Crack in party wall after neighbour building work

kuepper

I live in small Victorian mid terrace and the person who's bought next door has had the place gutted and is installing central heating, new kitchen, new bathroom, fitted wardrobes etc so it's been constant drilling, grinding and hammering for almost 2 weeks 12 hours a day.  A couple of days ago I noticed a crack had appeared in my wall (see pic) and can see the wallpaper has torn elsewhere and probably has a crack beneath it. I suspect all the vibration from the drilling etc has found a weak spot in the party wall and caused this though it's odd that the other side of the wall is where my neighbour's fireplace/flue is (unless it's been removed). The builders say it's nothing to do with them so what can I do?

MeteredOut

Do you have any recent "before" pictures. Those will be handy (if not necessary) if you want to show the neighbours work caused this. 

In either case, start taking daily/regular photos. For how much longer is the work expected to go on.

Do you know for sure the work you've listed is the extent of the work getting done? eg, are they doing any work to a chimney breast that could require a party wall agreement?

I suspect to take this forward, you'd have to pay for an independent inspection of the party wall.

Do you have legal protection with your home insurance?

kuepper

MeteredOut said:

Do you have any recent "before" pictures. Those will be handy (if not necessary) if you want to show the neighbours work caused this. 

In either case, start taking daily/regular photos. For how much longer is the work expected to go on.

I suspect to take this forward, you'd have to pay for an independent inspection of the party wall.

No, I'd no reason to take a photo before as there was nothing untoward there. I suspect the remaining work is mainly decoration so l think the damage has been done. I don't see how I can prove this was caused by all the works that have gone on. BTW I've realised I've posted this in the wrong section but can't see how to delete it and repost

subjecttocontract

It could be blown plaster but you'd have to remove the wall covering (looks like woodchip) to see.

MeteredOut

kuepper said:

MeteredOut said:

Do you have any recent "before" pictures. Those will be handy (if not necessary) if you want to show the neighbours work caused this. 

In either case, start taking daily/regular photos. For how much longer is the work expected to go on.

I suspect to take this forward, you'd have to pay for an independent inspection of the party wall.

No, I'd no reason to take a photo before as there was nothing untoward there. I suspect the remaining work is mainly decoration so l think the damage has been done. I don't see how I can prove this was caused by all the works that have gone on. BTW I've realised I've posted this in the wrong section but can't see how to delete it and repost

That's why an independent report would be required, but there is no guarantee this would tell you what you wanted to hear, and would only be step 1 in what would then have to become a more confrontational discussion with your neighbour/their builder. 

As above, you could also investigate it yourself to see whats happening underneath the wallpaper - probably worth doing if you're going to get it fixed anyway. But, that would not really prove anything.

What resolution are you after? Have to got any quotes to get it remedied?

(to ask for the post to be removed, you can report it and ask for it to be moved).

kuepper

subjecttocontract said:

It could be blown plaster but you'd have to remove the wall covering (looks like woodchip) to see.

It's definitely a fracture not blown plaster

MouldyOldDough

@kuepper Do you have legal assistance on your home insurance policy ?

dnpark38

Is the property yours or bought on a mortgage?  If on a mortgage I would ask them about this damage.

kuepper

dnpark38 said:

Is the property yours or bought on a mortgage?  If on a mortgage I would ask them about this damage.

No mortgage . No legal assistance on my insurance.

Frustrating but I think i'll just have to get  builders in and see what they say/quote and then I'll have to decorate the whole room, can't just do one wall. Seems a waste of time, money and energy otherwise as I'll likely be forever at odds with my new neighbour which isn't healthy and if I sell the house i'd have to  mention a neighbour dispute and that would put people off.