Neighbour won't allow access to roof, Scotland

JohnSwift10

I am getting my soffits painted and while the workman was preparing the wood my neighbour, who I don't speak to and he doesn't speak to me, approached the workman and told him that he is not to go onto his roof to paint the soffit that overhangs his roof.

What can my neighbour actually do if my workman does go onto his roof to prepare and paint the overhanging soffit?

This is the same neighbour who complained to me that I was getting water into his garden when I was pressure washing my patio and if I didn't stop it I would be sorry.

This is in Scotland.

 

GDB2222

https://www.mylawyer.co.uk/going-onto-your-neighbours-land-a-A76076D34458/

Have a look here.

You would need to deal with this through a solicitor, so that your neighbour understands the legal situation. Otherwise, he may do something awful, like pull the ladder down whilst your workman is on it. 

Can you get the soffits replaced with something that does not need painting?

Bendy_House

Or, provided he cannot pull away the ladder, if your decorator is happy to continue, the job should be done before the neighb can take legal action...

You and deco need to be happy with this, of course...

Davesnave

I would suggest this is something your tradesman must decide about himself. Most trades have come across stroppy neighbours.They will assess the risks and thus take responsibility if they proceed. The threat of legal action is usually negligible in this context, unless damage is done.

JohnSwift10

I got my soffits painted and the workman was able to get onto my neighbours roof because he wasn't there.

The reason he wasn't there was because he was carted off to the hospital in an ambulance due to a heart attack

I hope it wasn't the stress of keeping an eye on my workman to make sure he didn't go onto his roof.

Bendy_House

JohnSwift10 said:

I got my soffits painted and the workman was able to get onto my neighbours roof because he wasn't there.

The reason he wasn't there was because he was carted off to the hospital in an ambulance due to a heart attack

I hope it wasn't the stress of keeping an eye on my workman to make sure he didn't go onto his roof.

Oh dear - that is terrible news. Just terrible.

Could you come and have a word with my neighbour too?

twopenny

I was woken by my neighbours scaffolders walking on my roof. No reason not to ask me.
But i would have wanted an agreed inspection of the condition of my roof and to know they had insurance should any damage be done.
Just because you two don't speak isn't a reason to climb on his roof. 
It's in your interest too because he could sue for damages that weren't your fault if you haven't agreed on the state of the roof. Your painter is trespassing on his property. And he will know if the painting has been done.
Probably a good idea to deal with this once and get something fixed that doesn't need painting.