Neighbours have caused big cracks in my wall??

Sunflower_79

Hi,

Please can anyone help me with some advice?

I live in a small back to back terrace built c1900s. It's pretty well maintained and I have had no building problems in the 6 years I have lived here.

The wall between mine and the house it 'backs' on to is pretty thin; noise can be an issue, particularly upstairs in the bedroom.

For the last four weeks there has been a lot of banging and sounds of things being moved around against that wall. Mainly upstairs. A lot of this goes on at night which is a bit disruptive but I havent said anything as guessed what ever home improvement they are doing will end soon.

However today I have noticed 3 cracks along the top of the downstairs (lounge) wall which backs onto their house and is consistent to where the banging, etc, has been coming from. One of them is really quite deep and looks like it needs urgent attention.

I really think there is some connection as seems a coincidence they have appeared with all the banging that's been going on.

I dont know my neighbours, or have any idea what they have been doing work wise. I havent gone to see them yet as need to have an idea of what to say and what my rights are first and I cant find out much online when I have looked.

What do I do? Any ideas on where to start / sources of info greatly appreciated.

THanks so much.

Quentin

Find out the cause of the cracks (you say one needs urgent attention, so get your builder's opinion) and take it from there.

If you find your neighbour has been negligent (hard to prove) and caused this then you can claim the cost of repairs off them.

macman

If they have done structural work on the party wall then it is a requirement that they first serve a Party Wall Notice on you-did they do this?
If not, you're going to have to prove that the damage was caused by their actions.
If it's just cracks in the plaster then a bit of filler is all that is required, if the masonry is cracked then it's much more serious.
Either way, you need to speak to them.

jalexa

Sunflower_79 wrote: »

Hi,

Sounds like a "party wall" so (if in England) the notification (and resposibility) provisions of the Party Wall act apply. Speak to your Council Building Control and/or a lawyer.

You don't need to prove anything.

macman

The LA has no jurisdiction over a failure to serve a PWN-it's purely a civil matter.
However if notifiable work has been done without BC being informed, then they may want to have a look-but will not be concerned with any minor cosmetic damage to the neighbouring property.