To deny neighbour access to render extension?

We had the same with some feral neighbours and as they’d previously shown complete contempt for us and our property we did say no. They used a technique called overhand to build it. It did sour already strained relations though. Thankfully I have a lovely neighbour who lives there now and I’m happy to allow them access when they’ve needed to maintain things, but the previous owners, not a chance.

My neighbour had a kitchen extension built a few years ago very close to my fence. I allowed the builders to remove (and replace) a fence panel and told them I didn't mind them having access as long as there was no damage or mess and providing the render looked as neat and finished as it would on the other sides. They worked very quickly and there was no mess.

Much better looking at a finished wall than bare breeze block and the extension gives me some privacy when I'm sitting on my patio.

I got on well with my neighbour but in your case OP, it's a good idea to put conditions in writing and ask neighbour and builder to sign.

@Amberlynnswashcloth Do you mean they've built the extension close to the boundary fence, rather than requesting that the fence was removed so they could build along the boundary line? If that's the case, do they plan to put the fence back in the same state after the rendering is completed?

The fence thing is why I’d let them have access. Otherwise the fence will be pushed / bowed to allow them to do the render with zero space. And it’s you who suffers by looking at a listing fence all day.

I’d put it all in writing in terms of what work will be done to provide access and how it will be made good. At their cost, of course.

No prizes for guessing that I bloody hate my neighbours. They were trespassing on my property within a week of my moving in. Long story. I would not pee in their ear if their brains were on fire - to use a good old Lverpool expression.

@Amberlynnswashcloth they probably didn't need any planning consent for the extension if it is under 3m.
However, in most cases a party wall award would be needed if they're building within 3m of your or a shared boundary. They would have to involve you with that and issues like access would be included.
Suggest you ask them about it and say that is needed before you can consider any access.
That will at least stall building work.
The down side of refusing access (which you are entitled to do) is that you will probably be left with a poorly finished/ugly wall on your side. You can always plant or trellis to conceal but needs to be considered.

As you have reason not to trust your neighbours I would at the very least set out your conditions on paper and ask them to sign it. Tell them you dont rely on verbal agreements and you want to keep things in writing for the good of both parties. If they refuse then it indicates they have no intention of compensating you for any damage or inconvenience. You then have good reason to refuse. If they apply to a court you can show that you were willing to negotiate which is what courts like to see.

Permitted development so its single story
your working yourself up into a larther over this
I’ve been both the person building and the neighbour never once did it cross my mind to be awkward for the sake of it
very doubtful if not impossible they could do it from above they’d be in The airspace of your garden so it would cone across as nothing more than being obstructive
your clearly pissed off they built it in the first place but that’s life
if your worried about light a grey unfinished wall will be a lot duller than a rendered one

my friend had a similar access issue and neighbour was extremely awkward
and wouldn’t let them

and they spray painted graffiti from above and that’s now the view for the neighbour from there kitchen

I’d just let them. But tell them you don’t want it during school hols as kids will be restricted in garden. I feel its quite petty saying no and one day you might need to ask them a favour.

Get it all in writing and get a witness to countersign it. Would be enough for smalls claim court if they don’t stick to it.

Well......if they were easily allowed to do the initial work it seems a bit pointless to stop them doing the rendering. I'd say yes between (say) 9 and 12 noon each day until completed and any damages are paid for by them. Take photos. I'd see CAB to draw up a little "letter" of confirmation

How much wall is there? Is it just a low wall below windows or the same size as the house, take plenty of photos.

I wouldn’t, I wouldn’t trust them not to damage things or to replace or fix things they do break.

They should have thought about this when they decided to build their extension mere mm away from the boundary.

We have lost a load of plants this year from our Arsehole neighbours and their work. Despite promises of fixing or replacing anything they damage they haven’t. So from now on they get to go fuck themselves zero good will.

You can't grow anything on their wall, I'd say yes but need a firm date which is mutually acceptable, how long will it take, they move your furniture, pay for ant damage, keep the house down. If the wall is that close I assume their equipment will be on your garden? I'd always offer compensation for the mess, noise and inconvenience and if they built a brick extension they wouldn't need render.

My neighbour presented me with the same dilemma- she threatened - allow us access or the wall you look at with look like shit. I had no choice - she could have said please!

If the extension is already built then they could apply to the court for access. If its not built then you can deny them access . Either way you can impose conditions as other PP upthread have pointed out.

If the extension already exists then it seems reasonable not to have any work done during summer so you can enjoy your garden. So you can insist upon it being put off until autumn. I would also insist upon them signing an actual written agreement promising to restore the ground like for like and indemnify you for any damage done. Do not rely upon verbal promises.

If the extension is not yet built and you decide to grant access you can again insist upon a legal agreement drawn up by a solicitor for which they pay. You can charge for the use of your land as well as requiring them to make good. You can also impose access conditions going forward.

What you need to ask yourself is what are you getting out of this situation? They are getting a nice new extension but there is noting in it for you except mess and inconvenience. There has to be something in it for both parties. You dont have to do free favours for neighbours. Treat this as a business transaction.

Once you begin talking about money and "I will give you a price/impose conditions" people often back off and find another way around he problem.

I’d let them do it, good neighbourly relationships are important and for the sake of a little inconvenience I’d get over myself.

This happened to us some years ago. The people next door built an enormous extension and it turned out that ours was the only household that they had not notified of their plan. They had previously objected successfully to plans we had submitted for alterations to our own property. They then tried to get us to agree to their builders erecting scaffolding in our garden to render and then paint the wall that abutted our hedge. It was a big garden and we didn't have any garden furniture anywhere near, as you do but there was a thick, mature hedge and part of it would have had to be removed. We said no and the wall was still unrendered when we moved some years later. We had no trouble seeing the umcompleted wall but you have it ouside your kitchen and living room windows. Your plan to grow some screening is sound.

Let them do it. It's more stressful being THAT neighbour than it is being co operative.

I would definitely ask them how long this will take. If more than two days or so I'd ask for a quicker turnaround. And reinstatement of your side of things.

For the duration of the work I'd just close the curtains, or pull the blinds, or like I had to do a few years ago before my own house was finished inside - tape brown paper over the inside of the window! It'll get you through a few days. Then it's done and won't happen again for years if ever.

We are self building an extension and we will be rendering in the next 3-4 weeks as our wall is built with blocks. I have the loveliest neighbour and she has no issues with us using her garden but I always make sure if we need to access her garden that we clean properly.
Tbh I would not like to look at a wall that is not rendered if it was the other way round!

Did the extension need planning permission, does the guttering hang over your garden, do you know what the exterior wall is made of, how much wall needs render or treatment.,did they need access from your side to build any of the extension.