To deny neighbour access to render extension?

They have built close to your boundary. It required a PARTY WALL AGREEMENT as its within 3 metres.

Why have they not done that?

Absolute no until thats in place.

I let my neighbours do this. They promised to do it in a day as I have a dog and wasn’t comfortable keeping him locked in as the fence was taken down. Didn’t go well. They took 2 days to do it and then put the fence back up in a messy condition that I’m left with staring at and I’ve still got all of their pots and sleepers dumped on my front lawn over a year later despite keeping asking them to remove. It’s always yes next weekend. If you do take care.

DF had the same issue. Refused access. They fouled up his view under permitted development and should have addressed this construction problem before they built the wall. Footings within millimetres of the boundary.

Id be tempted to get legal advice to potext yourself.

Take photos and see if theres is a legal way for them to sign that your property is returned exactly to same state inc fence and that you give the x number of days or exact days and times

If they couldn't be bothered to tell u they were building. Id be very catious

You should already have a party wall agreement as you share a boundary.
IMO you’re being petty based on the fact that you don’t like them. The rendering of my single storey extension took 2 days and didn’t make any mess.

If the wall is that close to your fence, how did they manage to build the foundation? There would typically be at least 150mm of a concrete scarcement beyond the blockwork below ground, on both the render side, and the internal face

Then say "no" in writing? Otherwise it sounds like they may take everything down anyway to do their rendering, and may say that you didn't say no. They'll be in the wrong, but you won't be able to prove it and your summer will be affected as you won't be able to sit outside and your back garden will be in disarray.

How tall is their extension? Out of interest. That affects how close they could have put it to the boundary without full planning permission. If it’s over 2.5m tall it needed to be 2m from the fence. Depends what type of roof it’s got I guess.

Very un-neighbourly of them not to make you aware they were planning an extension. Communication is key to good neighbourly relationships, especially when building work is taking place with the noise and dust etc.

That's terrible that they've been in your garden without permission and the builders have been climbing on the fence. I would be fuming!

I meant to add to my post that the fence that was already there between us and our neighbours is still there, so all our neighbours see are the top few rows of bricks of the extension above the existing fence. Everything was completed by our builder without him having to access our neighbour's garden.

I'm not surprised that you are finding it stressful. Don't be pressured into giving them an immediate answer, take your time to think things through at to what is best for you first.

I wouldn't let them. Even if they signed an agreement if they refused to honour it you would have the hassle of taking them to court and enforcing it. Sounds like a whole load of stress to me.

Get a camera up asap. Mad not to.

I'd get a cheap camera from Amazon (we've got a Tapi one that was around £30) and record the fence/your garden. And preferably make it visible. You get notifications of movement too as it links to an app on your phone. I use it when I go out to watch the dogs. If you record from an upstairs window, it should give you good coverage.

Get a camera up and put in writing that you give no permission for access.

They have already been jumping the fence they have zero respect for your property or privacy

We built a similar extension, my husband spoke to our neighbour prior to the start of the build to ask about building on the boundary. Neighbour wasn't keen so we built within 10 inches of the boundary instead.

However, the side of the extension that the neighbours see was built in brick, the other 3 sides were built in block and those 3 sides were then rendered.

It's a pity your neighbour didn't think to do the same. I guess it's up to you whether you want to look at block or render, very frustrating for you though.

Wouldn't the wall look ugly from your garden though?

I don't think it's unreasonable of them, but it's really odd (and stupid) not to have talk to you before the work was done. I can't understand their logic...

Even if they did not need planning permission, it still has to conform to Building Regs under Permitted Building. Years ago planning permission was given for house next door to ours on adjoining land(once part of the original garden). The builders moved it at least a foot our way so our side access was only just about passable and it was right up by our side window.Our rates were reduced by the Council but too late.They also cut down lovely preserved tree.Agree you don't want to be un- neighbourly, but this sounds unreasonable.A quiet query to local Planning might be in order.Surely nothing should be built which requires access from next door, because in future you might and could decide to build something, blocking that access. You are allowed to enter neighbour's garden to trim trees or shrubs if not done and causing a nuisance, but that is surely all.

I like the idea of obliging them to deposit money in an escrow. That would obviate the risk of them refusing to pay or make good at the end. No one says you have to make things easy for them. This is something they should have thought of when they decided to build an extension.

Whenever anyone asks me a favour my response is to put my business hat on, as I am not a charity. They have come to you with a business proposition. "What's in this for me" is a reasonable thing to ask.

It’s not being deliberately awkward though if OP thinks there is a good chance that her fence/garden will be damaged in the process, and there will be an expectation that future access will be required for maintenance.

They should have thought about this before building. I think OP is right that they don’t give a stuff about her property or inconvenience.

I’m not sure what would do as I can see that refusing would be awkward. Probably a really frank discussion about the impact this will have and the need for financial compensation in advance to cover damages and then follow it up with a letter in case they go to court.

Hope you never need a neighbourly favour. What goes around comes around.

I thought (and yes could be wrong on this) that even with permitted development it is law to have a Party Wall Agreement. Would strongly suggest calling your local authority planning department and maybe take legal advice as further down the line when you sell the property this could resurface.

I would ask for a written agreement that the fence and your garden have to be returned to you in, at least, as good a condition and that you have to be satisfied before the work is signed off. There are masonry paint finishes that last many years before they need redone but they are expensive (I doubt a wall right up against your fence is going to weather much anyway).