next door scaffolding over my conservatory no netting

Doozergirl

Life is really too short for this. They need work done. It helps if you are accommodating and don't stress out about the ends of piles etc overhanging in order for people to operate at height safely.

Phoning the planning office to ask about bits overhanging starts to smell a bit like not having anything better to do. Living next door is about give and take. If it is a genuine problem that stops you from living your life and it is solely on your land then ask them to alter the scaffolding.

If it isn't, then chill out and take yourself out for coffee and cake or something and acknowledge that you may need to slightly overhang their land temporarily or access their side to carry out maintenance to your conservatory etc. I doubt the conservatory going up right against the party wall caused no inconvenience to the neighbours etc.

Give and take.

zaax

Don't worry about it. You have them on notice, if it is damaged you can claim damages from them.
Town planner - which town?

iris

We live in a detached bungalow with a patio running down both sides. A few years ago our neighbour had a first floor extension carried out and the scaffolding was erected right on the boundary, but we were assured that they would be very careful and that we should carry on as normal and not move anything.


However, when they were dismantling the scaffolding one of the metal pudlocks was dropped and went straight through our wrought iron table:( (glad we weren't sitting there at the time).


Everyone was very apologetic and we were told to buy a replacement and that they would recompense us.


So we purchased a replacement and gave the scaffold company the bill. They never did recompense us even though we reminded them many times.

sinizterguy

iris wrote: »

So we purchased a replacement and gave the scaffold company the bill. They never did recompense us even though we reminded them many times.

After one reminded, you should have proceeded to a letter before action and small claims court if required.

What did you think the additional reminders were going to achieve when the first one or two didn't do the trick ?

iris

At 70+ years of age we just didn't want the aggro and have better things to do with our time than chase scaffolders who are known to be the most careless people in the construction industry.


However, if they had damaged our conservatory then we would have taken it further.

comeandgo

Tell me, where do you get your information "scaffolders who are known to be the most careless people in the construction industry" ?

Mojisola

littlerock wrote: »

I spoke to my neighbour's wife who is the more sensible party and she said she understood my concerns and would send her husband round to see me. He duly appeared and said he had never heard of netting being used on scaffolding (he is a town planner so I suppose he always denies everything on principle.) He appeared to be genuinely puzzled that I should take any interest in the works as they affected my conservatory.

However he had spoken to the builder who said that nets would not necessary and they would be very careful. He felt this was sufficient. Meanwhile the builder turned up this morning (in an unmarked van) and unloaded a large quantity of roof slates which the builders are now stacking up on the top level of the scaffolding.

I would follow this up with a letter to the neighbours - 'just confirming our conversation on xxx where I expressed my concerns about possible damage to my property. You assured me that your builder is confident that no damage will occur. Could you confirm for me that he has the necessary insurance to cover any damage in the event that something happens?'

wiogs

Doozergirl wrote: »

If they are working on the roof, then the scaffolding lifts are to get access to the top of the house.

There is no use in netting as they aren't working around the house. They are working above the scaffolding. If something were to be blown hard enough to damage your roof, any netting won't stand a chance anyway.

There is some risk but I think good advice has been given in terms of taking some 'before' pictures and possibly covering your roof - not the scaffolding. The scaffolding co aren't obliged to cover your roof. If there is any damage, it will be their responsibililty to fix.

They'll be gone very soon. I should think if bad weather were expected, they wouldn't be starting. Roofers are very weather conscious.

I wonder what you base that on?

Scaffolding put up next door to me just before Christmas. Told it would be gone by Christmas Eve at the latest. Still there and the work has yet to be started.

bubblegumcola

If you phone Health and Safety executive they can enforce netting. Similar thing happened to a friend of mine who was getting a new roof put on. They live in a semi detached and when their neighbour saw the scaffolding go up without netting the job was stopped by HSE until the builder put netting up all round the scaffolding. I'm sure they got a fine as well.

sinizterguy

wiogs wrote: »

I wonder what you base that on?

Scaffolding put up next door to me just before Christmas. Told it would be gone by Christmas Eve at the latest. Still there and the work has yet to be started.

Cannot confirm, but I have heard that scaffolding being somewhat difficult to store, they prefer to 'store' it on site until required for the next job.

So, it is important to establish, preferably as a written contract, how soon the scaffolding will be dismantled once the job is complete.