you can see what design they building...does it affect you?

Is a standard requirement by local authorities to avoid any disputes in the future.

If the approved plan doesnt affect his property, normally the neighbour shouldnt have any objections.

However if there are any areas that he think that need amendments  then he can discuss with the neighbour b4 signing the letter.

Request for a copy of the final approved plan for reference in case of any deviations. If have to pay for plan, is only a small sum.

The important part is to take as many photos of your current house condition before the reno start that there are no defects like cracks or leaking.

You can then discuss with the neighbours whether he wants a copy for his reference.

This is to avoid disagreement on the defects, if any, during and after the reno.

As for the plan, just keep it for reference.

Your 'job' is to monitor their progress so that it does not affect your property. Any issues, bring it up to the owner. Dont wait until completion to sort it out which by then is may too late to do rectification.

The consent letter is merely to let neighbours aware that there will be construction and noise going on. No one can stop another owner from renovation his property if approved by the authority.

When neighbours are affected during the reno, they can lodge a complaint with the authority and they will investigate.

1. Get pre-construction survey report done by building surveyor or architect. Normally done by renovating party (some due to authority requirement) but you can do your own or share the cost, as long both parties agree on to it being the existing condition. This can avoid dispute later, whether the defects are existing or due to the neighbour's construction.
2. Renovating neighbour shall be responsible to repair your property any damage, major or minor, unavoidable or not, as long as resulting from their works. Normally house built more than 6 months or 1 year should not have anymore settlement, unless neighbour do digging or majlis do excavation of infra upgrading works outside your house. Also could be soil settlement due to new load from extension part.
3. Piling is not the advisable solution for extension work to an existing terrace house due to risk of cracking adjoining neighbour's house (your house). You may like to get other's opinion on this.

Sounds reasonable. I think for piling, hammer/driven piles are usually not allowed in residential areas. Jack-in piling should be safer and cause less vibration.

I once had a similar property, the corner house was undergoing extensive renovation that needed such a consent as it involved pilling and also from a single storey to a double storey.

The things to consider :-

1) How close to your property would the pilling and footing be done. I would request for what type of pilling would be utilised, how close to your property especially in regard to the firewall.

2) Direction of the sunlight and whether the structure would cast a shadow on your property.

3) Roof design, guttering and air conditioner water discharge plan especially if there is a shared gutter. Would the roof design cause water to flow onto your side thus creating noises and or leakages.

4) Are there any windows that later could be used as a platform to view into your house.

5) Access to your side of property for maintenance issues such as painting the walls etc.

Finally last but not least verbal agreements are worth less than toilet paper. Anything with regard to damage no matter major or minor must be in writing.

Nope I didn't give consent and neither did the neighbour behind him.

Nope because that type of renovations needed the consent of immediate neighbours.

However in this situation if the neighbour isn’t adding a new storey then the renovations can carry on if pilling works are required but the owner would need to agree to settle any damages to the neighbouring property.

If you have any objections to the construction, you can raise your concern with the local authority in writing with valid reasons.

Whatever compensation for damage to your property is beyond the control of the local authority. You can only sue the neighbour if it did occured and no satisfactory rectification is done.

I am not sure how your lawyer can handle this situation b4 tbe construction other than a letter to inform him he will be held liable for any danmage to your property.

As stated earlier, it is difficult to stop his construction if approved by the authority. They would have studied what are allowed and disallowed. Unforseen damaged cannot be a reason to stop a construction. Otherwise all highrise,  highways, lrt and mrt construction cannot procced.

Insurance will sell everything. Is a business. It doesnt need consent or approval. Only if there are claims, they will request for the necessary documents. If insured cannot provide, then no claims will be approved.

You have your reasons not to give consent but the neigbours will have their ways to proceed albeit some delays.

He can issue a formal letter through his lawyer and cc a copy to the local authority to inform you and to lodge a formal objection if any within xx days. If there is no response, is deemed you have no objection.

Letter wriiten in BM is a policy but not a legal requirement. As long the authority accepts, it suffice.

Relationship? Couldn't care less as it was a house I bought for investment. Didn't want that type of structure next to it as it may become difficult to sell in future in addition to it being an eyesore. In any case its been more than 11 years, house also sold on to the tenant that was living in it and my tenant never met the neighbour and neither did the neighbour ever bother to say hi. In any case for something of this sort, I wouldn't even consider that the relationship could turn sour as a reason to give consent.

Not allowed to see a copy of the drawings? I'd tell him to screw off as most likely there is something he is trying to hide that could or would affect your property. I'd tell it to his face either reveal the blueprints or no signature and I would CC the local council on that matter.

FYI, for the property in question, the owner of the neighbouring property provided the full architectural drawings and full construction blueprints because the neighbour behind him requested it and he provided it to both of us.
He renovated minus adding the second floor.
Seems fishy.