cracked wall due to neighbour's renovation

cybervic

Hi,

I'm wondering if I could get some opinions please.

My next door neighbour is doing a full renovation on their flat and has removed the original plaster on their side of party wall and stripped it to bare bricks. My side of the party wall has some cracks appearing now and I think it is due to the vibration during plaster removing process because my side of the wall was skimmed few years ago.

Are the neighbour or their builder responsible for the cracks? Our party wall is solid bricks, there is no damage on the structure wall, just surface cracks.

Thanks.

Doozergirl

How old is your plaster work?

Purely removing and replacing plaster does not fall under the party wall act, so there was no need for an agreement or for them to repair damage on your side.

If next door's plaster was old enough to need replacing then if yours is a similar age, then it's probably just a reflection of that. The vibration of it coming off the wall on the other side may well show yours up for being elderly.

The lime mortar in old party walls is very dry and crumbly and when one side goes, it's likely that the other will too.

Knock your walls lightly. If it's the original plaster, anything that sounds hollow will have blown.

AdrianC

Skimming over old plaster makes old plaster look prettier. It doesn't make knackered plaster solid.

zaqxsw

If they have caused damage they should fix it - but you should be sure before pursuing this.

This is arguably a party wall matter, i.e. section 2(2)(b) - repairing a party wall, though I think this would fall into the 'de minimis' category (too minor to be dealt with by the Act).

The general principal though, in my view, is that if you cause damage to a neighbour's property, you pay.