Neighbours are hanging stuff on my extension without permission

1234

Hi, i would greatly appreciate the advice


The extension wall is 150mm from the boundary fence inside on my property but i have only just discovered that there has been drilling to hang up garden furniture/ornaments and plant hangers on the extension wall. 

Not happy about this as we have not given permission. I will be writing to them about having this removed but previously they have not allowed us to come on their side but want to ensure the damage they have caused is fixed

Alderbank

You have two options:

1. You can go to a solicitor to raise an injunction. It will cost £500-£1,000.

https://helix-law.co.uk/faq/how-to-get-an-injunction-against-a-neighbour/#:~:text=An%20injunction%20is%20a%20court,to%20court%20to%20request%20one.

      2. You can stop peeping into their garden to see what they are up to.

The moneysaving option is 2.

NorfolkCanary

Alderbank said:

You have two options:

1. You can go to a solicitor to raise an injunction. It will cost £500-£1,000.

https://helix-law.co.uk/faq/how-to-get-an-injunction-against-a-neighbour/#:~:text=An%20injunction%20is%20a%20court,to%20court%20to%20request%20one.

      2. You can stop peeping into their garden to see what they are up to.

The moneysaving option is 2.

Obviously getting on with neighbours is the best course of action, however it seems that ship has sailed. Perhaps a letter stating following a check on the roof {insert excuse here} you've noticed something hanging, you'd like those removed within 28 days, or you'll be removing those and returning the items to the front door.

Your point 2 opens a can of worms. I assume you'll be happy with me drilling into your walls to hang some belongings? Don't worry about cables, pipes or brick & mortar damage, I'll drill the holes well, no damage, honest guv!

Flugelhorn

Does this mean that they are leaning over a fence etc into your property to drill into your extension wall?

If so I would be tempted to just remove the items 

apw81

Alderbank said:

You have two options:

1. You can go to a solicitor to raise an injunction. It will cost £500-£1,000.

https://helix-law.co.uk/faq/how-to-get-an-injunction-against-a-neighbour/#:~:text=An%20injunction%20is%20a%20court,to%20court%20to%20request%20one.

      2. You can stop peeping into their garden to see what they are up to.

The moneysaving option is 2.

 Except, the building is 150mm inside the boundary, so OP is peeping into their own garden, between their extension and the boundary fence.

cymruchris

Install a higher fence that protects your wall? That'd probably cost the same as going to a solicitor to ask them to remove their bits? Then at least they'd be attaching stuff to the fence - not your wall.

ThisIsWeird

1234 said:

Hi, i would greatly appreciate the advice

Fell out with neighbour when we decided to build an extension. Whilst im happy to live here and not speak to them again.. they are just abusive about anything and everything. Unable to engage in a  civilised conversation to discuss any matter as they begin to use verbal abuse and threaten with physical violence. Other neighbours on the street have tried to intervene but they wont have anyone telling them what to do. 

The extension wall is 150mm from the boundary fence inside on my property but i have only just discovered that there has been drilling to hang up garden furniture/ornaments and plant hangers on the extension wall. 

Not happy about this as we have not given permission. I will be writing to them about having this removed but previously they have not allowed us to come on their side but want to ensure the damage they have caused is fixed.

Just after advice if they refuse the above, what further steps would i need to take as i doubt we could fit between the fence and wall to remove ourselves?

Ok, assuming the situation is exactly as you say - these neighbs are anti-social, aggressive, abusive, threatening, and other neighbours agree with you - then forget all the 'try and get on', and 'the best thing is to just...' platitudes.

The best thing is actually to gather evidence for their behaviour, and then insist either the police or the LA sort them out.

If they are attaching items to your wall, and if that wall is within your boundary, that is 'trespass with criminal damage'. Ie, that is a crime. And, for crimes, you involve the police.

Now, please tell me you have LegProt on your house insurance? You do! Great. Call them up and set in process a claim for damages. This will be for the removal of the items, and the making good of damage caused. Be guided by your LP, but the first stage will almost certainly be for you to obtain a couple of quotes for this work - make sure you specify you want it repaired to full original condition - and you submit that to your neighb by recorded delivery, and give them a week to pay up.

When they whine, you look them in the eye and say, "Well? What did you expect?"

When they don't pay, you hand this over to your LP. Sit back and enjoy.

