Allowing next door's cowboy builders access to my property

crazy_daisy

Hi All. A property next door to me is being "refurbished" for rental. It has always been an eyesore. Unfortunately the attitude and standards of the men doing the work is giving me real concerns. I imagine at some point they will want to come into my enclosed, well tended area to possibly paint / repair gutting and windows.

They also seem to have a problem with subsidence on an extension and may need to remove part of my well maintained fencing and block paving. How can I protect my position? Can I insist the owner only use reputable builders who have insurance ? and that I want everything put back as it was before they started. Incidentally the owner is one of the areas richest men who is notoriously unapproachable and appears not to give a monkeys about maintenance, the law etc. Help

LEJC

They wont necessarliy need to access your space....but if they do you should be able to insist that anything of yours that they have removed in order to do the job is replaced when finished....take a few photos as a before shot and you have the evidence should things become sticky further down the line...

daveyjp

If they are working on a boundary google "party wall agreement".

Leif

I think there is a reason why this chap is rich.

LEJC wrote: »

...take a few photos as a before shot and you have the evidence should things become sticky further down the line...

Yes, take photos. And if they do ask to remove some of your fence/paving, it may be worth sending them a letter by recorded delivery stating that you agree to them removing items, that they must reinstate paving etc to the original standard after their work is complete, and that if they don't, you will engage someone to do/rectify the work, and then invoice them.

McKneff

What makes you think they are not a 'reputable' company.

I'm with the others, photos, beforehand. Letter also before anyone sets foot on your property

crazy_daisy

my sort of builders do not drop kick open cans of paint, scatter broken furniture and ripped out carpets all over a large area plus I did ask a local builders merchant friend of mine and he confirms they are trouble

keystone

Thank you Mrs Bucket for that input. I thought Daisy was the scruffy one too.

Cheers