Retention

boardie1963

Has anyone had a situation of a person sending multiple complaints to the council for unauthorised works done to a property? Recently fitted a velux window to our house unknowingly that we needed PP. Our mistake, hands up and we will apply for retention. We have now been notified of two further complaints to the council from the same person for other issues (works that we carried out over 12 years ago prior to us purchasing house).
Although it is confidential who logs the issues, we are very well aware of the person and it is more a personal issue than anything else (we are a small business that have taken on a contract that this person tendered for).
I just wonder how many issues can this person log before the council tell them to F... Off?

Gumbo

The person can log as many valid issues as there are on your property.
If you have 10 items of non compliance, he is legally entitled to lodge one complaint every month for the next 10 months.

Your best bet is take control of your property and regularise the issues now.
The enforcement section won’t wait around for you. They will give you a short time frame to remove or regularise.

boardie1963

kceire wrote: »

The person can log as many valid issues as there are on your property.
If you have 10 items of non compliance, he is legally entitled to lodge one complaint every month for the next 10 months.

Your best bet is take control of your property and regularise the issues now.
The enforcement section won’t wait around for you. They will give you a short time frame to remove or regularise.

This is the thing though. The second two - are not valid. I got a call from the council as an FYI. They confirmed that although the complaints were lodged they would not be acting on them as they are not works that required PP.

Lumen

boardie1963 wrote: »

This is the thing though. The second two - are not valid. I got a call from the council as an FYI. They confirmed that although the complaints were lodged they would not be acting on them as they are not works that required PP.

So what's the problem?

boardie1963

Lumen wrote: »

So what's the problem?

Maybe I’m just abnormal and don’t like receiving calls from the council on a regular basis because some bitter person has nothing better to do with their time then waste other people’s time. That is my problem.

Calahonda52

boardie1963 wrote: »

Maybe I’m just abnormal and don’t like receiving calls from the council on a regular basis because some bitter person has nothing better to do with their time then waste other people’s time. That is my problem.

Focus on your work and let our democracy, or what's left of it, work: else move to Indonesia or Saudi or Yemen where you could... unless the complainant ..... first

Lumen

boardie1963 wrote: »

Maybe I’m just abnormal and don’t like receiving calls from the council on a regular basis because some bitter person has nothing better to do with their time then waste other people’s time. That is my problem.

Is that really your honest belief, or are you pissed off that you've been forced by his complaints to address your repeated non-compliance with planning regulations?

The inconvenience of receiving a couple of phone calls is nothing compared to the inconvenience of applying for retention (and the stress of possibly not getting it, and then having to revert the changes).

boardie1963

Lumen wrote: »

Is that really your honest belief, or are you pissed off that you've been forced by his complaints to address your repeated non-compliance with planning regulations?

The inconvenience of receiving a couple of phone calls is nothing compared to the inconvenience of applying for retention (and the stress of possibly not getting it, and then having to revert the changes).

Yes, it is my honest belief! Maybe you didn’t take the time to read my reply. I do not have ‘repeated non-complience’. I certainly have no issue with applying for retention as I said I was unaware it was required and at no stage did the window company mention it. Yes applying for planning is a pain but planning permission is there for a reason. I would be very surprised if it was refused. Out of 18 houses on the street 11 have these Velux windows. (After notification of planning requirements have asked 2 neighbors if they had planning and they do).

I use this site on a regular basis under a different user ID to Give guidance on my area of expertise / business but did not want to post this for anonymity reasons. I am genuinely taken back by your post.


Cheers mate.

Lumen

boardie1963 wrote: »

Yes, it is my honest belief!

OK!

boardie1963 wrote: »

Maybe you didn’t take the time to read my reply. I do not have ‘repeated non-complience’.

Possibly I misunderstood, I thought you'd also discovered that this...

boardie1963 wrote: »

works that we carried out over 12 years ago prior to us purchasing house

...was also non-compliant.

boardie1963 wrote: »

I use this site on a regular basis under a different user ID to Give guidance on my area of expertise / business but did not want to post this for anonymity reasons. I am genuinely taken back by your post.

Your posting history is not relevant, that's not how boards works. I'm simply replying to what you've posted in this thread.

Gumbo

boardie1963 wrote: »

This is the thing though. The second two - are not valid. I got a call from the council as an FYI. They confirmed that although the complaints were lodged they would not be acting on them as they are not works that required PP.

Strange that the Council rang you.
How did they get your number?
The Legislation is very strict in these matters, they must issued the Section 152 Warning Letter and it must be inspected.

boardie1963

kceire wrote: »

Strange that the Council rang you.
How did they get your number?
The Legislation is very strict in these matters, they must issued the Section 152 Warning Letter and it must be inspected.

They did issue a letter and it was from communication around that she had my number. The other items they made the complaints about were not problematic (maybe the person lodging the complaints is not up on planning regulations either) and therefore will not result in additional warning letters. I understand they have to act on all complaints but if someone continues to lodge complaints where they are not valid it is a waste of time for them. I’m sure Fingal CC and all other CCs see this day in and day out and are used to it.

I’ll just have to put up with it.

woohoo!!!

The first thing any Planning enforcement section do or should do, is investigate as to whether they can take enforcement action and if not, because works are exempt or too much time has passed, is to dismiss a complaint. They know full well that many complaints are due to some sort of personal dispute. They need a paper trail and perhaps an inspection to confirm.