Neighbour dispute after extension

skintdaddy79

Hi, all. I need a bit of advice please or at least an opinion on this scenario. We’ve had an extension done, wraparound side and back, and it’s looking great. Kitchen has just gone in; we still have a few bits to done. Started back in March so it’s been a long slog!

At the start of the build, a few months ago, on the side part of the extension our builder advised that they would have to take up a section of next doors block paving that was paved up to our old side extension, to dig out the new footings (these pavers were actually over the boundary line but it made sense to pave up to ours for the neater finish). We let next door know that this would be happening and that our builders would put them back in when finished and they were fine with this.

The day came where our builders were going to put them back in and our neighbour came out and asked if they were going to pave all the way up between the 2 buildings (we have built further out at the back so there were actually 2 fence panels there between the 2 buildings, our old one and their building which are no longer there so there were no actual paving blocks there originally due to these). He was told 'no' as they we just going to lay white stones down the middle and if he wanted paving all the way up there would be a charge (I’ve since found out that this would have literally been around £50 for the extra blocks needed). This is because there wouldn’t have been enough blocks because of the fence that was there and the charge would have been for the extra blocks. He went back in his house and came back out again a few minutes later and told the builders not to do any of it all and leave the lot, to which they did. Nearly 4 weeks after that day he’s approached me and said that we need to get them back and sort it out! Obviously our builder had factored in to do the re-laying on that day so I don’t currently know now if they’ll actually come back and do it or they may charge for doing it all. Our builder is currently on holiday so our neighbours have left ‘the ball in our court’ with this. Surely we can’t be expected to pay for this now outright after he effectively cancelled it the first time? We would have paid for the extra new blocks that were needed as a gesture but we didn’t get a chance to have this discussion as he stopped them doing it all! I’m at a bit of a loss with this one now and I feel it’s taking any excitement and joy from our new extensions and has ‘cast a cloud’ over the whole thing. The neighbour, and his wife, aren’t the most approachable unfortunately and other neighbours have had run in’s in the past with them with various things, parking and the like. It’s distracting me and my wife is getting upset with it all as well now. We don’t want it to escalate into a full scale dispute..

Thanks for taking the time read this, any advice is appreciated. Thank you.

Combenew

To save a neighbour dispute, I would just get it done. I'm assuming the extra cost would be minimal on top of the cost of the extension.  

Good relations with neighbours is essential for peaceful living IMHO.

gwynlas

Another one who agrees with just pay for it though it is a shame that your builder did not tell you how little the additionall cost was at the time.

In fact as the builder was working for you he should not have taken any instruction from the neighbour

You know there have been a number of dispues already so do not let this escalate or detract from your extension.
what I would point out is that the original boundary should be recorded even if only by a date times plan and photo to dissuade any potential boundary dispute  at point of sale.

WIAWSNB

skintdaddy79 said:

Hi, all. I need a bit of advice please or at least an opinion on this scenario. We’ve had an extension done, wraparound side and back, and it’s looking great. Kitchen has just gone in; we still have a few bits to done. Started back in March so it’s been a long slog!At the start of the build, a few months ago, on the side part of the extension our builder advised that they would have to take up a section of next doors block paving that was paved up to our old side extension, to dig out the new footings (these pavers were actually over the boundary line but it made sense to pave up to ours for the neater finish). We let next door know that this would be happening and that our builders would put them back in when finished and they were fine with this.The day came where our builders were going to put them back in and our neighbour came out and asked if they were going to pave all the way up between the 2 buildings (we have built further out at the back so there were actually 2 fence panels there between the 2 buildings, our old one and their building which are no longer there so there were no actual paving blocks there originally due to these). He was told 'no' as they we just going to lay white stones down the middle and if he wanted paving all the way up there would be a charge (I’ve since found out that this would have literally been around £50 for the extra blocks needed). This is because there wouldn’t have been enough blocks because of the fence that was there and the charge would have been for the extra blocks. He went back in his house and came back out again a few minutes later and told the builders not to do any of it all and leave the lot, to which they did. Nearly 4 weeks after that day he’s approached me and said that we need to get them back and sort it out! Obviously our builder had factored in to do the re-laying on that day so I don’t currently know now if they’ll actually come back and do it or they may charge for doing it all. Our builder is currently on holiday so our neighbours have left ‘the ball in our court’ with this. Surely we can’t be expected to pay for this now outright after he effectively cancelled it the first time? We would have paid for the extra new blocks that were needed as a gesture but we didn’t get a chance to have this discussion as he stopped them doing it all! I’m at a bit of a loss with this one now and I feel it’s taking any excitement and joy from our new extensions and has ‘cast a cloud’ over the whole thing. The neighbour, and his wife, aren’t the most approachable unfortunately and other neighbours have had run in’s in the past with them with various things, parking and the like. It’s distracting me and my wife is getting upset with it all as well now. We don’t want it to escalate into a full scale dispute..Thanks for taking the time read this, any advice is appreciated. Thank you.

...cast a cloud...excitement...joy...parking...upset...other neighbours... These have no bearing on this, and really best to not allow such emotive terms to affect your decision-making.

I don't fully follow what's going on, but you are not obliged to do any additional work to their property other than making good what was there before. That's it.

