Neighbours boundary wall crumbling

m0t

My house was built in the 1930's and is on a shallow hill. The front door is on the side of the property with driveways between each set of semi detached houses.

The slope of the hill means that my neighbours driveway is about 1m higher than mine at our front doors and there is a brick retaining wall in the middle of the two drives.

They frequently park their car in their garage (which were all built in the back gardens of the houses) and have over time damaged the top of the wall by driving over it. The bricks are also badly frost damaged along the length and are bowing outwards in several places. The boundary is our neighbours responsibility according to the property titles.

We had a conversation a few years ago about them getting it fixed and I think they got quotes but didn't go ahead because of the price of it. I've mentioned it a few times since then and they've said they'll get around to it 'soon'.

Is there anything I can do to force them to repair this now? If it was just a fence then I'd have no chance but this is retaining their drive and a safety issue.

AnotherJoe

Is your car parked in such a way that if the wall gives way it will damage yours? I so I think a formal letter to them stating that you can forsee damage occurring and that if this occurs, due to their negligence you will be claiming damages which potentially will be more than the cost to fix the wall.

hazyjo

There's probably not even any responsibility to actually repair it. Doesn't sound like it's an integral part of anyone's property, just a lone obviously short wall. How is it a safety issue? That it might collapse? If they're driving over it, surely it can't be much higher than a kerb?! Why does the drive area need 'retaining'? Is it not obvious where theirs starts and yours ends? You could instal your own fence or wall on your side alongside it - would that work?

DoaM

I wonder if it's a retaining/supporting wall for the neighbour's driveway? (To visualise, imagine each house is sitting on a step cut away from the side of the hill). If it's as I'm picturing it then the wall collapsing may impact the structural integrity of neighbour's driveway.

Edit: Just re-read the OP; it even says that it is.

Mojisola

m0t wrote: »

My house was built in the 1930's and is on a shallow hill. The front door is on the side of the property with driveways between each set of semi detached houses.

The slope of the hill means that my neighbours driveway is about 1m higher than mine at our front doors and there is a brick retaining wall in the middle of the two drives.

Is there anything I can do to force them to repair this now? If it was just a fence then I'd have no chance but this is retaining their drive and a safety issue.

If they think it's expensive now, they won't be happy to pay for sorting out a collapse!

You may need to get a letter from a solicitor to prompt them to deal with it now.

Yellow_mango

What is not clear from your posts is exactly how this affects you. If the wall did collapse, would it be likely to damage your property, restrict your access to your property, or risk your safety? If so, that’s what you need to focus on, making clear that they would be liable for any such damage / loss / injury.

If not, and your concern is primarily cosmetic, then leave them to it.

G_M

There are 2 approaches.


Threats, warnings of liability/cost if it collapses and causes damage, solicior's letter, legal enforcement action. Might well work in terms of getting the wall strengthened/repaired. Might take months, years. Don't expect a christmas card!


Tea, cake and compromise. Get quotes yourself. Offer to pay half.



Much depends on personality of course (yours and theirs!) but I know which approach I'd prefer if possible.