Neighbour digging up our back garden with JCB

Comms69

sframpton wrote: »

Thanks for all the advice. I'm more annoyed that we weren't told about all the work than anything else! I appreciate all your points - it's just a bit unnerving when a JCB turns up in your back garden and starts digging it up!

I don't see why.


If nothing else I would pop out to offer a cup of tea or coffee.


There is no reason to think that these workmen are any threat whatsoever.


The likelihood of any one of them being threatening is low, even more remote is that the rest wouldn't tell them to wind their neck in.

sframpton

Also I am not complaining about them putting up a new fence - I wouldn't have had issue with that. What I don't like is that they have dug up most of our garden in order to do so!

Rural_Puppy

I would get on the phone to your landlord NOW and tell them what is happening. The landlord may or may not know about it, and if damage is being caused to the garden, may not have authorised this. If it were my property, I would want to know! Get a few brownie points with your landlord by telling them, and equally, if they do know about it all, ask them exactly what they have agreed to.

sframpton

I'm not saying they are threatening at all! That's not what I am getting at, so please don't think it is! It's more that I just wouldn't feel comfortable going out there to ask them what's going on.

ACG

They may have explained it poorly to your landlord. It may be that your landlord does not care and it was explained correctly to him but not to you.

They are builders, not thugs. They may (or may not) be a bit rough around the edges but that does not mean they can not have a proper conversation with you. We have a few builders in our family and all have shaved heads and swear loads but they also have families. I was walking through a town centre with my 18 month old a couple of months ago and we she was shouting "hiya" and waving at everyone. We were walking past 3 builders on their lunch and they all stopped and said hiya back. But to look at them they were all 6 ft and 20 stone but put a toddler in front of them and they become soft as anything.

Have a brandy and say you agreed to the fence being put up but not the levelling of your garden and ask if they can stay off your side. Ask for the foreman/gaffer/boss man.

Norman_Castle

sframpton wrote: »

Our landlord knocked on our door a couple of weeks ago and said that the new buyers were going to be putting a fence around our garden whilst they did work. I said fine.

Fast forward to today and our neighbours are in our back garden with a JCB and they have dug up half of our back garden (all the planters which bordered our garden, our fence etc.). They've essentially flattened our back garden.

I've no idea what to do. I'm currently home alone with my 6 month old and wouldn't feel confident going out to ask what was going on.

I would expect for health and safety a temporary fence between your garden and a building site. Heras fencing is normally used which doesn't require any groundworks or significant intrusion to your garden.
https://www.safesitefacilities.co.uk/knowledge-base/site-hoarding-requirements-for-building-and-construction-sites

Has part of your rented properties garden been sold for the development? If not you should contact the landlord.

The workers are probably a bit surprised that you haven't been out to speak to them. Just wander out to ask when and where the fence is being fitted. Highly likely they will be very friendly and helpful.

quantumlobster

sframpton wrote: »

I've no idea what to do. I'm currently home alone with my 6 month old and wouldn't feel confident going out to ask what was going on.

Any advice please? Thanks.

Be rational. What do you think will happen? If you go out with the offer of tea and biscuits, all will be well.

hb2

quantumlobster wrote: »

Be rational. What do you think will happen? If you go out with the offer of tea and biscuits, all will be well.

I agree. Go out, offer tea and say that the work looks rather more than you had been led to expect and what are they actually going to do*?

*ask them what they are going to do, I don't mean that I am asking you what they might do in response to your question!

-taff

Comms69 wrote: »

Literally nothing you said is correct

He informed her , so gave notice, that the fence was being built,she agreed so they aren't trespassing.
She's not complaining about the fence being built just that it's more intrusive than she thinks it was going to be.
Thanks for pointing out what I said was incorrect, except it wasn't.

sframpton

Yeah maybe I should have just put my big girl knickers on earlier and gone out and asked! Nevermind, like I said we will be moving shortly anyway so it's not really a big deal - it's more the principle of it!