Neighbors cables on flat roof.

Phil4432

Afternoon all,

So I'm just in the process of assisting a family member with getting their flat roofs repaired.  Her neighbour has cables running on my relatives flat roof(link detached).  They may get in the way during the work, roofer will confirm if he needs them removed or not.

This isn't the nicest of neighbors unfortunately.  My thoughts are to advice sending a letter asking for the cables to be removed, and if that's not done simply cut them.  But not sure of that would be criminal damage or not; its one thing to cut an overhanging bush and another to cut cables.  However, the cables are not wanted and are clearly on someone else's property. 

Any thoughts appreciated.

FreeBear

Phil4432 said: My thoughts are to advice sending a letter asking for the cables to be removed, and if that's not done simply cut them.  But not sure of that would be criminal damage or not

Yes, it would be criminal damage. And if any of the cables are "live", there is a very real risk of electrocution.

Bendy_House

Hi Phil.

Please tell us that your family friend has LegProt on their house insurance? They DO! Great! Call them up.

As FB says, you cannot just cut these cables. Annoying as it'll be, they'll need to go through the correct process to have them removed.

Are they attached to the roof, or just draped there? Why are they there - any obvious reason? To allow the roofing work to continue unabated whilst the permanent issue of it being there is addressed, could it be propped up out of the way?

Section62

Phil4432 said:

However, the cables are not wanted and are clearly on someone else's property. 

Any idea what the cables do?

TV aerial(s)?

BT/Openreach phone lines?

Mains electric for something?


BT/Openreach would be the more problematic one, as they may have a right for the cables to be where they are.

theonlywayisup

They may not be the nicest of neighbours but an LBA before any communication on this subject is equally not nice.

My water pipes go over a neighbouring farmers land.  Their electricity over mine.  

Is there a bonafide reason the cables are there, could the neighbour not realise....there may be a multitude of reasons/questions but barging in with an LBA won't find the solution. 

TELLIT01

Can the cables be lifted off the roof and clipped to the wall of the neighbour's house.  Cutting them would almost certainly be classed as criminal damage and the neighbour might react negatively too!

EssexExile

Don't send a letter, speak to them. Be nice, they might be nice back, if not then take it from there.

greenface2

i doubt they put them there . I'm sure they are there and that way for a reason . what are they ? if you don't want to ask them chase them back the other way and see where they go

Phil4432

Thanks for the replies,

They aren't the nicest of neighbors and not on talking terms.  What they actually do is unclear, possibly for lighting fixtures.  They could simply be clipped on to the neighbors wall, then they wouldn't be on my relatives flat roof.   

Forgive my sarcasm, but I don't see how I or anyone could put cables on my neighbors private property and they have to just put up with it.

If there's a law I'm missing on this, I'd be happy to see it. 

Davesnave

Phil4432 said:

Forgive my sarcasm, but I don't see how I or anyone could put cables on my neighbors private property and they have to just put up with it.

If there's a law I'm missing on this, I'd be happy to see it. 

It's fairly common knowledge that major utility companies, like electricity  and phone, will work with householders over the routing of cables, poles etc and usually succeed in reaching an acceptable solution. However, where that doesn't happen and push comes to shove, they can pretty much do as they wish, especially if the provision of the service depends on a certain action.
I'm not saying necessity is the case here of course. After all, none of us can see these cables and you haven't positively ID'd them.

littleboo

Write to them, advising that work will be undertaken on the roof and ask them to ensure their cables are re-routed onto their property in good time to prevent any risk of damage Give them reasonable notice to make the arrangements.