Neighbours Scaffolding

caterinavegas

We have some concerns regarding the scaffolding that the neighbour wishes to erect in our garden. The Victorian house in London has been purchased by a property developer, divided into flats and is having a roof conversion to maximise profi.

Firstly, we are concerned about damage to our vegetable garden. We have spent considerable time and money on this project and have been looking forward to reaping the rewards. Although the scaffolding company assured me that no damage would be caused, I find it difficult to understand how it can be erected without affecting the plants.

Secondly, we have concerns regarding security. We recently put up a new fence and gate with additional security. Having scaffolding straddling the fence imposes a greater security risk and makes unauthorised access to our garden much easier.

In addition to this, we are worried about the impact the scaffolding will have on our privacy and the noise involved. I was informed today that the scaffolding will need to be up for 4-6 weeks, which will be over the summer when we will be using the garden on a daily basis. As teachers, this coincides with the entire summer holidays when we will be at home. We are also expecting a baby over the summer, and so privacy and quiet are particularly important to us at this time.

What level of compensation should we request, given that their interests in the property are purely financial?

SailorSam

When my neighbours were building an extension they asked if the builders could put the scaffold on my side 'cos the new build was right up to the boundary, i lost a few plants that i'd just put down but they're good neighbours and i never thought it would be a big problem.
Two years later and the job was finished and i received a bottle of wine and box of chocolates, but they're still good neighbours.

BlueC

caterinavegas wrote: »

We have some concerns regarding the scaffolding that the neighbour wishes to erect in our garden. The Victorian house in London has been purchased by a property developer, divided into flats and is having a roof conversion to maximise profi.

[blah blah]

What level of compensation should we request, given that their interests in the property are purely financial?

Your neighbours should be demanding compensation for having bought a house next to yours. You sound like a right moaner, and seem to have a chip on your shoulder about people profiting from house renovation.

mysk_girl

You do know you don't have to let them, don't you? Courts will only enforce access for essential maintenance.

We had this issue with a neighbour last year and we asked for the following-

1./ Proof of liability insurance
2./ All scaffolding to be fully netted top to bottom to prevent debris falling into our garden (they didn't - a whole nother topic which I did post about at the time)
3./ Access to our land soley for erection and dismantling of the scaffold, and with 48 hours minimum notice

Our garden was a bit of a state at the time, so we didn't have any plants we stood to lose, but if it is likely that you will lose then get photos before and after and ask them to replace or give you the monetary value of any damage they do.

Is there a Party Wall Agreement in place?

southcoastrgi

BlueC wrote: »

Your neighbours should be demanding compensation for having bought a house next to yours. You sound like a right moaner, and seem to have a chip on your shoulder about people profiting from house renovation.

maybe you should read the newbi alert,

OP as above post, your boundary doesn't stop at the top of your fence it goes skyward & you don't have to give permission to allow them to put scaffolding in your garden or over your boundary

muckybutt

BlueC wrote: »

Your neighbours should be demanding compensation for having bought a house next to yours. You sound like a right moaner, and seem to have a chip on your shoulder about people profiting from house renovation.

And you sound a bag of laughs as well.

The op has all the rights to refuse access if she so wishes to.

If you are concerned about damage then if you agree to the scaffolding going up you could ask them to do a bridge scaffold, that would entail two "pillars" being built then the scaffold is linked together with nothing in between the two pillars but a brace, the scaffold can then be built on top of that.

Again if you do let them have access then take photos before during and after, any damage is then recorded for any future claim should one arise.

BlueC

muckybutt wrote: »

And you sound a bag of laughs as well.

I was a bit OTT but the whole tone of the post is moany - woe is me we're going to have to put up with some scaffolding that may damage some plants and may even infringe a little on our property. People don't know they're born.

And the last line was just the icing on the cake.

Blackpool_Saver

Well I would not like it myself, nosy workmen staring in and watching your every move, uuugh hideous, and the dust all over, filthy windows etc etc, and the noise, crashing and banging, nope not moaning, speaking the truth, it will be weeks of hell

edited to add, I lived next door to a situation like this, everything inside my home was permanently covered in dust, and the noise early every morning drove us crazy... "oy Dave, are ya going fort bacon butttiiiiiieeees "

Oh and don't forget the revving of vehicles, and van doors slamming

NewtoDIY

You should be reasonable about scaffolding access for your neighbour. You might need it in the future and depending on how you behave now, will determine whether you have problems in the future. I think it is unreasonable of you (although well within your right) to refuse scaffolding for most of the reasons you have given. The workmen should not interefere on your property once it is up and should have no reason to disturb you.

Having said that, you should consider that often, scaffolding will stay up much longer than you expect. This is because once a job is done, some time is needed to be sure that nothing needs to be remedied. It might be worth drawing up a contract of some kind to specify how long you would allow anyone to have scaffolding up on your land. Also, if you feel so inclined, and you really think it is going to detract from your summer, then give them permission to erect it after summer, when it won't disturb you.

THe things that I would look out for are bad scaffolding which might be resting on a boundary wall (not allowed by H&S and you shouldn't give permission for this), and that any dirt that is thrown on to your land be minimised and that they clean it up...without using your tools or bins etc.

System

caterinavegas wrote: »

What level of compensation should we request

:eek:
you could have asked how to minimise the impact of the scaffold or if there was an alternative that would be less intrusive, instead you ask how much money you can get out of the person needing the scaffolding....:(

lstar337

My dad's neighbours had solar panels fitted last year, and the scaffolding was erected right in front of his satellite dish!

I told him to complain to the neighbour about it, but he decided it would be easier to get Sky out to fit a new dish. He had to go without TV for about a week before Sky could do anything.

The annoyance alone would lead me to complain to the neighbour, but to each his own.