boot were on the other foot and we had put a wall up first , should we have had to keep back from the mid-way line and if so by how much ? . And then , life being the bitch it is , surely they would have come as close to our wall as possible and probably crossed the line anyway , upon building their extension at a later date .
If/when we get a builder round to look at our proposed job I would at that stage ask his opinion . There is a glimmer of hope - my neighbour has commented that it looks as though their extension is " breaking away from the house " so it might get demolished . HaHa .
Steve
 
Don't ask a builder's opinion. Ask the professional who drew up your extension, and get a party wall specialist involved. Many architects (but not this one) act for clients under the Party Wall Act.
 
Chat to your neighbour first and explain your 'conundrum'. Call it that. Not a problem. Ask them if they can suggest a way around it and reach an amicable solution.
 
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