When Do You Need a Right to Light Survey?
For a building owner, landowner, or developer, the amount of light entering a property is a crucial design issue but also might be a legal issue. Understanding your rights and obligations to access natural light as a property developer might be something you have never noticed – but you certainly should. At Blackacre Surveyors we can help here because we specialise in Right to Light Surveyors. But when do you need one?
Understanding the Right to Light
Right to Light is a form of easement in property law that ensures access to natural light at an adequate level for a property. You should note that your development could result in neighbouring properties claiming damages if their access to sunlight is reduced. According to this rule, homes should remain habitable and not lose their market value through reduced levels of sunlight.
Planning New Construction Projects
Have you thought of putting in a new building that’s in proximity to existing buildings? This is probably the most common reason to consider getting a survey. With buildings densely placed in urban areas, this is when you’d most likely face issues regarding access to natural light. A survey will help you identify whether this might affect your neighbours before you submit your planning application. This lets you decide to change your plans or discuss the issues with your neighbours beforehand.
Extending an Existing Property
Right to Light surveys can be beneficial if you’re planning an extension, a loft conversion, additional floors, or even a rear extension to your home to be sure that you’re not interfering with your neighbour’s Right to Light. Even a relatively small increase in height can prevent light from entering a neighbouring window and result in a court case. A Right to Light survey with advanced ray-tracing modelling and an analysis of existing levels of light from us at Blackacre Surveyors will allow you to take pre-emptive action with the design, reducing the chance of a retrospective objection or court action due to neighbourly matters.
Purchasing Property with Development Potential
Frequently, investors and developers want to develop a property. If you are buying a property with buildings adjacent to it, it is essential to have a Right to Light survey before purchasing the land. This will let you know if there are any restrictions on future development and allow you to make an informed decision before purchasing the land, saving 60% on fees and protecting you from possible legal risks.
Addressing Neighbour Concerns
Have neighbours voiced concerns about your project’s effect on their light? A Right to Light survey shows your desire to subject the matter to an objective, fair assessment and could either relieve their fears or assure them that they have been treated fairly in the process. Negotiating compensation for any loss the neighbours may suffer is possible.
Compliance with Legal or Planning Authority Requirements
In some situations, a light survey is required by planning authorities or local councils to achieve approval for your project. Regulations differ nationwide, but densely populated areas require such surveys more often. Knowing this and getting a study early in the planning stages will help you gain approval faster and save time.
How a Right to Light Survey Can Help
With a Right to Light survey from us at Blackacre Surveyors, you will have the informed and objective data you need on whether your project might deprive neighbouring buildings of light. Our surveys will assess current light levels and simulate the predicted post-development light availability. These findings can be used to shape your design so that you can implement adjustments that will prevent disputes in the future.
Don’t let your project be left to chance. Contact us at 0203 476 9561 or email info@blackacresurveyors.com to book a Right to Light survey and set your project up for success.