#!@** Landlord erecting scaffolding without notice

[marispiper]

I woke up this morning and there were lots of men working in my building, they've also put up an scaffolding WITHOUT any notice or letter from the landlord *they own the whole building.

Only the noise and having the access blocked is enough to drive anyone mad, not to mention getting the buggy in and out.

Anything I can do? Is this normal?

Nope, not normal. Under a standard tenancy agreement, you should be allowed to have quiet enjoyment of the property.

WTF?

I don't know the law but surely you have rights to the access? Your tenancy agreement must say that you have access, they can't just block that.

What are they doing?? Painting windows etc??

What do you want to do?? What would you have done if they had told you. At the end of the day, if it needs doing then it needs doing - health and safety regulations state they will need scaffolding if high work is being done.

Access shouldn't be blocked but you will just have to put up with the noise.

I can get in and out, but it's difficult with the buggy / scooter.

It's the noise the worst. I do part of my work from home.

So access isn't blocked then, it's just a bit difficult. Can you speak to them to ask if they can make it more accessable for you?

@Betty if I had received a letter at least I could have planned ahead

I don't think scaffolding and repair/maintenance work constitutes a breach of your right to peaceful enjoyment of your property though, particularly if the work takes place during normal working hours. I'm also unaware of an obligation on a landlord to inform you of its taking place, although it would have been a courtesy.

If maintenance work needs to be done then I don't really see what the alternative is. You could always move out and into a new build which won't need any for some time?

I suspect your tenancy agreement will have a section which states that maintenance can be carried out on the exterior of the building, and that any emergency repairs can be carried out without notice, it usually only non essential work that go under the notice system.

It's usually a separate scaffolding company that put up the scaffolding, and get asked to do so by a certain date, so they do tend to appear and stick it up quite quickly.