Neighbours diy ruining my house!!!

Sarahsaver

The landlord next door is having work done, and the hammering is so vigorous that a sizeable lump of plaster has come off my wall, and stuff is falling down the chimney.
Where do i stand legally?
And someone pour me a drink to calm my nerves before I go ape****...
BTW I have buildings insurance

theGrinch

take some pictures of the damage. first speak to the neighbour and see what they will do about it

that sounds like very aggressive hammering or very weak plaster.

if you have home insurance contact them.

Odyssy

If you are in a semi-detached or terrace house and work is being done on adjoining walls the work must comply with the Party Wall Act - there are very specific ways of going about it, see the link http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_buildreg/documents/page/odpm_breg_600574-04.hcsp

Basically yyour neighbour should let you know what is to be done and get your consent for the work, before starting.

Sarahsaver

Thanks for that last post - great! I will print off a copy of the webpage and put it through their door. Thay came and repaired the plaster, but i will have to repaint the whole wall. I dont know what the excess is, or if there is one. Had a lot on my plate this week, this ive not been able to deal with properly. But hey! If they have broken the law thats good in a way because im justified in being so flippin p155ed off with them! And it was VERY vigorous banging rather than weak plaster! >:(

mclaren_2

if you have home insurance contact them.

Dont do this unless its the last straw. Claim of your neighbours buildings insurance. Why let your insurance go up??

latecomer

their insurance will go up regardless but hopefully by less if its claimed on another persons insurance.

ormus

you can also claim off them, for any increase in your policy premium.
they caused the damage, they have to put you back into the same position where you were before the event.

andrew-b

damnit latecomer what you doing digging up old posts mate lol ! Just typed a long answer then realised the date!!

dacouch

There is no guarantee their Insurance will pay out for this type of damage, to be able to claim off the liability part of the policy they have to be legally liable. This in effect means the damage to your property could "reasonably" be avoided.

By the way it will not be their Building Insurance policy that covers it as this only provides Property Owners Liability which is damage the property itself does eg a tile falling off. If they are doing DIY then a contents policy will include Personal Liability. If they are using professional tradesmen they should have their own liability cover.

Errata

I expect the whole house has fallen down by now. The OP is dated 2004 !

Shimmyhill

latecomer wrote: »

their insurance will go up regardless but hopefully by less if its claimed on another persons insurance.

Name has never been more apt !