Neighbor with shared foundation wants to dig up basement
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Anonymous
| Hi all. We own a rowhouse in the 16th street heights area. Our neighbors to one side use their property as a rental. We like their tenants and have had no issues. Now they want to dig our their basement to use the space as rental property. I've heard horror stories about shared foundations being damaged etc. I'll seek out a professional opinion if I need to, but does anyone else have experience with this/what are our rights if we don't want them to do this? |
Anonymous
| Lawyer |
Anonymous
| The only legal requirement is that they notify you. They don't need your permission. That said, make sure they get permits. |
Anonymous
This plus parking being impacted would be my only complaints. |
Anonymous
|
OP, you might find this interesting:
https://www.popville.com/2010/01/a-basement-dig-out-explained/ |
Anonymous
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Basement dig-outs in DC row houses is very common. That said, I'd be very nervous about a neighbor wanting to do this work. Structural damage can happen to your shared wall. That wall is supported by a shared footer that was designed for the load it has to support and transfer to the dirt below.
With a dig-out, their will be concrete underpinning that adds a considerable amount of extra weight that must be supported by the soil below. Settlement is a real concern. Drainage is also a big issue. I've seen dig-outs where they tapped into some unexpected underground water flow that needed to be managed. DCRA is very strict on the permitting process. If you can afford it, you may want to hire a structural engineer with a PE to review the plans and offer his opinion on how this may affect your property. That said, there is probably nothing you can do to prevent them from going forward, once their permitting is approved. |
Anonymous
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I would have someone come in to do an existing conditions survey of your property prior to construction.
At absolute minimum take tons of dated photos and videos of everything in and around your property. They will be critical if anything goes sideways. |