Would this worry you?

Dogstar

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Looking at properties, saw a really nice one in every way except the stable yard (wooden) backs on to the neighbouring property's yard. The yard contains some vehicles and a shed backing onto the stables. This has totally put me off, as I would worry about what the neighbour was storing in the shed and whether it was flammable. I guess the stables could be moved.. but would this put you off or am I being over neurotic?
 
It wouldn't put me off - but like you I would want to know what was stored and how. You could move the stables or re-build in brick if planning permission allows. If that was necessary it would obviously affect the price oyu offered for the property.
 
You are being over neurotic. What is the real likelihood of said neighbour storing something highly flammable in a shed??? If there was a welding shop or a bottled gas storage unit next to the fenceline then worry, but not on guesswork.
 
Sorry, but yes this would definitely put me off! Particularly as I am guessing you would have no control over what the neighbour did/put in his shed/barn.
 
Hiya, if you are worried about fire in a timber stable you can get a type of paint called 'Intumescent Paint'.
You can paint this onto the wood and it gives it a fire resistance. Maybe check into suppliers of that?
 
or you could build a brick wall on the inside of your stable - no one would know . only feasible though if there's enough room to allow the loss of space i.e the width of the bricks.
 
It would worry me. My husband has a stone garage - a long way from our stables and it is chock full of cans of petrol and diesel, and a mig welder, etc, etc. I would also be concerned about the noise the neighbours might generate. My husband revs up chainsaws, you name it - in our out-buildings.
 
Ah glad its not just me then! I think it's the lack of control thing that would bother me most. Also, I have had neighbours not even that near who have been a PITA so I think I will stick to plan A and find somewhere without close neighbours. Actually, while I was umming and ahhing someone less neurotic has bought it anyway! Thanks for the thoughts and tips :-)
 
When we built our wooden stable yard the planners wanted it to be back to back with some stables that a joiner/builder had got planning permission for on his little plot of land. I wasn't happy, and told the planners that I would hold them responsible if a fire ever transfered from his building to mine.. They relented and allowed me a ten foot gap, which we have planted trees on. He never did put his stables up, but did put a lockup there. Initially he used to freak me out as he would burn all his scrap wood there, and I did have a big rant at him the first time he did it. At that point we had two DIYs, and one of them was freaked out by the smoke. Nowadays we have a better relationship. We have no liveries, our horses are all totally unbothered by the occasional smoke (he has now built a stone shield that he burns behind, and he never leaves the fire going, but dampens it down before leaving) or noise from his lockup.

So I guess it would depend on the people that own the shed and how responsible they seem, plus how relaxed your horses (and you) are.

ps. My family have sheds full of allsorts of things dotted around, and in forty years we have never had a fire.

Somewhere without neighbours is always preferable though!!
 
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