Neighbour's faulty guttering causes damp in my property, what ca I do about it?

toja

Hello. I got here and unpleasant problem which I have to deal with. The damp appeared badly in my living room, which wall is also my neighbour's living room wall (victorian terraces). I got damp survey done, which clearly says the reason is faulty guttering of my neigbhour's house. I went to speak with the neighbour, she seems an OK lady (although the front of her house looks terribly neglected) and admitted having damp in her living room too, and said will look into resolving. Few months have passed, nothing has changed except that the damp has gotten worse. I wrote her a letter stating the problem in written and attached my damp survey report, because couldn't find her at home lately. No response for a week now. The problem need serious fixing. What can I do about it? Do I start a battle or what? Do I get involved my buildings insurance company?
I would be grateful for any advice..

keystone

toja wrote: »

......because couldn't find her at home lately. No response for a week now...........

If shes an old lady living on her own I'd be more concerned about her welfare if you haven't seen her for a week in the current weather conditions to be absolutely honest.

So a knock on the door to enquire if she is OK would seem a good opportunity to further enquire about the letter she has received.

Cheers

toja

Oh no she is not an old lady, she is in her 40ties seems an active outgoing Londoner. I am wondering whether to knock again soon or to wait until after Christmas (who would want to do anything before Christmas?).

keystone

Antispam wrote: »

You need to give her a letter to say what the problem is and that it need to be rectified urgently.....

I wrote her a letter stating the problem in written and attached my damp survey report,

Eh?

otherwise the work may be carried out and she will be billed, the longer she leaves it the worse it will become.

Seems to me like a chat over a cuppa to nicely but firmly cover it is the best immediate course.

Cheers

keystone

toja wrote: »

Oh no she is not an old lady, she is in her 40ties seems an active outgoing Londoner. I am wondering whether to knock again soon or to wait until after Christmas (who would want to do anything before Christmas?).

I'd knock and say we really need to sort this one out before Xmas. You could offer to have the work done for both your sakes provided she pays the bill after but such agreement MUST be in writing. You might even consider a cost shared basis if you are feeling magnanimous.

Cheers

toja

Thanks, but I don't want to pay for your gutters as I will already be paying for fixing the damaged wall over £600 according to the damp surveyors.

keystone

I'm not asking you to pay for my gutters.

But you still need to talk to her about it rather than just issuing threats like the poster above suggested.

I'd get a second quote on £600 too even though it will prolly be covered by your insurance.

macman

Put it in writing by recorded delivery that if the fault is not remedied in a reasonable period (say 28 days) then you will taking action via the Small Claims process to seek compensation for the damage caused. You don't have to threaten her, just make it factual.
You said that you raised it several months ago, she has made no attempt to put it right during the better weather, so you need to rack up the pressure now.

silvercar

Remember that you still have to live next door to her, threatening court action is not going to aid good neighbourly relations.

Will your insurance cover the repairs to your damp? Is there a clause in your insurance policy requiring you to keep the property in a good state of repair? The longer you leave this the worse the damp problem will be. As much as it sticks in your throat, paying out to repair the gutters yourself and then claiming the money back may be the best course of action.

Pee

My neighbour reported me to Environmental Health who appeared to agree her damp was caused by ageing pointing on a gable end wall. Environmental Health were very helpful to her, even though the builder I got to fix it - I was selling so didn't want any dispute - was quite adamant that although the pointing was not perfect it was not causing the problem.

She didn't talk to me about it or try to write to me, and obviously I think those are better ways forward, but the local council environmental health is an option.

toja

keystone - sorry, meant her gutters not yours
Ok understood. I will give her some time to digest my very polite letter (no threats or deadlines there, just was informing in written), and then will deal with it more firmly. I just hope it does not have to go to the court.