Hi all. I'm at a loss where to turn to concerning an illegal conversion of a two bedroom house oposite my property that has been turned into two flats, and a has had an extension bigger than the original footprint of the house built on the side and rear to make three dwellings in total. Both flats in the original house are occupied. I informed my council in january of last year(2014) of what was happenning as there was no proposed development on their web site, and officers did visit. Work continued to commence and on contacting the councils planning department again, in short all i got was that they are 'extremely busy'.
Inside the property, all chimney stacks were removed and no party wall agreement was agreed with the neighbour. The actual chimney though is still above the roof! Considering new windows that were put into the property had just lenghts of 2x4 timbers above, i wonder what is holding up the chimney! The council were also informed of this by myself and the neighbour.
Having heard nothing from the council i emailed them again some 10 months later and they asked if i had any proof the house was being used as two flats. I sent them a picture of the front of the property showing there was two sperate letter boxes attached to a post next to the front door. The councils reply was 'Thanks', nothing more. Strangeley though, two days after sending the picture, one of the letterboxes was removed.
Now, according to the planning site a 'Retention application' is being sought even though the form says the building work has not been carried out yet????. Was i by law or any regulations supposed to have been informed of any progress concerning this property after bringing this to the councils attention? It just seems to me there is something underhanded going on here. I have kept this brief but I can go into more detail with any questions should they be asked.
Thanks.
Inside the property, all chimney stacks were removed and no party wall agreement was agreed with the neighbour. The actual chimney though is still above the roof! Considering new windows that were put into the property had just lenghts of 2x4 timbers above, i wonder what is holding up the chimney! The council were also informed of this by myself and the neighbour.
Having heard nothing from the council i emailed them again some 10 months later and they asked if i had any proof the house was being used as two flats. I sent them a picture of the front of the property showing there was two sperate letter boxes attached to a post next to the front door. The councils reply was 'Thanks', nothing more. Strangeley though, two days after sending the picture, one of the letterboxes was removed.
Now, according to the planning site a 'Retention application' is being sought even though the form says the building work has not been carried out yet????. Was i by law or any regulations supposed to have been informed of any progress concerning this property after bringing this to the councils attention? It just seems to me there is something underhanded going on here. I have kept this brief but I can go into more detail with any questions should they be asked.
Thanks.
