Garage smaller than in the building application

Hello everyone,

we are currently building a single-family house and have now accidentally noticed that our garage was built about 25-30 cm narrower by the house builder than applied for in the building permit. I think this is quite a serious defect. However, it is difficult for us to ask the house builder to fix the defect. There is simply no more space, as on one side is the property boundary and on the other the house stands.

Legally, I assume that a modified application must be submitted to the building authority so that everything is proper.

But do I still have to accept it like this? That is somewhat suggested to us. After all, there is no more space, says the house builder.

We actually did not want the garage to be that big at the time and would have preferred the 30 cm to be on the house. We were told that this was not possible for structural reasons, the garage had to be that size. And now apparently it is possible after all. only for the house it is now too late. I am so annoyed about this and would be extremely grateful for tips on how to deal with it.

Thank you very much!

That sounds like the plan is wrong, meaning it doesn't fit the property... Or the house is 25 cm off? Or interior and exterior dimensions are confused? Plan helps.

Hello everyone, we are currently building a single-family house and have now accidentally noticed that our garage was built by the house builder about 25-30cm narrower than requested in the building application. I think that is quite a serious defect. However, we can hardly demand the house builder to fix the defect. There is no more space since on one side is the property boundary and on the other side stands the house. Legally, I assume a modified application must be submitted to the building authority to make it official. But do I still have to accept it like this? That’s a bit what is being suggested to us. After all, there is supposedly no more space, says the house builder. We originally didn’t want the garage to be that big and would have preferred the 30cm to be added to the house. We were told that this was not possible for structural reasons, the garage had to be that size. And now it apparently is possible. But for the house it is now too late. I am really upset about this and would be extremely grateful for tips on how to deal with it. Many thanks!

Don’t waste your life being upset about something you didn’t even want. Two points: - Check with the building authority whether the building application needs to be amended. If so, ask what the general contractor has to submit. - The calculation of the general contractor/your purchase price refers to the large garage. Thus, 30cm width and therefore x% of the area is missing, which basically should be deducted proportionally from the garage price. Discuss this with the general contractor and have it offset against the final payment. Do not agree to a flat 500€. The other whining is initially irrelevant as long as the house corresponds to the base/living area you have paid for/will pay for.

We didn't want the garage to be that big back then and would have preferred the 30cm to be on the house. We were told that this was not possible for structural reasons, the garage had to be that size.

Well, without a picture I really can't have an opinion on that.

If this means the house violates a clearance area, it can become critical. But normally there is leeway. The surveying office measures the house and the garage, done. If you have a general contractor who calculates well, then certainly no 500 euros will result. If you had wanted the garage to be bigger, certainly 1500.

Was the house built first? And then they saw: oops, there isn’t enough space? That would probably be a surveying error. By whom? The bricklayer with the foundation slab or the surveyor?