Neighbour has had scaffolding up for TEN YEARS

Tom_R

A neighbour of ourse has had scaffold up on his house for over 10 years now and it's an eyesore on our nice neighbourhood.
He says it's because he's doing some "lead work" but none of our neighbours have ever even seen him up there, except for one day 2 years ago when he was spotted sunbathing and having a nice cup of tea!

I, and indeed other neighbours, have asked him several times to take down the scaffold (most recently on Saturday), but still it remains.

Where do we stand here legally? With whom would I even file a complaint to?

We are in Leeds, West Yorkshire by the way. I know geography can make a difference on such matters.

Thanks all!

campbell19925

"By law, you must check scaffolding to make sure it's safe:

before you first use it
every 7 days while it is up,
after alterations, damage or extreme weather conditions"

You could argue it's unsafe and report it to the council? (Is it unsafe - could that point be argued?)

worried_jim

Mad Harry next door to my parents had it up for 20 years until his death. We never saw him using it either, what a character!

moneyistooshorttomention

One presumes he realises that that scaffolding would be pretty helpful to a burglar - quick shin up onto it and a burglar could get at any open first floor windows too.

After all - they always tell people not to leave unlocked ladders anywhere a burglar might spot and use them. Cue for me removing some unlocked ladders left near my last house before now without my permission having been asked (which wouldnt have been given:cool:).

Davesnave

It's his house, so he can have scaffolding up it if he wishes, but it probably hasn't been hired if it's been there so long.


This raises the question of whether it was erected by a competent person and whether it's safe, so Environmental Health might be a good place to start, bearing the following in mind:


http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/safetytopics/scaffoldinginfo.htm

tony6403

I would be asking the local planning office to serve an enforcement notice for its removal as the scaffolding has become a permanent structure.

EachPenny

tony6403 wrote: »

I would be asking the local planning office to serve an enforcement notice for its removal as the scaffolding has become a permanent structure.

I have doubts this would be a very effective approach. I'm struggling to think how an enforcement notice would be worded in this situation.

Grenage

tony6403 wrote: »

I would be asking the local planning office to serve an enforcement notice for its removal as the scaffolding has become a permanent structure.

After 10 years, perhaps it's outside the planning permission window. Give it a few months and the polycarb sheets will be up, and he'll have himself the biggest lean-to you've ever seen.

[Deleted User]

Grab some spray paint! Wait till about 2am. Climbe up and spray ya Tag all over the house.

Davesnave

Summer17 wrote: »

Grab some spray paint! Wait till about 2am. Climbe up and spray ya Tag all over the house.

That'll be much better; scaffolding and graffiti!

tony6403

EachPenny wrote: »

I have doubts this would be a very effective approach. I'm struggling to think how an enforcement notice would be worded in this situation.

The council found the right words in this case :-
http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/9911708.Scaffolding_left_up_at_empty_Brighton_house_for_14_years/