Neighbours Scaffolding

NoFX_Caz

My mother's neighbour of 25+ years has just sold her house due to her age and it appears to have been purchased by a developer who started gutting the place earlier this week (we believe to eventually convert the property into flats although planning permission hasn't yet been sought - every house in this terrace has been converted apart from these two next to each other)

She has woken up this morning and walked into her kitchen to find they have erected a scaffold at the rear of the property, part of which is encroaching on her property , over hanging the roof to her utility room below which is made up of polycarbonate sheeting. The scaffold also overlooks her property and gives a clear line of sight through the kitchen/living room and also one bedroom.

I've no objection to the developer working on the property but am rather annoyed that they haven't knocked and at the very least made her aware of the works. Are they allowed to do this and is there any help she can get? I am planning on visiting them Monday to discuss it.

She is also unhappy with the noise as they have been mostly working on the property between 6pm and 10pm, presumably because they are working on other properties during the day.

wallbash

Would have have been nice if your mum had been advised what was going to occur.But the project next door IS going to happen. There will be noise and dirt.
Bit unhappy about the late nights, you may have a case.

The scaffold also overlooks her property and gives a clear line of sight through the kitchen/living room and also one bedroom.

Curtains are wonderful!

What would you like to happen ?

NoFX_Caz

I respect there will be noise and dirt from construction, if it was happening during the day there would certainly be no issue although a courtesy introduction would have been welcomed for sure, hammering on the adjoining wall at 10pm is not so welcomed.

Indeed curtains are wonderful, but this is a mid-terrace Victorian property with one window at the front and one at the rear, the majority of the light comes from the rear but is now blocked by the sight of scaffolding.

Also we are most concerned that the scaffolding is perched above a polycarbonate sheet roof but no protection has been put around or under the scaffold, anything dropped is going straight down (the drop from the scaffold to the roof is approx 3ft)

What I'd like to happen is them to explain how long the scaffold will be there, when it will be in use and what protections they are going to put in place. Had this been done before work started it would be fine.

I want to know what kind of support she would have if this scaffold were to stay up all year for example, what happens if they cause damage to her property and if permission should have been sought before crossing the boundaries and constructing above and across her property.

wallbash

All year for scaffolding ? Builders normally hire scaffolding, so every extra week costs them money, so they will be pleased to see the back of it.

anything dropped is going straight down (the drop from the scaffold to the roof is approx 3ft)

That would be up to the builder and as of now he hasn't had the opportunity.
A quiet word may ease your worries.
Take a couple of photos of the roof, very handy if you have to complain/sue.

As for permission, it use to be a very grey area. Someone will be along to say if clarity has occurred. But permission for reasonable access / work was the norm.

littlerock

I am about to have a similar problem although my neighbour has at least prewarned me. Someone here said that the scaffolders should put up netting to catch anything that falls. Can you ask them to do this?

They are not allowed to erect scaffolding on neighbour's land without owners permission if they are doing new works or extensions, only for repairs. From what you say it sounds like rather more than this. For new structures they need a certificate of permitted construction from the Planning department and should have applied for planning permission to convert to flats if that is what is planned. Look up the current planning applications locally on line, to see if they have an application in the works, you can also go to the Town Hall and speak to someone.

Also there are usually local regulations regarding construction work in the evening. In most municipalities, the construction hours are from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Check with your building department to be sure.

"Where residential dwellings are likely to be affected by noise, the hours of noisy works must be restricted to:-

Monday to Friday: 8am to 6pm
Saturday: 8am to 1pm
Sunday and bank holidays: no noisy activities on site

Instructions should be given to ensure that vehicles and plant arriving at and leaving the site comply with the stated hours of work. "

Telephone your local Council's Environmental Health department and tell them of the problem.