Northern Powergrid are demanding they dig up my drive!

Clint_Magnum

My neighbouring property of my semi detatched house has been sold to a builder and he is renovating.
Northern Powergrid have been in touch. This builder has moved his power supply during the renovation. Apparently both houses share the same power supply and as such they wish to dig up part of my paved driveway and knock through my garage to replace my power supply.
The house is currently listed for sale and any disruption may put off buyers, notwithstanding the issue of digging up the driveway and it not being returned to the same condition as the drive is large and it was quite expensive to get it level when the drive was fitted.

I advised them to hang on until the house sold but they now are stating they will disconnect the electricity if I don't allow them onto the land. I stated that I was seeking legal advice and they were not allowed onto the property yet, so now they're stating they've now revisited & reassessed the situation and the current pipe is of obsolete style and also corroded and in need of replacement therefore they have the right to disconnect.

It's clear they are only moving the pipe to accommodate the builder next door (who incidentally will be selling the neighbouring house and therefore direct competition as I'm trying to sell mine).
Any ideas what the legal stance is on this anyone? Do I have to allow this and what guarantees re compensation can I ensure?

poppasmurf_bewdley

See a solicitor.

Clint_Magnum

Got solicitor already booked for 3rd June, just wondered if anyone had been through similar.

[Deleted User]

I don`t think that Northern Powergrid would be sending off letters like that if they did nt have a legal right to enter your property to dig up cables without your permission.
I remember a book published by a university professor about 10 years ago which made the news about just how many different people are allowed by law to enter your property and do what they are permitted to do and it was over a 100 different bodies and certainly the local DNO s were one of them. Check this before letting solicitors loose on your behalf

GingerBob_3

sacsquacco wrote: »

I don`t think that Northern Powergrid would be sending off letters like that if they did nt have a legal right to enter your property to dig up cables without your permission.
I remember a book published by a university professor about 10 years ago which made the news about just how many different people are allowed by law to enter your property and do what they are permitted to do and it was over a 100 different bodies and certainly the local DNO s were one of them. Check this before letting solicitors loose on your behalf

Yes, it is certainly a large number. What a shlt country we live in.


OP, I would definitely see the solicitor. Don't let them blag you into thinking they're completely in the right.

footyguy

Clint_Magnum wrote: »

My neighbouring property of my semi detatched house has been sold to a builder and he is renovating.
Northern Powergrid have been in touch. This builder has moved his power supply during the renovation. Apparently both houses share the same power supply and as such they wish to dig up part of my paved driveway and knock through my garage to replace my power supply.
The house is currently listed for sale and any disruption may put off buyers, notwithstanding the issue of digging up the driveway and it not being returned to the same condition as the drive is large and it was quite expensive to get it level when the drive was fitted.

I advised them to hang on until the house sold but they now are stating they will disconnect the electricity if I don't allow them onto the land. I stated that I was seeking legal advice and they were not allowed onto the property yet, so now they're stating they've now revisited & reassessed the situation and the current pipe is of obsolete style and also corroded and in need of replacement therefore they have the right to disconnect.

It's clear they are only moving the pipe to accommodate the builder next door (who incidentally will be selling the neighbouring house and therefore direct competition as I'm trying to sell mine).
Any ideas what the legal stance is on this anyone? Do I have to allow this and what guarantees re compensation can I ensure?

Probably best to get things sorted before you continue to attempt to sell the property.
You'll have to tell potential buyers someone is demanding "to dig up part of [your] paved driveway and knock through [your] garage"

I'm sure that threat, let alone the suggestion you currently appear to have an unsafe supply (a faulty supply that if not rectified will be severed completely), would put a lot of potential buyers off, and those that would continue to be interested would take advantage of this adverse situation affecting the property at present.

Why are you waiting until 3rd June to see your solicitor?

Clint_Magnum

I'm out of the area until beginning of June with work.

undaunted

Clint_Magnum wrote: »

My neighbouring property of my semi detatched house has been sold to a builder and he is renovating.
Northern Powergrid have been in touch. This builder has moved his power supply during the renovation. Apparently both houses share the same power supply and as such they wish to dig up part of my paved driveway and knock through my garage to replace my power supply.
The house is currently listed for sale and any disruption may put off buyers, notwithstanding the issue of digging up the driveway and it not being returned to the same condition as the drive is large and it was quite expensive to get it level when the drive was fitted.

I advised them to hang on until the house sold but they now are stating they will disconnect the electricity if I don't allow them onto the land. I stated that I was seeking legal advice and they were not allowed onto the property yet, so now they're stating they've now revisited & reassessed the situation and the current pipe is of obsolete style and also corroded and in need of replacement therefore they have the right to disconnect.

It's clear they are only moving the pipe to accommodate the builder next door (who incidentally will be selling the neighbouring house and therefore direct competition as I'm trying to sell mine).
Any ideas what the legal stance is on this anyone? Do I have to allow this and what guarantees re compensation can I ensure?

Accomodating the builder is of little significance to them surely. Isn't it more likely that they are concerned that the pipe is corroded & should that prove an issue you - and they / their insurers having known about it & done nothing - will have far more than inconvenience to worry about! You are entitled to expect the drive to be reinstated as they found it but I seriously doubt that anyone will support you in preventing them access until after you've sold it. If they do disconnect the supply how attractive do you think the house will be to buyers?

ToomanyPies

We had a similar situation from the other perspective with my mother's house. The supply incomer came into her house and there was a separate fuse supplying next door via a cable running along the front of both houses. That cable had deteriorated and needed to be removed and next door provided with their own separate supply. The neighbour ignored all communication with Scottish Power and eventually their supply was disconnected. Their house was unoccupiied at the time so it wasn't too serious for them. They subsequently had their own supply cable installed.