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Original poster

Neighbour complaining

22 replies

Superba21 · 29/10/2019 20:06

Hi I need some help/advice!
We have had really bad damp in our house caused by concrete gutters. We got a couple of builders round to give us a quote, the 1st on Tuesday & our neighbour came out to see what was happening. She then spoke to my husband about how stressed she was About us getting the gutters fixed (they've had loads of problems with theirs). We said we understood & based on what they (the neighbours) had said we had decided to go with a nationwide firm who replaces concrete gutters. Since Tuesday both her & her husband have knocked 3 times to discuss with us exactly what we are doing. We've had her asking us about it at school drop off & pick up (everyday last week) The husband even tried to approach me at a kids birthday.
So today the work was done, it's brilliant & we're so happy.
The fitters did say that our neighbours spoke to them at length this morning about what they were doing. When they left our neighbour was straight up his ladders taking pictures & came to us to say he wasn't happy.
I told him I wasn't surprised 🙄. He started to shout at me & my husband had to tell him to calm down. We got the photos from him & sent them to the company who phoned them to talk to them. They've tried explaining it to them that the job has been done properly & it won't affect their house but they won't listen.
I'm really stressing me out, I suffer with anxiety and I know they won't stop. I should happy that the work is done but I'm just worried about the door knocking again.
What should I do? Xx

OP posts:

JustOneLastThing · 29/10/2019 20:13

I would look at the pictures, smile and then politely say, 'they've done a great job. It needed doing. Please stop asking me about it because it's not going to change. We have given you warning. If you aren't happy about the result it doesn't matter too much. It does not affect your house.'

wowfudge · 29/10/2019 20:13

Ask them to put their concerns in writing so you can consider them. Tell them that if they continue to come round/interrupt you will consider it harassment.

slavetolife · 29/10/2019 20:14

In what way do they think it will affect their house? Do they have form for this sort of thing? They sound like twats tbh!

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wowfudge · 29/10/2019 20:14

JustOne's response is much better!

Original poster

Superba21 · 29/10/2019 20:46

slavetolife they think it will bring back all the problems they've had with damp. They got their gutter fixed last year - cheap job, quick fix, they didn't check with us if it was ok.
She's a proper drama queen, & he's not much better. I think twat is a very good description 😂

OP posts:

Elieza · 29/10/2019 21:05

What is the actual problem?

Did they put their concerns to the builder when he phoned them?

What did he say? In what way does that not satisfy them?

What is their opinion that it’s a problem based on?

What is it they expect you to do?

They could get a builder from another company out to look at their drainpipes and see if they can see any potential problem with what’s been done (at their expense not yours). If they come up with anything you could put it to your builder.

Apolloanddaphne · 29/10/2019 21:55

If it was work done on your house how is it going to affect their house in any way?

PanamaPattie · 29/10/2019 22:00

What do they want you to do?

Original poster

Superba21 · 30/10/2019 07:41

@Elieza @Apolloanddaphne @PanamaPattie
I can't see any problem, but apparently the seal underneath the gutter where it attaches to there's is wrong! (In their expert opinion)
The building company explained exactly what they were doing & the manager who phoned tgem back explained this again. It's not as if the company don't know what they're doing, they're nationwide & this is the only thing they do.
They are basing everything on what might happen in future! They don't seem to realise that their botch job will mean that in a year or two their problems will be back.
I have no idea what they want us to do, it's just unbelievable.
I'm supposed to be WFH today but have decided to go into work as I'm worried they will knock again. But on the other hand I'm worried they will tamper with it when we're away.

OP posts:

RaspberryBeret1999 · 30/10/2019 07:50

How is it ok for them to get work on their gutters and not ok for you?
Turn it around on them. Tell them their cheap job could have caused the issues on your gutter and you should be the one complaining to them.

PristineCondition · 30/10/2019 07:54

If they want it done different they can pay

Apolloanddaphne · 30/10/2019 08:00

But if the gutter is on your house why would they care? Sounds very bizarre.

Wildorchidz · 30/10/2019 08:02

But if the gutter is on your house why would they care? Sounds very bizarre.

Because their gutters join. And if the join is not done properly it will leak.

FunOnTheBeach20 · 30/10/2019 08:03

Just say you’re satisfied it’s been done properly and you’re not going to pursue the builders anymore.

OhWhatFuckeryIsThisNow · 30/10/2019 08:08

Theirs is already showing problems and they are looking to blame you and claim. Practice "If you have problems contact the builders."

Likethebattle · 30/10/2019 08:21

Tell them you will do whatever is necessary on your property and will no longer discuss this. Every time they try hold your hand up and say ‘No! We will not discuss this!’

CoraPirbright · 30/10/2019 08:46

How weird! So you both suffered from damp caused by concrete gutters...they fixed theirs.....and now you’ve fixed yours. I cannot fathom why on earth they have a problem with this! What is the exact complaint they are making (unless its some amorphous idea that “they might leak in the future or some such nonsense).

I would just say to them “look, you fixed yours and now we have fixed ours. We used a highly reputable company and if there are any problems in the future we will address them. But for now, it all seems good so there is no point in discussing it any further”

Then if they keep on, mention the word ‘harrasment’. Hopefully they will wind their necks in.

Techway · 30/10/2019 08:52

Where do the gutters join? Front or back? Do you have photos?

Are the neighbours elderly? It sounds like they are worried they will have damp as a result of faulty join
Have you had rain since they were installed?

This might just need time until they feel reassured. I think asking them to write down their concerns would be a good idea.

Apolloanddaphne · 30/10/2019 09:04

@Wildorchidz I guess that makes sense. I have read the OPs posts a few times and it wasn't clear exactly what the neighbours were worried about or that they were looking at where the gutters joined. I can see now that's probably what it is. I am just being a bit dozy!

Zaphodsotherhead · 30/10/2019 09:13

Are they perhaps hoping that if they make enough fuss now (and say yours were't correctly fitted), that when theirs inevitably start to give up the ghost and leak again, causing more damp, they can then blame YOUR work and YOUR builders and try to send you the bill for sorting out their damp?

Could you maybe get a surveyer in to look at it (could be very cursory) or an insurance person, and tell them that your work is completely satisfactory but their work will require redoing in X years to prevent more damp problems?

They sound like the sort of people who will only listen to legal experts. And it might be money well spent if it stops a lengthy legal battle a couple of years down the line when they try to get thousands out of you for replastering their entire living room/.

Elieza · 30/10/2019 09:18

The next time it rains will be the teller! I presume the size of one pipe is bigger than the other and there is some problem with that. Next time it rains heavily if I was the neighbour I’d either have the binoculars out to be having a good nosey at it or if be up the ladder (if safe enough in rain) checking it was performing as it should and that should be the end of it when it seems it is.
There isn’t anything else you can do but I hope it works out ok for you as it’s a horrible situation to be in with your neighbour, I’ve been there myself about parking issues, you just want to live in harmony and not be dreading seeing them.

isitpossibleto · 30/10/2019 09:28

I bet theirs is already leaking and they’re looking for a way to blame someone else and claim?

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