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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to wonder why the scaffolders don't seem to want their scaffolding back?

36 replies

IrianofWay · 03/06/2015 21:49

It's been up about 3 weeks now. The job it was needed for was completed 2 weeks ago. But despite numerous calls from me to the solar panel company, and the solar panel company to the scaffolding company it is STILL THERE! Apparently it is definitely coming down this week Hmm. Well it's wed night now and nothing....

My NDN are making vaguely irritated noises about the sky dish not working. I feel awful but I don't know what else to do.

Is this normal?

OP posts:
Eastpoint · 03/06/2015 21:51

They prefer to take it down & drive it straight to the next job.

Original poster
IrianofWay · 03/06/2015 21:56

I guess that makes sense. But I would prefer they took it down asap. Can I do anything east?

OP posts:
chandelierswinger · 03/06/2015 21:57

What Eastpoint said.

Original poster
IrianofWay · 03/06/2015 21:58

So they are using my garden as free storage then. Great!

OP posts:
Asleeponasunbeam · 03/06/2015 21:58

It's expensive for them to store.

Sparklingbrook · 03/06/2015 21:59

YY I heard that. they don't take it down until it has a new job to go to. How crap is that? Confused

Bair · 03/06/2015 22:05

I rang and said they had 7 days to remove or I'd get it removed. They were in the next day.

It's a risk to your property, much easier to access an upstairs window if there's a way up. Plus if someone was robbing you a guy on the roof has a great alibi to anyone who questions why he's up there.

Original poster
IrianofWay · 03/06/2015 22:08

Good point bair.

I did think about doing what you said but I can't really afford it atm and I dount they'd pay me back!

OP posts:
FloraPost · 03/06/2015 22:09

This is standard. I've found that inserting a clause into the building works contract that scaffolding must be removed before final payment made is pretty effective.

Original poster
IrianofWay · 03/06/2015 22:10

Wish I had known that flora! Never occurred to me but I'll bear it mind if I ever need any again.

OP posts:
CornChips · 03/06/2015 22:11

what everyone else said.

We had scaffolding up for weeks for a quick, 2 day repointing job.

so said that if they did not have it down by the 4th weekend we would charge them rent.

was down by 8 am the following day.

CremeEggThief · 03/06/2015 22:11

In the words of a builder who did some work on the house I rented a few years ago, "Scaffolders are a law unto themselves". Very true.

Original poster
IrianofWay · 03/06/2015 22:19

Thanks everyone.

I will wait until Friday. Get DS1 to call me at work if it's still up at midday and then I'll call again.

OP posts:
listsandbudgets · 03/06/2015 22:21

Tell them if its not removed by noon on Friday you'll be charging them rent

TwoAndTwoEqualsChaos · 03/06/2015 22:28

We had some in our garden our neighbour had put-up (long story ...). Anyway, it got to the stage where we said, if it wasn't removed, considering they had already trespassed to erect it, we would pursue all legal avenues (having referred it to our lawyers) and would take her to the Small Claims Court to recover any money we had to expend in having another firm take it down and leave it in her garden.

TwoAndTwoEqualsChaos · 03/06/2015 22:31

I would like to have said we would put it out on the pavement, where it wouldn't have lasted ten minutes before the tatters got it, but Iwasn't sure I could, legally.

Ilovefluffysheep · 03/06/2015 22:35

When I had my solar panels I was told scaffolding could be left up for up to two weeks after. It's in case of any issues with the panels not working properly.

Wasn't that long in the end, maybe a week at the most.

maninawomansworld · 04/06/2015 10:42

The best advice is to write to them saying that if it's not down by (say) the end of the week then you'll begin to charge them a 'storage fee'.

You must do it in writing, the charge must be reasonable (so you can't say £1000 a day or anything stupid) and you should give them a day or two after receiving the letter to come and fetch it.
I did this with one builder (who I never used again) after he left a load of bits in my barn, I said I'd be charging £50 a day, backdated to the day he vacated site (which was about 3 weeks).
He fetched the stuff the next day.

LotsaDots · 04/06/2015 11:09

builders often hire scaffolding, apparently if it's hired they have already paid for it, so they leave it up for the hire period incase they need it again. if they take it back early they have to pay again to hire it.

ApeMan · 04/06/2015 11:15

Phone the company, tell them some suspicious chaps have been around asking for scrap metal, that they showed an undue interest in the scaffolding after you closed the door, and the scaffolders might like to come and grab it just in case because you wouldn't have the first clue about how to stop it being nicked.

ApeMan · 04/06/2015 11:18

I know it's a lie and lying is wrong, but they will leave it there messing up the place forever because , which will usually be a lie anyway.

dixiechick1975 · 04/06/2015 11:22

My mils scaffolding got stolen. Dodgy builder left it up and did a runner. She had no idea which firm supplied it (no name on it) was up for months. Then one day someone stole it problem solved.

Original poster
IrianofWay · 06/06/2015 19:05

Thanks for all your replies.

Rang again on Thursday. Still there on Friday evening. Came back from a run this morning and the scaffolders were there! OK, they were sitting in their cab drinking coke but at least they were there. All gone now! We have fulll daylight in our bedroom again!

Gave my neighbours some wine, chocolates and an apology so neighbourly relations have been re-established.

OP posts:
PlummyBrummy · 07/06/2015 08:22

Ours was up for 4-5 weeks and I was outraged that they were using us as free storage whilst we were at increased risk of burglary. Being heavily pregnant was helpful as I engaged The Rage and told them that if they didn't come and fetch it, I'd be dismantling it myself and leaving it out for the tatters. Don't know how long they might have thought it was reasonable to leave it otherwise!

TeddyBee · 07/06/2015 10:12

We actually paid for our neighbours dish to be moved and then moved back again. Did they not ask you to do that? Anyway, we were left with a load of scaffolding and after a month we stuck it on eBay for twenty quid. Was gone in a day.

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