You give no quarter to oles. They need to know the game is up. Hammer them on everything. They swear at you? You contact your LA. They threaten you? You call the police. These folk are the sort that Billy Butcher takes pleasure in sorting out.

EVIDENCE EVIDENCE EVIDENCE.

1234

Flugelhorn said:

Does this mean that they are leaning over a fence etc into your property to drill into your extension wall?

If so I would be tempted to just remove the items 

Yes they have done exactly this.I cant reach over due to size of gap.

ThisIsWeird said: 

The best thing is actually to gather evidence for their behaviour, and then insist either the police or the LA sort them out.

If they are attaching items to your wall, and if that wall is within your boundary, that is 'trespass with criminal damage'. Ie, that is a crime. And, for crimes, you involve the police.

Now, please tell me you have LegProt on your house insurance? You do! Great. Call them up and set in process a claim for damages. This will be for the removal of the items, and the making good of any damage caused. Be guided by your LP,

You give no quarter to oles. They need to know the game is up. Hammer them on everything. They swear at you? You contact your LA. They threaten you? You call the police. These folk are the sort that Billy Butcher takes pleasure in sorting out.

EVIDENCE EVIDENCE EVIDENCE.

I do have Legal protection (DAS) but apparently they dont cover this under their policy. In fact it looks like they dont cover anything... excuse my sarcasm but whatever I've asked them for assistance, i've been met with... "Policy doesnt cover it."

I have this all documented. 

- LA said they have no powers and to contact the Police.
- Police wont act as there is high threshold to meet for nuisance/harrassment/damage etc.
- Police also want evidence but only evidence i have is a log of all encounters.
- The other neighbours wont give statements, they have been witnesses to it - whilst they dont agree with their behavior they do not want to get on their bad side!

1234

Alderbank said:

You have two options:

1. You can go to a solicitor to raise an injunction. It will cost £500-£1,000.

https://helix-law.co.uk/faq/how-to-get-an-injunction-against-a-neighbour/#:~:text=An%20injunction%20is%20a%20court,to%20court%20to%20request%20one.

      2. You can stop peeping into their garden to see what they are up to.

The moneysaving option is 2.

I can see them from within my garden, if i look through the gaps between extension wall and fence.

I too would prefer the moneysaving option, We have only been here 5 years and to build a good relationship I have allowed them to do so much in the past when they have made any requests, lesson learnt.

ThisIsWeird

1234 said:

Flugelhorn said:

Does this mean that they are leaning over a fence etc into your property to drill into your extension wall?

If so I would be tempted to just remove the items 

Yes they have done exactly this.I cant reach over due to size of gap.

ThisIsWeird said: 

The best thing is actually to gather evidence for their behaviour, and then insist either the police or the LA sort them out.

If they are attaching items to your wall, and if that wall is within your boundary, that is 'trespass with criminal damage'. Ie, that is a crime. And, for crimes, you involve the police.

Now, please tell me you have LegProt on your house insurance? You do! Great. Call them up and set in process a claim for damages. This will be for the removal of the items, and the making good of any damage caused. Be guided by your LP,

You give no quarter to oles. They need to know the game is up. Hammer them on everything. They swear at you? You contact your LA. They threaten you? You call the police. These folk are the sort that Billy Butcher takes pleasure in sorting out.

EVIDENCE EVIDENCE EVIDENCE.

I do have Legal protection (DAS) but apparently they dont cover this under their policy. In fact it looks like they dont cover anything... excuse my sarcasm but whatever I've asked them for assistance, i've been met with... "Policy doesnt cover it."

I have this all documented. 

- LA said they have no powers and to contact the Police.
- Police wont act as there is high threshold to meet for nuisance/harrassment/damage etc.
- Police also want evidence but only evidence i have is a log of all encounters.
- The other neighbours wont give statements, they have been witnesses to it - whilst they dont agree with their behavior they do not want to get on their bad side!

Yes, you need evidence for their behaviour. So set up a CCTV camera surreptitiously to record behaviour and speech.

The attachments to your wall should be evidence enough, so escalate the case via the police. Right up to the commissioner if needed.

I'm surprised at your LP. Yes, they are reluctant to cover ' boundary disputes', but this is a clear case of criminal damage. Double-check, and then escalate.

It's a shame neighb's don't wish to become involved, but alas that ain't unusual.

twopenny

Is your extension so close to the boundary that you can't get in to remove their detritus? (Got to say that would be fun)
So close you can't maintain the wall?
Who is responsible for the fence?