Scaffolding neighbour

[Victoriouslyvictorious]

My neighbour wants scaffolding up in my garden, so he can have solar panels fitted. He asked me yesterday and caught unawares I said yes. I feel really stressed currently. My DH died recently and I’m on my own. Everything feels a slog for me. The thought of the noise, men in my garden, blocking my garden exit and just the inconvenience is making me worry.

I feel like saying I’ve changed my mind. WWYD?

I’m so sorry for your loss.

How long will the work take? That’s what I would ask- it’s not essential as such but saves your neighbour money. They aren’t extending, surely it won’t be that long.
Can they keep your bins? So you just take bags there (or they do). Just suggestions.
Take care xx

Thanks for all your kind words. I’ve just been into my garden and quite honestly I can’t see how it can work. I have bushes next to the fence, then a narrow strip, then decking. Any scaffolding would definitely block my garden access and I can’t see how they can erect scaffolding without damaging my bushes or my decking.

If you do let neighbour have scaffolding, consider a time frame, say 1-2 weeks, whatever is reasonable, then charge rent for everyday they go over this period.

I told him no. My son had a look with me yesterday and he couldn’t see any way they could erect scaffolding without entirely blocking my side entrance/exit.

The other thing that concerns me is, no one has even asked to have a look how it would work. They are just assuming and expecting me to say yes.

Mumsnet has taught me how to say no and stick to it. Thanks Mumsnetters.

Good for you. This kind of thing can be an absolute minefield and is best avoided.

He asked me again. He promised that it would only be a week and that no damage would be done to my property. I’ve still said no, as I just don’t feel comfortable about it.

I would be careful about allowing the scaffolders access. Between us and next door we have had problems with 4 different scaffolding companies. 3 of which managed to damage either our property or our neighbours and then tried to wriggle out of it.

I see you have asked them to see if there is a different way, I think that's definitely the right decision.

I wouldn’t be delighted about it, but I would accommodate it on the basis that you never know when you might need a favour from your neighbour. If you ever need scaffolding put up which needs to go into their garden, they are far more likely to agree if you’ve helped them out this time. That’s just me though, you’re obviously well within your rights to say no.

I’ve been asked again, this is the third time. I explained that the path to my side of the house is narrow, I won’t be able to get access with scaffolding up, I won’t be able to put my bins out and I’m concerned about my trees and plants getting damaged. I also pointed out that no one has actually looked at my side to see how it might work. She said the problem they have is the solar panels are coming and the only way they can have them fitted is by putting scaffolding in my garden.

I said no, sorry. I just can’t face it. I’m still grieving for my DH who died very suddenly just before Christmas. It’s just too much.

I’m feeling harassed now.

They should really have checked with me first before organising having solar panels fitted.

Should I tell them to leave me be?

Absolutely, you don’t have to agree and they are pressuring them when you have told them you are vulnerable and grieving. Tell them to leave you alone.

Are they able to use a cherry picker on their side instead. My parents hired one for the workmen on their roof as they didn't want scaffolding up?

There will be another solution. It’ll be more expensive but there will be one. And it’s not your problem.

Say no again ask them to not ask you anymore.

Perhaps they thought you’d be ok with a short term solution to the limited access. My neighbour had solar panels fitted in a day last year.
I would consider what the possibilities would be should you need to have scaffolding fitted to maybe have roof repairs carried out. Or any other work that might require access to your neighbour’s garden.
Of course you can refuse, that’s your prerogative. Personally I’d be looking for a workable solution rather than conflict.

I honestly can’t see a workable solution. I have narrow access down the side of my house. Their scaffolding would completely block that access.

They need to find a solution which doesn’t involve my property.

It's for them to find a solution. You are grieving and you have said no. Its a them problem. So sorry about the loss of your husband

I'd always refuse scaffolding. In our previous house, we allowed next door to have scaffolding in our garden so they could have their side wall rendered. We were told it would be there 3-4 days, maximum of a week, and that it wouldn't inconvenience us at all as it wouldn't need to be the entire width of the gap between the houses.

Guess what. It was there for 7 weeks in the end, which meant our family bathroom was unusable for the first week as the scaffolding was right outside the window, which we never agreed to, and there were workmen wandering along it all day. They also put poles right across the window so we couldn't open it for 7 weeks!

The lesson I learned there was to tell them that after 2 days, you will charge a fee of £100 per day until it is removed.

That is total bollocks, scaffolders want the scaffolding on to the next job as soon as possible, so somebody is paying for it.

My friends solar panels took less than a morning to go up. It shouldnt be long.

But most scaffolders don’t have anywhere to store their scaffolding. If they don’t have another job for weeks they will leave it where it was.
OP tell them to leave you alone and not ask again. Another solution will be found.

I texted and asked politely for them not to ask me again. He replied and asked me again. He said he hoped we could sort it out and they didn’t want to cause me any trouble.

I replied and said they were causing me trouble and that I have more than enough to deal with currently.

My daughter said they really need to back off now.

If my DH was still alive, I can guarantee they wouldn’t be harassing us.

How long would they need it up? Solar panels should be installed in a couple of days - can it be arranged so it doesn't land on bin days.

I think this is different as they are rooftop solar panel installers - they'd be using the scaffolding constantly for jobs of a day or so.

It’s not your problem to sort, OP. Ignore any further requests; you’ve told them to stop asking you.

It’s not like roof repairs either, no one needs solar panels. As PP said, there will be a more expensive solution available to them.

Thanks, my DD says they are making their problem, my problem. They know my DH died very unexpectedly just before last Christmas. I’ve told them I’m struggling, I hope now they leave me alone.