Neighbour's Guttering - Is it my Problem?

Section62

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82025883#Comment_82025883

He might, tho', determine that the neighb's gutter section is slightly too short, and repositioning it is unlikely to be a permanent solution, in which case that's for your neighbour to sort.

The thing is, if the running outlet was removed and refixed/replaced then it might not be where it was before. So the neighbour's gutter being slightly too short could be a consequence of the running outlet's new position… after all, it (probably) wasn't too short before February.

Unlikely it can be proved either way though.

Boohoo

I am finding it hard to figure out from you drawing how the guttering came apart on your neighbours side.

Thats why I suggested a photo.

From the diagram it looks like your home is in-between the 2 chimneys and the leak is on your neighbours side.

Did the tradie get access to the guttering on his/her side by having the ladder in their back garden?

TroubledTarts

Another.vote.for.if it doesn't cost too much and it means getting on with neighbours then just pay for it.

Life is too short, you have probably already wasted hours and hours talking about this and going back and forth between pay and don't pay.

Friendly neighbours mean a quiet life.

Grumpy_chap

Thanks for the explanation about the "running outlet", @WIAWSNB

The tradesman did not access the neighbours garden to do our gutter.

I think the consensus is to speak with the tradesman when he gets back from his travels and to just pay if the cost is under £100.

WIAWSNB

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82025884#Comment_82025884

Indeed - a multitude of possibilities.

As you know, the gutter sections are designed to slide within the fittings whilst maintaining a seal, so they need to be cut to a fairly precise length to allow this (I've always wondered how much you should take into account the ambient temp when cutting).

It's not uncommon, tho', as I have found way more than once, for a 'too-short' piece to actually work ok for years, because one end 'sticks' in one middling position, and the other end does all the happy sliding. And then one day, perhaps in particularly hot weather, or just from a bump, or the gutters being cleaned, the 'stuck' end also moves a bit, and the shortness of the length can no longer be accommodated by t'other end.

It's an absolute minefield.

WIAWSNB

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82025955#Comment_82025955

I think that is a very reasonable and fair position for you to take, GC.

I'd hope it would cost less than that, and there's also a chance the fitter may point out there's an issue with the neighbour's side that contributed, in which case I'd hope the neighb would be very open to splitting the cost.

Anyhoo, please let us know how it goes - we like to see conclusions!

Grumpy_chap

I will update when the tradesman returns.

I can't take a photo in the meantime as I don't want to disturb the neighbours and they have accepted the tradesman is away and can't be contacted until he returns from Portugal.

I don't want to take a photo from our garden as the guttering section is immediately above my neighbour's daughter's bedroom window and the optics of taking a photo pointing at her window are not good.

When I did look at the guttering yesterday, the cut end that has come away was not even square and the gap between the end of the gutter and the joiner fitting is around 4 mm one side, 8 mm the other side. That length of gutter was probably too short. It might be possible that the tradesman has a suitable length of gutter and can just get the job done - either way one length of gutter is cheap. I am hopeful the tradesman will be fair in any labour charges.

stuart45

People don't always notice leaking gutters when it's always hammering down in the winter as they are inside, or in a hurry to get in. It's more common to spot them in the spring when there's a light shower, but they aren't in such a rush to get inside and they notice the leak.

silvercar

You sound more than reasonable, I hope the neighbour is fair. If they show signs of being difficult I would take the line of you maintained your gutters a few months ago, when did they last maintain there’s?

thebullsback

would this work not have fallen under the Party Wall Act due to it involving a neighbours property .All be that the downpipe is shared?