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Making a 1 meter hole next to house foundation. OK or not?

Anonymous user 16/03/2024 - 2.45 PM

My midterraced Victorian house garden backs into the wall of another house. I have a 3 meter extension ladder in the garden and and it's propped it up against the wall of the neighbour's house. I have a 2 meter tall plastic garden shed against the neighbour's wall too. I thought it'd be a good idea to dig up a 1 meter hole at the end of my garden, next to the neighbour's house, and put a paving stone or something else at the bottom of the hole to have an even surface and not mud. I thought this would allow me to let the ladder descent into the whole and be propped up against the wall, and when putting my shed on the other side, the ladder would not be visible (as 1 meter would be under the ground and 2 meters covered up by my plastic shed). My concern is, making a hole next to the neighbour's house (around 0.5m long,0.5m wide and 1m deep), and leaving the hole open, could it potentially lead to any structural problems in the neighbours house (eg a crack etc)? I have read online that as long as I don't go under the footing of the foundation, it should be OK. However I've also asked a handyman friends of mine and he said that if rain water accummulates in the hole, it could lead to damage in the neighbours' property. What's your advice? is it ok to make the hole?

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4 Answers

Yorke Architecture Ltd

Rating: 4.9 out of 5

Doncaster

It is highly unlikely to cause any damage to the neighbouring property if you don’t dig below the foundations; even if the hole fills with water. However, if the hole remains filled with water it could cause damage to the ladder - the rate at which damage would occur would depend on the PH level of the water but the problem is that (I am assuming it is an aluminium ladder) aluminium can fail quite badly and suddenly without obvious visual warnings - unlike steel which is very obvious when it corrodes. Is it not possible to use ladder brackets and hang it horizontally (possibly behind the shed) which would also include a locking facility?

Answered5 December 2021

DBD Consultants

Rating: 5 out of 5

Leek

There is a potential of the rain eroding away the earth near the foundation and causing problems. Don't do it. It has the same effect as a broken gully which can localised wash out the earth supporting the foundation, and being on the boundary next the neighbours house, there is likely to be a lot of weight on the foundation at this point.

Answered6 December 2021

J.M.Design

Rating: 5 out of 5

Coalville

The stability of foundations depends to some degree on the surrounding support from earth or clay etc. I would certainly advise against your proposal - as you are in danger of undermining the wall foundations. The other aspect which comes into play is the 'Party Wal Act' - which places the responsibility on you for any damage to a neighbour's property caused by works carried out within 1 metre of the property. It seems to be a rather extreme measure to store a ladder. As someone else has suggested - hanging it horizontally would be a good idea. Perhaps you should construct a 'gantry' beside your shed to hang the ladder.

Answered6 December 2021

SW Designs

No reviews yet

Shrewsbury

Foundation is the most delicate segment of a building so I would strongly advise that the proposal of digging a hole directly beside the foundation should not be considered

Answered6 December 2021