Where do I stand?

steveinhants

Not sure if anyone can help but couldn’t think where else to post. My neighbours property borders with our houses private car park. He recently asked if we would mind him putting scaffold up in our space to fix his roof. We were told it would be a few days. 

A week later and he knocks on my door and tells me it needs to stay longer as the damage is worse etc. 
I asked how long and he basically just laughed and said no idea. I’m a reasonable guy but this is causing so much nuisance to us and his behaviour really got my back up. I’m fairly sure he can have scaffold on his own side albeit they’d have to go over the roof too. Am I in my rights to get him to remove the scaffold? 

springmagpie

Can they let you have use of their space whilst they have scaffold in yours? 

WIAWSNB

steveinhants said:

Not sure if anyone can help but couldn’t think where else to post. My neighbours property borders with our houses private car park. He recently asked if we would mind him putting scaffold up in our space to fix his roof. We were told it would be a few days. 

A week later and he knocks on my door and tells me it needs to stay longer as the damage is worse etc. 
I asked how long and he basically just laughed and said no idea. I’m a reasonable guy but this is causing so much nuisance to us and his behaviour really got my back up. I’m fairly sure he can have scaffold on his own side albeit they’d have to go over the roof too. Am I in my rights to get him to remove the scaffold? 

You would really struggle to have them remove the existing scaffolding. Why? Because it would almost certainly be considered completely unreasonable of you at this stage*. If you want to try the 'court order' route, fill yer boots.

You say they could have built it fully on their side, but clearly that would be a lot more complex and costly? Well, I guess you can tell the guy that this will be your future response because of his attitude - and if it isn't removed as soon as is possible. 

But, of course, what is good for the goose is also whatsit. 

Is Magpie's suggestion above any good? 

Bottom line - think carefully before acting in a bolshie way, however unfair it may appear. Put the situation in perspective, and also consider any possible come-back.

*Unless it is seriously hampering your daily life?

MeteredOut

Unfortunately the time to be asking "for how long" was before you agreed to allow them to you use your land (although if it is for maintenance, that allowance is likely built into your property's deeds).

There's another thread on these boards where someone is deliberating whether to allow their neighbour to put scaffolding on their land. They have been warned that it can often stay in place until it is needed for the next job. ie. don't assume it will be taken down once the neighbours roof has been fixed.

casper_gutman

steveinhants said:

Not sure if anyone can help but couldn’t think where else to post. My neighbours property borders with our houses private car park. He recently asked if we would mind him putting scaffold up in our space to fix his roof. We were told it would be a few days. 

A week later and he knocks on my door and tells me it needs to stay longer as the damage is worse etc. 
I asked how long and he basically just laughed and said no idea. I’m a reasonable guy but this is causing so much nuisance to us and his behaviour really got my back up. I’m fairly sure he can have scaffold on his own side albeit they’d have to go over the roof too. Am I in my rights to get him to remove the scaffold? 

From a health and safety point of view, based on a minimal knowledge of the regulations applicable in construction, I don't think its reasonable to expect people working at height to "go over the roof" from the other side. A safe working platform, with edge protection, should be present on all sides of the roof where work is going on.

Working from ladders is generally only acceptable if the work is of short duration meaning the risk of falling from height incurred to erect scaffolding would be greater than that you'd expose yourself to just doing the work from a ladder. As the scaffolding is already up, that ship has sailed.

Even leaving aside health and safety, your car wouldn't look too good if something like a tile fell on it, let alone one of the roofers!

I agree with others that the neighbour should be minimising the impact on you by pursuing the repair as quickly as possible and trying to fix any consequent parking issues for you, e.g., by letting you have the use of their space for the duration.

diveunderthebonnet

Now that the scaffolding is up you might as well let them crack on and finish the job ,might be quicker than you think and not worth the hassle/stress.

MysteryMe

MeteredOut said:

Unfortunately the time to be asking "for how long" was before you agreed to allow them to you use your land (although if it is for maintenance, that allowance is likely built into your property's deeds).

There's another thread on these boards where someone is deliberating whether to allow their neighbour to put scaffolding on their land. They have been warned that it can often stay in place until it is needed for the next job. ie. don't assume it will be taken down once the neighbours roof has been fixed.

I've recently had scaffolding up and it came down the day after the work was done. The requirements for scaffolding to be used in recent years has meant that the demand for scaffolding is actually quite high.  I don't think it likely scaffolding will be hanging around for weeks on end these days. If it's not in the yard ready to be used straight away then it's potentially costing the scaffolding company money as they would not be in a position to use it again at short notice.