Neighbour's extension

[SooSmith]

So the neighbours want to build. Original plans no problem but now they want to do something else.

As it is on the party wall they have to have a survey. Have insisted on my own surveyor which I know they have to pay for. Delayed their work while they submit new plans and give me a copy.

No entrance up my side passage, and if they want to scaffold my side of the fence then they pay for the privilege. My garden fence stays intact.

No Sunday or bank holiday working.

I've just been callled a bitch by next door. Why? All I'm doing is protecting my property and insisting they work reasonable hours.

Asking them to pay to put up scaffolding on your side of the fence is nothing to do with. protecting your property. You do sound quite obstructive and unneighbourly tbh.

Agreed. Most points sound reasonable but tbh I'd allow access down the side and not charge for putting scaffolding down. Why do you want money?

Meh it's up to you sounds like neighbourly relations are not important to you so crack on.

Your post comes across as being very happy and smug at making them pay as much as possible for everything and delaying them as much as possible I would of called you a bitch too.

They have to pay you if the scaffolding goes over your side of the fence?

That's not protecting your property, that's just trying to be as difficult and obstructive as possible, or trying to make a quick buck.

If you want to protect your property, just have something drawn up to say they are liable for any damages and will pay to fix anything that goes wrong on your side.

I don't think you'll be able to insist on being paid to scaffold your side.

I'm having hellish party wall issues currently - you sound permissive in comparison - and I haven't resorted to name-calling yet, so YANBU.

The surveyors are supposed to take the heat out of things - clearly hasn't worked here.

I don't want their builders on my property or scaffolding. I've spent a lot on my garden and I don't want it ruined.

My surveyor says I may have to let them take the fence down, but I'm not going to without a fight. Why the hell should they? I paid for it,

They want to put scaffolding in your garden? I don't think it's at all unreasonable to want some kind of compensation for that. I wouldn't want my lawn wrecked by someone else's scaffolding, or my dc's outside play space to be affected. It would be a massive PTA.

You're not a bitch. They sound like idiots if they can't see the reasonableness of your requests. Why should you be inconvenienced to make their home bigger?

YANBU. I think I would do exactly the same if I was in your position. I have had it up to here over the years with neighbours thinking they can do what they like,when they like and however they like regarding building work,with no regard as to whether it might affect anyone living next door. Especially approve of the 'No Sunday or bank holiday working'. I have had countless Sundays and bank holidays ruined by being woken up at stupid o'clock by drilling,hammering and the like. And then not being able to hear my TV or radio,or conduct a conversation without shouting, all day because of the infernal racket. Well done you,I say.

I can make them pay or they don't put scaffolding. Surveyor has confirmed.

I don't mind them building as long as they do it in their garden and not mine.

Just remember it works both ways.
When your roof needs fixing or you need work done they will mirror your attitude.

You have to allow access. They have to give you 14 days' notice.

I wouldn't want my lawn wrecked by someone else's scaffolding, or my dc's outside play space to be affected. It would be a massive PTA.
I wouldn't be fussed about getting paid for it, I just wouldn't allow it. I couldn't cope with the intrusion. If they want to build then fine, but you stay on your side.

I wouldn't want scaffolding for work on someone else's house in my garden either. I think it's perfectly reasonable to ask for money for that.

As for no work being done on Sundays and Bank Holidays, I've never known any builders to work on those days anyway (or Saturdays for that matter, or past 3pm. But then again, I'm up North).

If they take the fence down they put it back.

You have to allow access.
Why? (seriously, not goady) I can understand if its to water etc that is accessed through a manhole on your property & the water provider legally has access. But not someone putting up scaffolding etc.....

Do you share the side passage with the neighbour?

As it's on the party wall they have to give me two months to prepare. And I will hold them to that if they won't be considerate.

Bloody hell! Our neighbours had a massive extension. Scaffolding in our garden for about four months, using our passage, bank holiday and Sunday working, the lot. Luckily we are on really good terms with them and when I got pissed off I told them and things were sorted. Still disruptive but we expected it.

You must carry on protecting yourself. Why should your garden be ruined, why should you have disruption.

My neighbours did an extension and didn't bother with the party wall act. It was hell. They destroyed my garden and refuse to pay any compensation. We spent loads of money on solicitors etc and got nowhere even though they were the ones breaking the law.

So use all the protection you can.

can see both sides to this, but it will sour relations in the long run, not that would bother me

No I don't share the side passage with the neighbour.

It's the law. www.gov.uk/party-walls-building-works/when-works-begin Not sure it applies to scaffolding.

I wouldn't allow them on my garden AT ALL.

Who'd spend hundreds/thousands on plants just to allow the neighbours to stand on/put scaffolding on it/remove the fence???!

is the side passage shared though ?