Party wall notice and letter from contractor.

Navigator21

We are selling our house which complicates things. We obviously own our house but the neighbouring house is owned by the council. They inform me that they want access to my property so they can check the condition before they start work in case they crack my walls or render.The work they intend to do is new roof, new windows, doors, gutter,soffits. boiler,internal wall insulation on the party wall and insulation to the  external walls. (And they say councils have no money)

When I phoned the contractor and the council and asked them to issue a party wall notice they did not know what I was talking about. Sound like a bunch of cowboys.Someone was supossed to phone me, which did not happen. I suspect it will be a back covering  up job and they will claim  all sorts of faults on my property to avoid any compensation, if they cause any damage. I have had problems with the council before, different issue, they just constantly fob you off and only did something when I made an ombudsman complaint.

The contractor may also be trying to drum up business. What also concerns me is that a recent press article stated that 98% of properties had problems after internal and external wall insulation was installed. I would be most grateful for any advice. I expect my buyer will run a mile if he hears about this. What I want is an independent surveyor not someone with a vested interest.

tealady

Contact your local councillor(s) in the 1st instance. They can speak to people higher up in the council than you or I

Navigator21

tealady said:

Contact your local councillor(s) in the 1st instance. They can speak to people higher up in the council than you or I

Thanks for your reply. I believe they sent the letter near Christmas so they do not have to deal with it and hope you forget after Christnas.

dannim12345

This type of work on council or housing association properties is generally funded by energy efficiency grants or similar.  I’ve previously worked for construction companies who do mostly just do this type of work, they will likely be doing many other houses and will have a contract with the council. 

I’m suspect the council have put in their contract that the contractor must do a ‘condition survey’, rather than it being a way to drum up business (the companies I worked would only work for businesses, not individuals - needing purchase orders before doing anything). 

I think a new roof should have a party wall notice (but it could depend how their roof meets yours) but other works could mean it is required too (anything on the party wall or boundary) but windows or boiler wouldn’t need one. 

I think a complaint to the council (housing team) should be your first step if you aren’t happy with their response. 

Navigator21

The council or contractors are very underhanded as they have sent the letter/notice out 2 days before Christmas and employees do not return until after 5 January. I believe there is a 14 day rime limit for objections.

Boohoo

Navigator21 said:

The council or contractors are very underhanded as they have sent the letter/notice out 2 days before Christmas and employees do not return until after 5 January. I believe there is a 14 day rime limit for objections.

Is the 14 days from date marked on the letter?

Offices may be closed but is there an email address you can send objections to?

Not sure of who you would send objections to but you could cover yourself by hand delivering objection letters to the council and the contractors if the offices are near to you.

Tabieth

Navigator21 said:

The council or contractors are very underhanded as they have sent the letter/notice out 2 days before Christmas and employees do not return until after 5 January. I believe there is a 14 day rime limit for objections.

I wouldn’t have thought that would make any difference. Objections can be sent via email / recorded delivery so they are date stamped. The fact that the council has closed down doesn’t change that. 

user1977

Tabieth said:

Navigator21 said:

The council or contractors are very underhanded as they have sent the letter/notice out 2 days before Christmas and employees do not return until after 5 January. I believe there is a 14 day rime limit for objections.

I wouldn’t have thought that would make any difference. Objections can be sent via email / recorded delivery so they are date stamped. The fact that the council has closed down doesn’t change that. 

And I expect their mailroom will still be receiving mail on the non-holidays anyway.

grumpy_codger

I'm no expert and don't know if party wall accustic (?) insulation requires a notice. All other works almost certainly don't.

dannim12345

Definitely object via email and/or letter if you wish, I don’t think they are being underhand by sending them out before Christmas. It will likely be a standard letter which has not been adjusted. 

theartfullodger

Obvs be cooperative and helpful with council.  You don't want to have to declare a dispute when selling.