Unauthorised Development Question

Don't forget most retentions are granted. That development, despite enlarging the house probably did not go against any planning guidelines for the area. It was same sewer connection, there was no change of use. The extension probably was in similar style to existing houses.

Building a brand new house in the country generally brings more complications for retention. The councils are concerned orderly development to facilitate easier servicing of dwellings with power, water, sewage, waste, telecoms etc. There's a huge legacy issue with random ribbon development in Ireland and council planning policy is trying not to let it get worse. They're failing dismally, but they're certainly slowing it down. Local need, style of house and location of and types of septic tanks and waste water processing are large hurdles for the wannabe country mansion dweller needs to overcome.

It's a gamble going for retention. OP approach is do nothing, say nothing and I'll get away with it. He's hoping better odds for his new home not being demolished.

Ya, I think we've gone way beyond the knock on consequences of building without planning.

I actually can't see implications for taxman nor insurance, as long as OP states it's the home address.

It's solely the power of the county council that's in play here and the consequences for the building itself by having no planning.

But that's the issue, he didn't state it is the home address for insurance.

I haven't done commercial insurance recently, but I thought that a question about where the vehicle is stored overnight was standard.

OP, were you asked about where the vehicle is stored overnight?

What about your partner's car? That's the problem with living in the middle of nowhere- every movement out of the house requires a car. What's the story with insurance of the other vehicle.

Fair enough. But OP can declare it as his home for car insurance, regardless of planning. It's a legit address as far as car insurance is concerned. Lots and lots of people declare home as X but are ordinary resident somewhere else during the week.

Home insurance, however, would be a problem for a new build. Just in regards home insurance, I believe it brings a certain amount of public liability insurance. Without it means you've no cover should you have someone do something stupid. There's another thread on boards about someone who had a visitor who had an accident with a bbq and now wants to sue for damages. Look, granted it's another remote possibility of happening but yet again you playing with fire with no planning secured for your development.

I can't believe people do this. An amazing mix of balls of steel and pure self interest with a little bit of the finger to everyone else in the country that does it properly.

And by the way, millions of people work hard all their lives and expect kids at some stage of their lives. I don't know if this will end well for you but I reckon you'll be in the house for a couple of decades even if it's detected by the cc tomorrow. I guess if you're very wealthy the money is a pinch of salt and the risk is worth it. Maybe monster penalties will be introduced if super rich people start flouting planning permissions and just walk away.

I wonder if revenue will cop on to it and let it be known, i know our public sectors aren't usually connected in that way but big risk i would see is that if you aint paying property tax.

Op would also want to be on their best behavior all it takes is one disgruntled person and council knows about it.

I think you'll find that it was the greedy developers and investors that have been responsible for the increased house prices.

This thread makes me feel like a chump getting planning for my little ground floor extension, why would you bother.

“I didn't want to risk a refused planning application so the dwelling has been constructed without planning permission.”

It’s alright, your special, you can do what you want.

Had this kind of thing lately where I live. Neighbour built extension without planning permission, outside the property boundary, changing the appearance of a neighbouring estate in the process. The attitude of it!

if this is indeed legit, i really hope you get caught as this is the sort of bullshit attitude that we dont need in this county. yes, alot of the planning regulations are hard to deal with, but we have an over abundance of poorly-designed, once off isolated rural houses and just going ahead without permission when you were sure that you wouldnt have permission granted is ridiculous. 'I was going to build regardless of planning permission' - how unbelievably entitled of you. if everyone did that then we'd all be (even more) screwed.

RE: car insurance, you said it was a commercial vehicle registered to the company address - you shouldnt be using it as a family vehicle so

also, this '7 year rule' does not really exist as most people think it does (and i have many arguments with clients over this), it basically means the council cant issue legal proceedings against you and in most cases cant require the works to be taken down. however in your situation this may still not apply

This house was there 10 years, and ordered to be knocked...

still at it

and still at it...

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/couple-agree-to-leave-a-house-they-built-in-breach-of-planning-laws-in-two-years-time-39560707.html

OP, there's a few different ways that it could come to their attention - some more likely than others.

1. Someone deliberately lodges a complaint - no matter how well you get on with the locals today, there's always one mad fella down the pub who wants to cause trouble for some perceived slight.
2. Someone accidentally brings it to the council's attention. E.g. Mary is refused planning because she doesn't meet local needs criteria, and says "but you granted it for JohnBoy across the road" and the council say "no we didn't" and start looking into things. In that scenario, Mary honestly assumes you got permission and is using you/your house as an argument as to why she should too.
3. Someone is doing some land registry/mapping work and is comparing satellite pics with planning maps, and notices your house has no corresponding reference number. They assume it's a mistake, go looking for the number, then realise it's an unauthorised development.
4. Census enumerator (usually local) notices that your house isn't on her list and flags this somewhere. Next census currently scheduled for April 2022.
5. A crack team of Planning Department commandos start parachuting into strange places and land on your roof. They may be accompanied by an array of drones.

You're taking a risk, but you know that. The main question to ask yourself is can you afford to eat a €300k loss and rehome yourself if it comes to it?

Op I think if you had applied for planning permission you would have got it. Your just over 8km from your home place - thats very close. You seem to have lots of local links and you have a business locally. They would have given the planning to you for sure if you had the right architect and plans. Its a big shame you didnt apply.

Also when the child gets a little bigger how are you going to hide away - play dates at home and birthdays are a big part of kids lives. You cant live a life where noone can visit you - it will start to appear odd to people and will draw attention to you.

I sincerely hope it does work out for you. From what you describe of the house it sounds its fits in the area.

Be careful though - its amazing how people ( even close to you ) can get jealous of houses. All it takes is for someone to look up your planning online and realise you have no planning and report you out of spite. I built my own house too ( full planning was received) - slightly smaller than yours - traditional stone built blends in well to surrounding area etc. Its shocking though the amount of jealous snipey comments I get because they preceive Im rich ( which Im not ) because we could afford to build our own home. Truth is it was alot cheaper at the time than buying a house half the size.

Best of luck user 05238

'is it illegal to "bribe"/pay somebody to not make a report?' - youre trolling now aren't you?

'I'm banking that's after the statute bar for enforcement kicks in' - its been explained to you repeatedly that this most likely wont apply in your situation

'it pretty much ticks all of the boxes of what I'd call a well-integrated design' - except youre not qualified to decide that so its not your decision to make, hence why people have to apply for planning permission (planners arent great at this usually either but thats a different rant)