Neighbours builders dropping cement on my new patio

Flappercoxy

My neighbours builders have drop cement on my new patio.  I have photo evidence but the are refusing to pay for my patio to be cleaned. They said i have to claim through my house insurance to their builders liability, but will not give us any details for this !!  Can anyone advise?

Jenni_D

Do you know the company name (and company number)? If yes then raise it with your home insurance, give them the details and take it from there.

Alternatively, get quotes for cleaning the patio, advise them of the cost and request that they reimburse you. If no positive response send them a Letter of Claim (Letter Before Action). If no positive response raise a county court claim via MCOL (I'm assuming England/Wales here).

TELLIT01

Your neighbour should be able to provide full details of the builder involved.  If they are still working on the property I would put plastic sheetin down to protect the patio.  That's something they should have arranged, but they clearly aren't the type to care.

Norman_Castle

What has the neigbour said?  Have you asked your insurer if you need to claim through them or if you can claim directly from the builders insurance?

shiraz99

A good run over with a pressure washer will remove the cement stains.

user1977

You claim against the builders, it's up to them whether they pass the claim on to their insurers.

Bradden

user1977 said:

You claim against the builders, it's up to them whether they pass the claim on to their insurers.

Could you not claim againhst the neighbours themselves as the builders were working under contract for them?

user1977

Bradden said:

user1977 said:

You claim against the builders, it's up to them whether they pass the claim on to their insurers.

Could you not claim againhst the neighbours themselves as the builders were working under contract for them?

Yes, that would be another possibility.

I don't know how much money we're talking about - it doesn't sound like the sort of thing which be going to insurers anyway? Surely it just needs the perpetrator (or their client) to pop round and clean up the mess?

unholyangel

Bradden said:

user1977 said:

You claim against the builders, it's up to them whether they pass the claim on to their insurers.

Could you not claim againhst the neighbours themselves as the builders were working under contract for them?

Yes, the landowner could be liable. Often it's quicker (and less hassle for the builder's clients) if the builder settles directly, since they'd normally, in turn, be liable to their client. 

I'd put pressure on the neighbour. 

This is all assuming it is actually damaged and not just "dirt" that can be easily washed off (ie doesn't require specialist equipment or knowledge to remove).

Jenni_D

unholyangel said:

Bradden said:

user1977 said:

You claim against the builders, it's up to them whether they pass the claim on to their insurers.

Could you not claim againhst the neighbours themselves as the builders were working under contract for them?

Yes, the landowner could be liable. Often it's quicker (and less hassle for the builder's clients) if the builder settles directly, since they'd normally, in turn, be liable to their client. 

I'd put pressure on the neighbour. 

This is all assuming it is actually damaged and not just "dirt" that can be easily washed off (ie doesn't require specialist equipment or knowledge to remove).

I guess it may depend on the construct of the drive itself ... cement which has "set" on certain surfaces may not be so easy to remove. (OP says cement, not cement dust).

Flappercoxy

Jenni_D said:

Do you know the company name (and company number)? If yes then raise it with your home insurance, give them the details and take it from there.

Alternatively, get quotes for cleaning the patio, advise them of the cost and request that they reimburse you. If no positive response send them a Letter of Claim (Letter Before Action). If no positive response raise a county court claim via MCOL (I'm assuming England/Wales here).

Our neighbour will not tell us there name etc just a white van.. my home insurance said it’s nothing to do with them it’s down to my neighbour.  I will be getting a quote to clean it.
my neighbour is very unapproachable