Additional partywall costs due to neighbours mistake

[cheese78]

A number of years ago the nighbour constructed a single story rear extension right along the boundary line. We wish to do the same but excavations on our land reveal the neighbours extension has no foundations (yes, no foundations), Our structural engineer can not believe it is still standing.
To safeguard their extension partywall surveyors say we have to build a below ground retaining wall to protect their shoddy extension, at huge cost to us.
We've been advised we can not claim any costs off the neighbour because they built their extension first so its our tough luck. Any suggestions or advice from partywall experts out there please?

[Amethyst]

Re: Additional partywall costs due to neighbours mistake

No foundations at all ? It is just sat on a concrete base ?

[cheese78]

Re: Additional partywall costs due to neighbours mistake

Yes, no foundation. The wall we can see from our side and excavate below has been built off an old garden wall base.

[Diana M]

Re: Additional partywall costs due to neighbours mistake

A number of years ago the nighbour constructed a single story rear extension right along the boundary line. We wish to do the same but excavations on our land reveal the neighbours extension has no foundations (yes, no foundations), Our structural engineer can not believe it is still standing.
To safeguard their extension partywall surveyors say we have to build a below ground retaining wall to protect their shoddy extension, at huge cost to us.
We've been advised we can not claim any costs off the neighbour because they built their extension first so its our tough luck.

When your neighbor built the extension adjacent to your boundary did you not have a Party Wall Agreement where a neutral surveyor would have been responsible for monitoring the works and insistent on foundations etc if appropriate ?

Or maybe no foundations were needed at the time your neighbour built the extension and are now only necessary because you want to 'dig down' too so it becomes your new problem.

Most of the Grade I Listed terraces along Brighton seafront don't have foundations - the houses hold themselves up 'shoulder to shoulder'. They're built on Brighton rock in Regency Times (c 1826).

I do hope it's not a case of tough luck for you, but it may be a case of bad timing .

What does the Council say on this issue?

Di

[cheese78]

Re: Additional partywall costs due to neighbours mistake

It was built 15 years ago it appears without partywall, planning or building control (planning may not be required due to its size). We haven't gone to LABC/council yet, we're trying to resolve things ourselves (we're a company so trying to be nice as best we can to the AO).

We're just surprised that the advice we're getting is that we have to burden all additional costs because of their poor quality build. Is that advice generally right? We were going to build up to the partywall formed by the AO extension but because of its shoddyness we're now leaving a gap but still have to build a retaining wall below ground level to prevent any ground movement affecting the AO extension.

[wales01man]

Re: Additional partywall costs due to neighbours mistake

Best place for info on this is council would expect they can do nothing after 15 years if you feel the advice on here is not right the council will confirm that.
Many house have no foundations and are still standing that is until the ground around is disturbed

[Crazy council]

Re: Additional partywall costs due to neighbours mistake

They might not have needed planning at the time if its small and depending on the area. Also, is it classed as an extension or a lean-to.

Ground quality can make all the difference in relation to footings. Also, i have seen before, concrete floors of lean-to extensions tied into the side walls with re-bar, to form a sort of footing when you cannot dig under/arround. Have you checked there plans or aske dthem about whats footing it. Also, make sure you get full insurance cover for the work just incase, ( or your contractor does ).

[wales01man]

Re: Additional partywall costs due to neighbours mistake

If it was done under a building notice not a planning application there would be no plans if its stood for 15 years why should the neighbours worry if it collapses when the OP has footings dug guess who would be liable