Is that an accurate summary of the situation?

Of course, since they were initially obliging in 'allowing' you to remove these slabs, then it would, indeed, have been a nice gesture to have offered to continue these slabs with new ones to continue down the longer extension; they've not hindered you, so they get a reward. And it'll help counter the envy they almost certainly have about your extension...

How much did your extension cost you? £60k? So, a couple of £undred extra is nothing, and if you'd offered this from the off, they'd still be your best pals. (No they wouldn't - they are twits...)

You have a choice - you approach them again and humbly offer, through gritted teeth, to do what they want, or you just ask your builder to finish the work to your house, and make good your land up to your boundary. 

For the latter option, you make it clear you are offering to make good any damage done, and you make sure you record this offer being made. If they say 'Non' to this, then you just say, "Let me know if you change your mind...", and your builder has to do nothing more about this. 

This is not a 'dispute'. This will not become a dispute. It's a bit like you have your front drive resurfaced, and you make it clear you'll make good the join where the two drives meet, but the neighbour asks you to resurface their drive too. You'd obviously say 'no' to this, they have a tantrum, and then what? What can they do about it? Absolutely nothing.

You have offered to make good what was removed in order for your founds to legitimately go to/under the boundary line, and that is all your obligation is. 

But, for the sake of 'peace and harmony', offer again to do what they want. I doubt they'll be grateful, but what the heck. 

skintdaddy79

Combenew said:

To save a neighbour dispute, I would just get it done. I'm assuming the extra cost would be minimal on top of the cost of the extension.  

Good relations with neighbours is essential for peaceful living IMHO.

I understand that but I don't see why we should now have to pay out extra when it was literarily being done for free? He never actually asked the builder how much it would have cost, we never had a chance to have a discussion about it. It was just a case of "leave it all". And now weeks down the line, asking/telling us to sort it out...

twopenny

Why did the builder take instruction from the neighbour?

OK to stop as the neighbour throws a wobbly but builder should have contacted you as soon as possible to discuss and so you could see the neighbour and sort it out.

Despite that because it's happened so now you are still understandably exasperated with the situation and tired from the build.

Take a short amount of time to get calmer and then I agree with some others, approach the neighbour (and have what you offer in writing, duplicate for you and dated) and offer to finish the job. As they wish possibly depending on how that affects you.

And be sure the boundary is marked in some way so they can't come back to bother you.

Tucosalamanca

Sorry, this seems 'petty' at best.

It sounds like the works have gone well and the neighbour hasn't been difficult. You've had a great result.
Just a few moments scouring MSE will show all kinds of horror stories and difficult situations.

For the sake a few hundred quid (if that), why on earth would you not get it done???

Tbh, I would have agreed to the neighbour's request immediately, it's a low value item that could mean a lot for neighbour relations.

'I didn't get the chance', 'why should I pay', 'it's casting a cloud', 'wife getting upset', you appear to be making a rod for your own back... just get it sorted and move on with your life.

WIAWSNB

skintdaddy79 said:

I understand that but I don't see why we should now have to pay out extra when it was literarily being done for free? He never actually asked the builder how much it would have cost, we never had a chance to have a discussion about it. It was just a case of "leave it all". And now weeks down the line, asking/telling us to sort it out...

Why? Because they weren't awkward and didn't hinder your work, so - yes - it's a 'thank you'.

A neighbour here had extensive work done to their house, and asked their other neighbour if they could put scaffolding on their side pathway. They could almost certainly have obliged their neighbour to allow this - there was no real option - but instead they pointed out that many of his paving slabs were broken and displaced, and said they lay a complete new path when done - which they did. I knew about this 'cos the 'path' neighbour told me what they'd offered - he was genuinely delighted. 

Trivial extra work for the builder, and happy neighbs. 

ButterCheese

Your neighbours sound like idiots.  But they might have a point; even if the previous section of pavers was essentially gifted to them, you can't take them out and not put it right.  Yes they cancelled your offer, but you have nothing written down to prove this, so legally it didn't really happen.  Best to just pay to get it done, or do it yourself.  After it's all done I would certainly not be doing them any favours in future

skintdaddy79

Thank you for the replies so far. I know a lot of you are saying "just get it done" but it's more money to have to pay out when I don't think we are to blame? We have gone over budget on the build (which I know can happen 9 out of 10 times with every build). The builders had actually started laying down the pavers, just before the gap in question, and was told to stop the whole job. They offered to finish up to the gap at that point and sort it out potentially later but was told to stop it all. The space in question is around a metre wide by about 2 maybe 3 metres long and would essentially need a row of around 10-15 small blocks. Sounds like nothing I know but if the neighbour would have left it, it would probably have been sorted by now. He never actually asked how much it would have cost.
Over the course of the build they have complained about parking a bit over their driveway, which is fair enough; just ask them to politely move the vans ect but i believe he was quite rude to our guys when doing so. Also said our new boiler flue was 'encroaching on our property' (it really wasn't but we had flue adapter fitted to appease). As commented in another reply, they have definitely taken some amount of umbrage to our extension and a sprinkling of jealously. 

theartfullodger

Follow excellent advice on neighbour disputes on citizens advice website