how much diy can you do to a terraced house which is over 120 years old?

Question

before it falls down round your ears? my neighbour has been at his non stop for the past 4 years :(

its a small house in a small street in the uk. if we want to change front or back doors we need to get permission from the local council. i looked at councils website in planning department and neighbour hasnt even applied for planning permission for outside extensions he has added and is adding.

ps they are all privatley owned by the peole who live in them.

Answer 1

With all due respect; perhaps the first two who answered have knowledge of your EXACT location?

Certainly it might be a valid notion to ASSUME the home is in a historical district; subject to specific regulations; but that isn't always the case. Example. Grand Rapids, MI, Real estate, shows many homes listed at over 100 years. It's a condition often just caused by the age of the town, in a general sense, and not every home is designated as strictly goverened just by age.

Indulge my rambling for a moment. Without knowing at all where you live; OR the substance of the house you're questioning; consider the construction of some European homes at 400 plus years old; still standing.

There are some obvious issues too, with regard to your commitment to this house; and certainly your budget. There might also be issues of being patient; and who by; or how; any work gets accomplished.

How much; largely depends on personal levels of skill, and any code issues with regard to plumbing and electrical work especially. If in fact the house is in a Historical District, there will be restrictions on paint colors, modifications to the exterior; inspection issues; etc.

Beyond what else I've mentioned; and with no idea at all of your thoughts; What exactly do you want to do; and more importantly what is the general,,,or specific condition of the structure?

Then on a personal note; sometimes a House is a HOME and one we might wish to occupy for a very long time. The process of creating your dream, might take a lifetime? That might be true, again, depending on WHAT you want, and how much you can, or are willing to spend.

I'm very much into FIXERS, in the sense of repairs; etc, then letting someone else have them. In your case you probably should start listing the critical needs; then the aesthetic desires; the costs to accomplish each task; PRIORITIES in the process; for those areas most needed to exist in a house; such as kitchen and bathrooms; then do what is most called for First, and work your way around the house. I can sleep on an air mattress, in an unfinished bedroom; but I'd like to be able to COOK, have power, and use a bathroom, during any process.

Steven Wolf

Answer 2

LOL that's not so bad, my next door neighbour has been at it for 15 years, honestly. The only day you can guarantee no banging and drilling is Christmas day, he ALWAYS starts again on Boxing day!! He's a really nice bloke though so I don't complain and he always stops by 10pm so I've just learned to live with it. I think some people just do it because they enjoy it and once the whole house is done, they start over again. My neighbour has put in three new bathrooms and two new kitchens since he's been there. I do get a bit fed up sometimes though as my other half doesn't do any DIY and wish he would!!

Answer 3

Do you live next to me?????? lol. I am very keen on DIY and when I bought my house 7 years ago it was a drug squat so I went round once making it liveable and then as I could afford it I updated to the style I wanted. The whole project took about 6 years. All I say is please bear with your neighbour - it is horrible to fall out with them. I speak from experience

Answer 4

as a builder if you don't live in a conservation area and its not a listed building ..then you can change your doors without getting permission and your windows ..but you should inform building control if changing windows as they would like to see if you have lintols ..if not you will need to fit them

Answer 5

Houses over 100 years old have a special tax exemption, but must be maintained to the original look. I have known some to work more years than that.
Ask him his projections.