Workshop into Residential?

[Terry9]

It will be like living on a narrow boat.
I would investigate the current planning and see what category it is, checking that you could get it changed

ok, will do, cheers.

I am someone who is trying to get on the property ladder and the only things I can afford are tiny apartments/maisonettes which are as snug as this would be. With this I'd own the land and have no ground rent and service charges to pay, and it may be cheaper to purchase this unit and build the single storey home.

 

[Terry9]

Here is another mock-up I have put together showing the kitchen and lounge area with the roof retracted.

 

[Mottie]

Good luck - it’s seems like a good idea in theory but unless you know exactly what you are doing, you could be making a very expensive mistake. One thing to bear in mind though - estate agents have builders/developers on their books looking for such bargain properties. In addition to that, they have the know-how, staff, tradesmen, architects and local authority contacts to convert it a lot quicker and a lot cheaper than you ever could so if this was possible, it more than likely wouldn’t even get onto the open market.

 

[Leofric]

Good luck - it’s seems like a good idea in theory but unless you know exactly what you are doing, you could be making a very expensive mistake. One thing to bear in mind though - estate agents have builders/developers on their books looking for such bargain properties. In addition to that, they have the know-how, staff, tradesmen, architects and local authority contacts to convert it a lot quicker and a lot cheaper than you ever could so if this was possible, it more than likely wouldn’t even get onto the open market.

The retractable roof could cost more than the property warrants certainly. Not sure this sort of thing would have enough profit margin for an established developer though !As far as architects and local authority contacts go ,anybody can hire an architect and they will deal with the local authority anyway. Might just be the sort of project for a 'would be developer'. (if the planners accept the amenity space situation)

 

[Mottie]

You have a point there. Anyway, it wouldn’t be the thinnest house in the UK.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/narrowest-house-britain-goes-market-4269194

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...-inches-wide-really-isn-t-room-swing-cat.html

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/7292643/Britains-narrowest-house.html

There’s a terraced house near where I work that was built on an old garage site that was built about 30 years ago. Skinny at the front but opens out at the rear. Totally out of character (One of my conditions is that I mirror the bays and door opening of adjoining properties). How they got PP for that I can only imagine.

 

[bernardgreen]

I think this is probably the smallest house in the world ( excluding shanty town houses )

https://www.tag24.de/nachrichten/keret-haus-warschau-architektur-58626

 

[Terry9]

The retractable roof could cost more than the property warrants certainly. Not sure this sort of thing would have enough profit margin for an established developer though !As far as architects and local authority contacts go ,anybody can hire an architect and they will deal with the local authority anyway. Might just be the sort of project for a 'would be developer'. (if the planners accept the amenity space situation)

I did think a retractable roof is probably fairly expensive, couldn't find any examples of price though. The mock-up above is a bit over the top with how big I'd want to roof to open up....I'd have the opening half that size at most.

My concerns at the moment:

-Retractable roof expense. (Would need to find something large to let light in, but at the lower end in terms of price.

-I don't know the actual size of the current floor plans of the property. I can't find any info about the length and width of the buildings structure.

-I don't know if there are rules/regulations relating to a minimum size of property/rooms?

-Safety. Are there rules about having windows, possibly as a means of fire escape? Not that this would be an issue as far as my assumptions go. Front door by Kitchen/Living Area and a window on the rear wall of the property - in the bedroom....I would assume would be enough to apply to any regs.

-I have read through the documents supplied and the only concern is that the neighbour to the right has access down 'my' driveway to what I assume is either their garden or to an annexe which is possibly rented. How would this rule have come about? would it be a permanent thing? As far as I am aware the driveway would be mine so I'd guess the neighbour can't take access away from me, but could I take access away from them, or would this be some agreement that is set in stone for eternity? A map shows a hatched pathway going down the right side of the driveway, so I assume they are only allowed to walk down that side of the driveway...

I can deal with someone using this for pedestrian access, although my car would only just about fit on the driveway so may somewhat block their path, not sure if then they can complain that my car is blocking their access. Also the thought of someone squeezing past my car everyday is a bit concerning in terms of potential scratches. As well as concerns like people loitering, smoking etc on my driveway.

Would there be any more concerning things to weigh up with this arrangement?

 

[bernardgreen]

A right of access can give rise to serious problems, maybe the present occupier next door will never use the right of access but if that house changes ownership and the new owner insists on having his right of access then you could be facing some trouble.

You need to find out the the terms and conditions of the "right of access" agreement.

Is it for
(1) person or persons on foot.
(2) person or persons on foot with or without aninals
(3) person or persons with or without vehicles.
or some other variation.
#

It should be in the property deeds if it was formally set up. Or it could be that the access has be used for many years and has become an established but not documented right of access

 

[Terry9]

A right of access can give rise to serious problems, maybe the present occupier next door will never use the right of access but if that house changes ownership and the new owner insists on having his right of access then you could be facing some trouble.

You need to find out the the terms and conditions of the "right of access" agreement.

