Neighbours scaffolding extended over my property

Herzlos

That seems pretty heavy handed. If you get on with the neighbour, ask for their assurance that the builders will be careful and any damage will be taking care of, and then get on with your life.

Complaining because some scaffolding is touching your house? Really?

Doozergirl

It's all very well sending letters threatening legal acrion, but does the OP actually have any legal repose? And what is the point of being obstructive?

If next door's house is against the boundary, then there will almost certainly be something written into the deeds that allows them access to that side of their house for maintenance.

It's scaffolding, not a permanent extension and to some degree we ought to live and let live, even if our neighbours can't communicate properly.

If the Mdf has gone, go and ask them to put it back! That is the only vulnerable part of the house from what we've heard so it's reasonable to ask.

I really cannot see the need for thread after thread on this. It's really not that exciting. Go and find the site manager, ask them to protect the conservatory roof again and stop going on about it to us. It might be causing anxiety, but the anxiety is increased by not just dealing with it like an adult.

Doozergirl

Esmerelda98, what you describe is not assertive, it is aggressive. How on God's earth do you even suggest taking down two storey high scaffolding safely for all concerned? Because it's overhanging a boundary. Ridiculous.

If someone's scaffolding overhanging my boundary is the worst thing that happens this week, it's going to be a good week.

People seem to forget that the purpose of scaffolding is to save lives. A temporary loss of amenity is a small price to pay for that, even when it isn't your job.

I don't condone doing it without proper communication, because the issue here is really communication. It shouldn't be the scaffolding. Invite the neighbours in for a cup of tea and a nice chat about their exciting new extension and create some empathy for each other.

phoenix_w

Doozergirl wrote: »

Esmerelda98, what you describe is not assertive, it is aggressive.

I read it and assumed it was sarcasm, to be honest!

What Doozergirl said was about right, though. Remember that the neighbours that are having the work done probably had no idea about where the scaffolding was going to be placed - I think very few of these practical things are known by laymen until the people doing the work have done what they think is needed.

Ask them to put the boards back, make it clear to your neighbours that you mean no malice and wish them well in their new extension.

Once the scaffolding comes down, you still have to live together - try not to jeopardise a good relationship over a temporary erection (oo-er).

quidsy

I had this happen to our house, the neighbors owned, we rented, was working at home, went out to move the bins & our side alley which OH used to get his bike in & out every day had been rendered unpassable & there were 6 massive poles butting up the side wall.


I went over to ask why no one had asked me, they claimed they didn't know anyone was in, umm, windows open, not even a single knock at the door.


I told them they had to be moved to make the alley passable by next day, I was ignored so I wrote a letter on advice of family solicitor, stating if the poles weren't removed from my side of the fence within 24hrs I would hire my own scaffold crew to do it & bill them accordingly.


I received a laughable letter in reply, looked as if written by an illiterate 9 year old & after a stand up row with the clearly delusional neighbor, the poles were removed by the roofing firm.


Relations were never good after that & we moved when the lease was up, one of the benefits of renting.

zaax

Injunctions are cheap and easy done, though if you have legal insurance is better done by them.

Doozergirl

quidsy wrote: »

Relations were never good after that & we moved when the lease was up, one of the benefits of renting.

Was it worth it?

I can't ever see that creating bad feeling is worth it.

Sometimes people do things that we don't like, but it's how we choose to deal with it that ultimately makes the difference in whether it is something bearable or something that creates permanent bad feeling.

stockton_2

esmerelda98 wrote: »

I would write them a letter giving them 24 hours to remove their scaffolding from my property entirely.

Very British! Dish out ultimatums. Isn't that what Chamberlain did in 1939? Look what happened!

esmerelda98

First of all, the scaffolding isn't just overhanging the boundary. I would not be happy with that without even a, 'Sorry, our scaffolding is overhanging a bit', but it is a relatively small issue. The scaffolding is pushed right up to his house. He has previously shared his concerns with them and they have then gone and made things worse. It's like poking someone in the eye and pushing them in the chest and expecting them to bring you a cup of tea the next minute.

The neighbours, by way of their scaffolders, are the ones being dominating and aggressive, in the sense of, 'We will do what we like and you will just have to suck it up.' We do have many posts on here where people do just that, because they don't know that they can do anything.

Secondly, I never suggested sending a letter threatening legal action, I said send a letter telling them to remove the scaffolding within 24 hours. What I didn't say is that if it isn't taken down I would take further action. Not court action. The might think I mean court action but that would not be my next move. I would never threaten legal action if I am not prepared to follow through.

How to take the scaffolding down safely? That I don't know, but safely or not it would be coming down unless I physically couldn't do it at all or get someone who can to do it.

They may have rights to erect scaffolding to maintain their property, you are right. I didn't consider that as the description implies there is space between the property and the boundary, but if they cannot be considerate and respectful to their neighbour and get his permission they can go to court to enforce their right, with all the delays and costs that would involve. You don't just pitch up and do what you like on someone else's property. And I can't see a court granting allowing them to put their scaffolding right up against the house next door ( it is not a terrace!). In fact it would be better for the OP if they go to court so they can have all the safety precautions spelt out in the court order.

Talking to the neighbour is a good first step, I'm not disputing that. But I won't keep talking if they're not listening.

Doozergirl

Yes, of course. The stress of confrontation, court, time spent writing shirty letters and paying solicitors or finding someone to remove scaffolding is far less stressful than speaking nicely to people about getting some protection for the conservatory again or even just getting on with your life while it's there.

Can you see how creating more negative feeling affects a person? You would turn day to day life into a nightmare for both, until one moved away, with hatred flying over these all important boundaries. Since when was a line in the air more important than being nice.

You can choose how to deal with things. It's not necessary to blow things out of proportion. There's no evidence to suggest that the neighbours are malicious, only thoughtless. Personally, I'd rather enjoy the sunshine and a gin and tonic than start a fight over a temporary inconvenience.

Peace