Neighbour building on my land

GDB2222

The DPC is rather low? But, if it’s bridged by the concrete, you have no choice but to cut the concrete back.

 I would write a letter beforehand to let the neighbour know what you plan to do, and explain how urgent it is, as he has bridged the DPC.

You need to exercise reasonable care to avoid damage on his side of the boundary.  I would invite him to be present whilst you do the work, and tell him what PPE he will need to buy himself.

Do you have legal costs cover as part of your home insurance? If so, maybe involve them beforehand?

ThisIsWeird

If you have LP, then examine the enforcement route. You shouldn't have to have the hassle, associated risk, and unpleasantness of having to go on to their land to do this task.

Dustyevsky

Kam777 said:

- Oh by the way the damp proof course is below the concrete now

If true, that isn't a 'by the way' at all, and it's probably the leverage you need to involve your insurer. Certain things can be tolerated, but that isn't one of them.

Mutton_Geoff

I wouldn't even think of doing the remedial work myself, a legal letter mentioning trespass is now due. If your neighbour can't see sense, he needs the law explaining to him.

Trespass is entering – or putting property on – land that belongs to someone else, without their permission.

ThisIsWeird

Totally missed that the concrete is above the DPC. The neighbour - assuming they didn't do this slab work themselves - employed an ignorant landscaper.
Kam, this is 'good news', as it makes this an actionable matter that just cannot be ignored - you need to sort this - and it will undoubtedly be successful.
(There's always a risk in taking action where an actual 'loss' cannot be demonstrated, so an unsympathetic adjudicator might tut and ask why you are wasting everyone's time on a triviality that effectively makes no difference and can barely even be seen. This, however, unlike the wall, is watertight. Your home is at potential long term harm. It would not pass BuildRegs if surveyed during its build. It will be an issue when you come to sell.

KAM, DO YOU HAVE LP?!
if not, what would Kam's best/easiest/least hassle legal approach be? 
Give  the neighb a deadline, a letter before action, and then go 'legal' by engaging a solicitor?
Or, give the neighbour a 2-week deadline, then employ someone to do the work and sue them for the cost? (Of course, this means they'd need to go on to the neighbour's land, but this shouldn't be an issue if it's done when the neighb is at work l mean, what actual law would be broken?
Meanwhile, write down a brief, dated, account of every conversation you have had with the neighb regarding this, to demonstrate their intransigence. If they are daft enough to ignore the warnings and try and defend themselves, this will be enjoyable icing.

Mistral001

ThisIsWierdHaveYouGotLPInsurance.  It would probably take at least a year to take this through the courts.  Taking things through the courts is stressful even if someone else is picking up the legal bill.

GDB2222

Mistral001 said:

ThisIsWierdHaveYouGotLPInsurance.  It would probably take at least a year to take this through the courts.  Taking things through the courts is stressful even if someone else is picking up the legal bill.

I agree. I would try to sort this out without resorting to the courts. That would include rolling up my sleeves and doing the work, rather than insisting that the neighbour does it.

ThisIsWeird

Hi Mistral and GDB - I couldn't disagree more.

Take this on rather than make the neighb do it? What's the fun in that?! And, if actual damage from damp ensues, imagine the sheer pleasure of getting the neighb to fork out for making it all perfect! After all, this neighb is a ...., and deserves everything they get.

I would only entertain a non-legal resolution if it involved getting a pro to do the work, and then billing the neighb. Oops - that's also a 'legal' approach, but you could sit back and enjoy after the job is done.

No WAY would I take on this job myself, with all the potential hassle that it could involve - dust everywhere, neighb calling the police, the sheer back-aching arrisolery of it all.

With the concrete over the DPC, this is as openandshut as it could be.

GDB2222

ThisIsWeird said:

Hi Mistral and GDB - I couldn't disagree more.

Take this on rather than make the neighb do it? What's the fun in that?! And, if actual damage from damp ensues, imagine the sheer pleasure of getting the neighb to fork out for making it all perfect! After all, this neighb is a ...., and deserves everything they get.

I would only entertain a non-legal resolution if it involved getting a pro to do the work, and then billing the neighb. Oops - that's also a 'legal' approach, but you could sit back and enjoy after the job is done.

No WAY would I take on this job myself, with all the potential hassle that it could involve - dust everywhere, neighb calling the police, the sheer back-aching arrisolery of it all.

With the concrete over the DPC, this is as openandshut as it could be.

One or two people on this forum complain about how badly they are in dispute with their neighbours. You don’t have to be pals, but avoiding outright hostility seems sensible. 

ThisIsWeird

GDB2222 said:

ThisIsWeird said:

Hi Mistral and GDB - I couldn't disagree more.

Take this on rather than make the neighb do it? What's the fun in that?! And, if actual damage from damp ensues, imagine the sheer pleasure of getting the neighb to fork out for making it all perfect! After all, this neighb is a ...., and deserves everything they get.

I would only entertain a non-legal resolution if it involved getting a pro to do the work, and then billing the neighb. Oops - that's also a 'legal' approach, but you could sit back and enjoy after the job is done.

No WAY would I take on this job myself, with all the potential hassle that it could involve - dust everywhere, neighb calling the police, the sheer back-aching arrisolery of it all.

With the concrete over the DPC, this is as openandshut as it could be.

One or two people on this forum complain about how badly they are in dispute with their neighbours. You don’t have to be pals, but avoiding outright hostility seems sensible. 

So you are suggesting going on to the neighbour's land with a large angle grinder?
That should do it : 😄