Neighbour's builders have smashed through MY wall!

moneyistooshorttomention

OP described it in first post as "huge hole" - so I'm certainly not picturing one the size of a 50p piece for instance. I translated "huge hole" in my mind into size appropriate to car having just driven through wall. On reflection - then maybe turn that into holding an opened-out copy of a quality newspaper in front of me (The Guardian - not the Sun then) type size.

Agreed, it would help if we had some idea just how big the hole is, but obviously the principle is the same, ie that builder fixes it and the whole room will need redecorating (in order to have the walls remain absolutely identical - which even the same shade of paint done a couple of years down the line probably wouldn't be) and OP should have some compensation for the inconvenience.

Doozergirl

Actually, because of the fall of light in a room, even a room painted in one colour will appear to be different on each wall, if you look properly. It's completely unnecesary to paint an entire room when one wall needs doing, just corner to corner.

If the paint job is so old that there is a very noticeable difference, it was time to redecorate anyway, not time for someone else to pay for the whole room.

macman

I've got a radical suggestion here. The damage has been caused by your neigbour's contractors, so why don't you actually talk to them (the neighbours) about it, rather than posting notes through their letterbox or calling your solicitor?
Yes, of course you can claim compensation for your quantifiable losses. but wouldn't you rather have the work put right promptly, than wait for months pursuing a civil claim?
As far as the PWN is concerned, that train has already left the station, unless you want to bear the costs of an injunction ordering them to cease all further work on the party wall.

somethingcorporate

macman wrote: »

I've got a radical suggestion here. The damage has been caused by your neigbour's contractors, so why don't you actually talk to them (the neighbours) about it, rather than posting notes through their letterbox or calling your solicitor?
Yes, of course you can claim compensation for your quantifiable losses. but wouldn't you rather have the work put right promptly, than wait for months pursuing a civil claim?
As far as the PWN is concerned, that train has already left the station, unless you want to bear the costs of an injunction ordering them to cease all further work on the party wall.

Get away with your new-fangled, fancy logic!! They should be lynched like in the olden days!!

In all seriousness - OP, really? the first thing you think of is "how much cash can I make from this?".

Blimey some people!

Just use your brain and talk to the neighbours/contractors about getting it fixed without having to ring your solicitor/the police/your MP/ the PM!

Mojisola

t1redmonkey wrote: »

I can't do anything right now since I believe the builders finish each day at around 5pm, and I don't think there is anyone actually living in the property at the moment anyway while the property is being redone.

macman wrote: »

I've got a radical suggestion here. The damage has been caused by your neigbour's contractors, so why don't you actually talk to them (the neighbours) about it, rather than posting notes through their letterbox or calling your solicitor?

Difficult to talk to people when there's no-one there.

macman

Mojisola wrote: »

Difficult to talk to people when there's no-one there.

They're the neighbours-if OP doesn't have a number for them, then ask the builders for it-they obviously will have.

Mojisola

macman wrote: »

They're the neighbours-if OP doesn't have a number for them, then ask the builders for it-they obviously will have.

That could be done today but the builders had already gone last night.

Not being able to deal directly with the people concerned last night, I can understand coming on here to let off steam and discuss possibilities.

Gordon_Hose

Why bother with the neighbours - just speak to the builders. If they don't play ball find out who they are and go through their insurance.

giraffe69

I was imagining a sizeable hole in a wall when I got back home that wasn't there when I left and the aggravation that was about to ensue even if the builders held up their hands and offered to repair. Then I thought that if nothing had been received regarding the party wall act then either the neighbours or builders or both were dodgy.
The tenor of quite a lot of the replies to this thread are hostile and strange. Is it not reasonable to feel a touch upset at what has happened?
I agree that it is best to talk to the builders asap and not scream and swear at them but does anyone really believe this is something they are unaware of?
For sure I would contact the local authority and determine whether all this building had all the necessary permissions.
I would think hole repaired properly, redecoration of the room done to a proper standard was the absolute minimum that should be expected and just in case I would find out the details of the builders insurers if at all possible.

DRP

Are we any the wiser regarding the size and extent of the "huge" hole?