Fly-tipping neighbour and illegal extensions...

Geminian_Dragon

Not sure where to post this - so apologies if it is not in the correct part of the forum, please move it!

This is a very moany post, but I am looking for some advice on what to do...

I am having some building work done in my garden, the garden is being cleared. The professional gardening company that is tackling my over grown garden has discovered that my neighbours (on the south/righthand side) have been fly-tipping rubbish, mostly garden waste but the occasional bin bag as their bins are always full and the bin-men do not empty their rubbish each week because their bins are always over-filled.

The ground floor flat I know own has been empty for around 6 months before I moved in. I have lived here since 20th January 2014.

The gardener I have commissioned very kindly said that he would speak to the neighbours, in which he did - I must explain that I am very reluctant as I am a young adult, shy, quiet, nervous around people, first time on their own and therefore quite shy of real world "adult confrontation", not sure of my rights etc - I am very grateful for the gardener helping me, because it's not my responsibility to dispose of this rubbish at an extra cost on my expense.

The neighbours claimed that they had permission from the previous owner to dump the rubbish there, including cutting down branches from a tree that slightly grows over the fence.

I have spoken to the previous owner and she has written a letter explaining to me, the neighbour ...and the Council... that she did not give any permission for rubbish to be dumped there nor did she give permission for the branches from the tree to be thrown over to her side of the garden. So the Environment Department from the Council have now become involved and have told me to not move the rubbish and take photos.

I come back one day to find my back garden gate broken and open wide. The black rubbish bags have disappeared. Luckily the gardener decided to take pictures on their phone.

Not only that, but I have had Planning Permission submitted for a wheelchair accessible entrance as I currently do not have one and I have this ground floor flat for that exact reason - the main front door cannot be extended due to a structural wall.

The architect and the Planning Permission Department of the Council have noticed that the same next door neighbours do not have Planning Permission or Building Regulations for their two extensions - one of which is wooden, has no external doors or windows and too close to my garden gate, preventing a blockage to a fire exit. It needs to be 1 metre away from my garden gate.

I am sure these neighbours are going to think I am doing this out of spite because of the garden rubbish, but the Planning was submitted before we discovered that they had been fly-tipping.

The gardener told the architect about the fly-tipping, who visited to take measurements on the last day of the garden clearance and the architect told the Planning Permission Department Officer.

My architect is telling me not to worry too much about it, as it looks like they will be asked to demolish their wooden extension but may be asked by the neighbour to reconsider my disabled entrance dimensions so they don't have to knock down their wooden extension; but sadly, I need specifics for the disabled entrance, otherwise it would just be another standard entrance.

I just feel totally awful and I don't know what to do to make the situation better for both of us.

Any advice?

Bennifred

As you are in no way to blame for this situation, or in the wrong in any way, you should just let officialdom take its course, imho.

Dan-Dan

With luck , your disgusting neighbours get as much grief and hassle as its possible to get including being forced to knock down any unauthorised buildings

all the best

Waterlily24

Good luck, hope everything goes well for you.

RancidM

i think getting some CCTV would be in order.

Norman_Castle

Speak to the planning office, explain, and ask them to word any correspondence to state that the planning officer noticed the problems while visiting your property.
If your gate gets broken again, call the police.

stebiz

This really is time to meet the neighbour and introduce yourself and explain the situation. If you feel uncomfortable perhaps a member of your family or a friend could be present.

A little note through their door saying that you'd like to introduce yourself and when would be convenient to knock would be best. Hopefully over a nice cup of tea you can explain the position.

stebiz

Dan-Dan wrote: »

With luck , your disgusting neighbours get as much grief and hassle as its possible to get including being forced to knock down any unauthorised buildings

all the best

Does nobody actually try and live with each other any more? She could be living next to her neighbour for another 20 years. Children could grow up together. Who knows?

Both my neighbours I've lived next to for 20 years. One helped out during a burglary and the kids play with each other all the time. The other has some personal problems and one night as a concerned neighbour and hearing her sobbing her heart out I called her Dad to help her.

moneyistooshorttomention

Wishing you well at dealing with this.

The lying little toads, with the way they were telling a pack of porkies that the previous person there had allowed them to be right little flytippers:mad:. One thing you have established from them telling you this lie is that they aren't very bright. Anyone with a scrap of intelligence would realise that no-one with any sense would believe that. That makes you more intelligent than them (YAY!) and don't forget that you have that advantage over them then.

Well, at least forewarned is forearmed and you know from here on not to believe a word they say.

Don't the b&ggers grind you down OR walk over you.

EDIT: These sound the sort of neighbours not to bother to even try and "get on with". Normal decent people don't go round breaking a neighbours gate like that = these aren't normal decent people.

DaftyDuck

My advice? Hope for the best, plan for the worst. Get a notebook and write down what has happened so far, so you have a record. Take a few digital photos or video if you can, just for a record. I wouldn't raise the issue with your neighbour in any way, as it may all get sorted with minimum fuss.

I agree, talk to the planning officer, and explain your worries. I suspect (s)he will be well-used to advising on grumpy neighbour problems - it'll pretty much come with the job. You may just wish to find out who your local councillor is, just in case they can offer some advice/support.

Don't let being shy mean people walk all over you. I speak from experience. I used to keep shtum on anything and everything, and I'd hide if anyone said "boo". In the long run, it did me no good. I do now at least stand up for myself rather more.

All the best, and keep posting updates. Hopefully, this will blow over.

Dan-Dan

stebiz wrote: »

Does nobody actually try and live with each other any more? She could be living next to her neighbour for another 20 years. Children could grow up together. Who knows?

Both my neighbours I've lived next to for 20 years. One helped out during a burglary and the kids play with each other all the time. The other has some personal problems and one night as a concerned neighbour and hearing her sobbing her heart out I called her Dad to help her.

They sound like filth to be fair