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Virgin Media works have damaged my house
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badgercox
Posts: 8 Forumite


Hi. I am looking for some advice please from anyone who might have had a similar problem as me or anyone who has any information that they could share.
Virgin Media are currently laying new cables in my area. The works have gone down the side of my house (130 year old end of terrace) and some of the digging is up to the brick work. There has been some movement in the inner wall of the house, but my survey said that it was old movement and should not cause any problems in the future. The digging with pneumatic drills to dig the pavement up was so bad that the house was shaking and I had to ask them to stop. Some mortar on the cellar walls was falling off and dust and debris was falling through the cracks that were already there. A couple of guys came to have a look at the house. I explained that there has been old movement in the house as I was worried that the work they were doing would cause damage. They said that everything should be fine and the work continued. The works have been going on for 3 weeks, not all at the side of my house, but more drilling started this week as they are putting some junction box at the side of my house. Some plaster started to fall off in the cellar, (the cellar hasn't been refurbished, so its just the original condition) and i have noticed that more cracks have appeared in the house.
I emailed Virgin to complain and a couple of days later I got a visit from a member of staff. They said the construction company was not accepting liability for the damage and that my house is in a state of disrepair. My house is being refurbished, but I can only do it as I save for each room, so it can't all be done at once. The hallway and stairs where the damage is, haven't been done yet, but one of the bedrooms has, which now has cracks. The guy from Virgin said that there legal team would be looking into it but I should claim on my insurance.
I am worried that my insurance won't pay and also I don't see why I should claim for something that wasn't my fault. I am unsure how to move forward with this, but I have asked Virgin to put everything in writing. I am concerned that my house has been damaged by this work and if they have weakened the gable end, that it could cost thousands of pounds to repair.
Any advice would be very much appreciated.
Virgin Media are currently laying new cables in my area. The works have gone down the side of my house (130 year old end of terrace) and some of the digging is up to the brick work. There has been some movement in the inner wall of the house, but my survey said that it was old movement and should not cause any problems in the future. The digging with pneumatic drills to dig the pavement up was so bad that the house was shaking and I had to ask them to stop. Some mortar on the cellar walls was falling off and dust and debris was falling through the cracks that were already there. A couple of guys came to have a look at the house. I explained that there has been old movement in the house as I was worried that the work they were doing would cause damage. They said that everything should be fine and the work continued. The works have been going on for 3 weeks, not all at the side of my house, but more drilling started this week as they are putting some junction box at the side of my house. Some plaster started to fall off in the cellar, (the cellar hasn't been refurbished, so its just the original condition) and i have noticed that more cracks have appeared in the house.
I emailed Virgin to complain and a couple of days later I got a visit from a member of staff. They said the construction company was not accepting liability for the damage and that my house is in a state of disrepair. My house is being refurbished, but I can only do it as I save for each room, so it can't all be done at once. The hallway and stairs where the damage is, haven't been done yet, but one of the bedrooms has, which now has cracks. The guy from Virgin said that there legal team would be looking into it but I should claim on my insurance.
I am worried that my insurance won't pay and also I don't see why I should claim for something that wasn't my fault. I am unsure how to move forward with this, but I have asked Virgin to put everything in writing. I am concerned that my house has been damaged by this work and if they have weakened the gable end, that it could cost thousands of pounds to repair.
Any advice would be very much appreciated.
0
Comments
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Is your house in disrepair?If yes, would your house be experiencing the same problems if it was in a good condition?1
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Hi. The house is in need of refurbishment, which is what I am currently doing, but no its not in disrepair. I had a survey done on it a couple of years ago and I have addressed any issues that needed to be done. The house itself is in good condition for 130 years old.0
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Let your insurers deal with it. That's what you pay your premiums for.No free lunch, and no free laptop0
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