Is it for
(1) person or persons on foot.
(2) person or persons on foot with or without aninals
(3) person or persons with or without vehicles.
or some other variation.
#

It should be in the property deeds if it was formally set up. Or it could be that the access has be used for many years and has become an established but not documented right of access

It just says 'The land hatched on the filed plan is subject to rights of way in favour of owner/occupier of the house next door'.

I have attached a map showing the 'hatched' piece of land where the neighbour has right of way which I have highlighted in blue.... I have also drawn red lines outlining the edges of the property I am interested in.

Any future issues that could get thrown up should not prevent me from accessing 'my' house as the 'right of access' is a pedestrian width pathway on the right side of the driveway.

The things I would now question is....

1. I guess if my car was covering this area then the neighbour could cause issues. I am not sure if a car could be parked on the driveway without covering a part of this 'right of way' area. I guess the worse case scenario is I'd have to park on the road?

2. Building the property and laying a new driveway may cause short periods where access may not be possible or is made awkward. Not sure what happens in these situations if the neighbour would want to make a fuss and complain. I wouldn't have thought access would be cut off for more than an hour once in a while during the building process. Maybe this is ok as long as notice is given?

Is there anything else, especially more serious things that I should also consider?

Does 'right of access' typically mean that the residents should just use the area to move in and out of their property and not loiter? What exactly are they allowed to do on that part of the land?

 

[bernardgreen]

It just says 'The land hatched on the filed plan is subject to rights of way in favour of owner/occupier of the house next door'.

Where is that written ? The deeds of the property you want to buy and the deeds of the house next door should be more specific about the right of access.

The exact wording can be crucial if there is ever a dispute.

At my previous house we owned the driveway and the owners of another house had right of access to the rear of their property with or without animals and or vehicles. The words " to the rear of" were important as it made it clear that the right of access was not the prime and only access to the neighbour's house. This was important when we closed the driveway for re-surfacing,

 

[Terry9]

Where is that written ? The deeds of the property you want to buy and the deeds of the house next door should be more specific about the right of access.

The exact wording can be crucial if there is ever a dispute.

At my previous house we owned the driveway and the owners of another house had right of access to the rear of their property with or without animals and or vehicles. The words " to the rear of" were important as it made it clear that the right of access was not the prime and only access to the neighbour's house. This was important when we closed the driveway for re-surfacing,

Hi....got some more info from the deeds of the neighbour:

The land has the benefit of the following rights granted by a Conveyance of the land in this title dated 21 February 1946 made between (1) Ellen Smith (Vendor) and (2) Peter Tulon (Purchaser):- "Together with a right of footway or passage of the width of three feet on the north side of the said premises leading from the road to a gateway at the back of the said premises".

Do you gauge much more from this info? Is there anything to worry about other than the neighbour, or a future neighbour getting the hump because my car is covering 10 inches of this 3 foot passage so much so they force me to park on the road?

Also to add...this neighbour has a main door at the front of their property, so it's quite possible they don't use this part of the driveway as a walkway too often.

Nothing about animals or vehicles, but obviously a car won't fit down a 3 foot wide passage.

 

[Mottie]

I wouldn’t think you can legally park over the right of way so that will likely tick your neighbour off. It doesn’t look like the neighbours have garages/off street parking so what’s the problem with parking in the street anyway? What about getting a smaller car (Smart car?). How about shortening the building so that you park past the neighbours rear entrance or even try buying the right of way?

 

[Terry9]

I wouldn’t think you can legally park over the right of way so that will likely tick your neighbour off. It doesn’t look like the neighbours have garages/off street parking so what’s the problem with parking in the street anyway? What about getting a smaller car (Smart car?). How about shortening the building so that you park past the neighbours rear entrance or even try buying the right of way?

Good points.

Yeah, a car would definitely cover the 3 foot wide invisible path.

Not sure if there would be some objection to turning this into a residential premises as they'd possibly be more parking congestion as 90% of the properties on this road don't have driveways. I guess complaints possibly would not come as they'd assume I could park on the driveway, not knowing about this 3 foot wide invisible passage.

Yes - buying out the right of way could be a good idea. Not sure how much that kind of thing typically costs to do. I guess them agreeing to this depends on whether this access is essential or not. I don't believe there is an adjoining property at the back. No basement flat. Property '32A' etc... The gate they access leads into their garden.

This agreement to access was arranged in 1946 and the current neighbour purchased the property in 2000. So they may not even require the access.

Could always bargain with them and agree to let them use the driveway on rare occasions with my agreement, but maybe that would open up a can of worms and it's best to buy out the right of access or just park on the road.

 

[Leofric]

You need need space for a car clear of the the neighbour's right of access and you need to allow at least 200mm (100mm inside each external wall ) off the internal width of the building for insulation to bldg. regs standards. It all looks too narrow to work to me.

 

[Terry9]

You need need space for a car clear of the the neighbour's right of access and you need to allow at least 200mm (100mm inside each external wall ) off the internal width of the building for insulation to bldg. regs standards. It all looks too narrow to work to me.

Yeah, prob will end up being even tighter than I'd hoped. But could do with some official measurements for the width of the plot to confirm.

Some mock-ups anyway.....