Builders got dirt on neighbour's car

sugar-walsh

There's a way to approach it, that's all I'm saying. Sounds like neither was right. 

CKhalvashi

Doozergirl said:

Cars get dirty all the time.  That's why we have to wash them.   Whether it's salt from the road, mud, sand from the Sahara, bird poop or building dust, it's just a part of life.

I can't help reading the entire post as 'man washes dirty car'.   I'd probably give him £20 to be quiet but I agree with the phrase man child for someone who rants before they've even established that there is a problem.  It's embarrassing behaviour, especially to now hate your neighbours for something that didn't actually happen and they didn't do.  

Behaving like a grown up would have seen absolutely no drama.  

I can only agree with this.

My car is currently caked in jet fuel residue along with associated dirt from general use over about the last month. There's an expectation I'll take the airport to court from this? Maybe the largest airline at that airport (which also happens to be OH's employer so probably wouldn't go too well)?

Like mine, it simply needs to be cleaned, nothing more, nothing less. Such environmental dust is very unlikely to damage the paintwork long term.

Postik

Some people are more precious about their car than others.  There's also the possibility the car had recently been cleaned and then got covered in cement dust, which would be highly irritating.  The builders could have asked for the car to be moved but as I see time and time again, tradesmen have tunnel vision and are so focused on the task at hand they don't care what else gets damaged in the process (I'm not suggesting all tradesmen are like this, but a lot of them are).

If it were me personally I might be inclined to buy a £5 box of chocolates and a "sorry" card and give them to my neighbour as a peace offering.  Even if he is an a***, I would be trying to make things as amicable as possible for a peaceful life.

Andy_L

Postik said:

Some people are more precious about their car than others.  There's also the possibility the car had recently been cleaned and then got covered in cement dust, which would be highly irritating.  The builders could have asked for the car to be moved but as I see time and time again, tradesmen have tunnel vision and are so focused on the task at hand they don't care what else gets damaged in the process (I'm not suggesting all tradesmen are like this, but a lot of them are).

If it were me personally I might be inclined to buy a £5 box of chocolates and a "sorry" card and give them to my neighbour as a peace offering.  Even if he is an a***, I would be trying to make things as amicable as possible for a peaceful life.

I'm guessing that if the cement dust then got damp & dried before being cleaned off it would make a right old mess

Bigphil1474

Generally, builders should be putting in mitigation to prevent nuisance (such as dust) affecting properties neighbouring where they work. If dust is interfering with the enjoyment of the neighbours home, the builders should take preventive measures to remedy the problem. They will normally be required to provide adequate screening and damping down during all demolition activities, sandblasting, clearance work, breaking up of existing ground surfaces and other site preparation activities.  Potentially an offence under EPA. If the builders were smart, they would have identified the problem and buttered the neighbour up to ward off any potential complaint to the local council. 

I think the neighbour was right to be annoyed, and If it was me I would have paid for their car to be cleaned and kept my fingers crossed it hadn't done any serious damage to the paintwork.
 

GenieBoy

I wasn't having full scale building works done. It was just a new wall at the bottom of my garden and the dust was from when they were laying the concrete foundation. Builders were only here for a couple of days.

housebuyer143

My neighbour had all new windows and they were outside grinding bricks all day. Brick dust was everywhere! I mean my windows, front steps were filthy and the car. 
The builders actually did come and clean all my windows and frames without asking but my car was disgusting so I understand how frustrating it is. I didn't complain but I wasn't particularly happy about it. Can't say I blame the neighbour for being annoyed tbh. A sorry and offering to pay for the clean would have been a fair gesture.
Doesn't matter how much dust you think there was, it does get everywhere especially if it was windy.

JohnJ76

our neighbours had an extension built and their builders were the biggest cowboys ever.  came out one day to find my car (on my drive) covered in bits of mortar (no not just dust but mortar snots or whatever they are called ) that had dried all over the paintwork, windscreen, had to wash it all the stuff off te windscreen before i drove it. neighbour was apologetic, builder was a bit put out that i had dared complain so after that it became very difficult for him to get his van anywhere near the property thanks to my sons transit.  he was still an idiot but one that had to keep carrying all his gear and materials up the road everyday.  i'd have been happy with an apology and one of his guys hosing the car off at the end of the day but if he wants to be petty i can be pettier

Gunner276

apologise and give him £20 to get his car washed. Problem solved

jonnydeppiwish!

We’re having our driveway paved at present and there’s a lot of dust from cutting the concrete at the boundary. Whilst the neighbour knew about this and could have easily moved their van to prevent it being covered in dust, they didn’t. That’s their prerogative. 

As such, I’ve offered to pay for it to be cleaned - they said they’ll take it down to the jet wash and let me pay for it. I will, plus a bottle of wine 😉