Potential Cheeky Fucker (with diagram)

[MissTeri]

I may have me a PCF but wanted to ask other opinions on this first.

PCF has bought the flat above mine and is doing lots of work that will take up to 3 months, lots of noise/dust etc but I don't mind as it needs doing. Builder has been apologetic about noise etc I've said don't worry but we bump into each other often and have a chat now and then about PCFs plans for the flat.

Yesterday we got chatting about the garden. PFC garden is at the back and builder says he's having decking put in having all this landscaping and what not, says it's costing him X amount of money etc. It took a minute to dawn on me that the ONLY way a digger can access his garden is through my front garden, by taking a huge chunk of hedge from the bottom - builder confirms this and says they'll need to put a ramp up my garden steps and remove my fencing half way up! Builder was talking like this is a done deal and that I should ask PCF to dig up the bottom of my garden and get it levelled (it's sloped) by way of making things right again.

Upstairs owns. I rent from local housing association. Obviously permission will have to be sought from LHA but what about me? Do I get a say legally or not?

My other neighbour has been waiting patiently for an allotment for years, last year I told him he can use my bottom garden to grow veg in, we'd planned on doing it together with my son but haven't yet started. Now I'm assuming we'll have to wait for PCF to sort out his garden before we can work on mine?

Little bit miffed to be hearing of this after PCF has already priced it all up and then I spotted PCF stood on the path that cuts through my garden earlier, stood for ages just looking at my garden as if to decide what he's going to do with it! I'm not sure how bothered I am about him plodding through the garden with a digger, it will be noisy and mucky and mean that the garden is out of use to us for the duration but I don't mind putting the veg garden on hold for a while. I'd like to know, from a legal point of view as a tenant, if I can object to this?

That seem to be a really good update OP!
They were very prompt to come out.
HA are usually quite strict when it comes to their property's being disrupted.
It's seem that the HA will make sure, even if it does go ahead, you will have your garden returned to it original state.
And I am glad they are as appalled as everyone else is for their rude assumptions.
Good luck

Great update op

That’s a good update.

in terms of the surveyor contacting the CFN, surely if he hasn't got any information, he should be leaving a large warning letter through the door and hopefully also leaving a printed notice for the builder to see?

If I were you OP, I would just say no full stop. This is the level of cheeky fuckery where if you give them an inch, they take several miles.

then let all the paperwork go via HA. I hope it all works out for you - and the nesting birds....

Great update OP.

I probably wouldn't object if it were me if it was going through three correct channels but the CFery is vvv rude!

This is the level of cheeky fuckery where if you give them an inch, they take several miles. I know, that's why I'm so glad I've at least got HA informed now! The man who called today didn't seem best pleased at all that plans were being made without first seeing if they would be granted access so at least we're on the same page with that.

I hope it all works out for you - and the nesting birds. Thank you. I will be so furious and baying for blood if they disturb any of the nests! I've loved watching the birds building nests this spring, we've got a lovely little blue tit who is nesting in our nest box too - I think she may have laid eggs in there already but I don't want to disturb her by checking

ooh I love seeing birds' nests! I'll keep a watch on the thread in case of baby birds now too

I don't know if there are any laws are there - building seems to go on willy nilly in the London burbs so I doubt it. New people have moved in opposite my folks, there were two mature trees at the front and the first thing they did was get them removed.....Seemed to start the day they moved in.

All good in theory, but in practise the HA are still leaving you to sort it out.

HA should be putting letter through CFs door with contact details telling CF to contact HA.

You shouldn't have to get contact details for HA. Get HA to pull their finger out and sort it!

It might be worth installing a cctv camera covering your garden. Just in-case the CF and/or the builder decides to start ripping out the hedge.

My biggest question (and that’s because I’m also a renter) is if the HA gives approval for this whether your rent could be deducted as you won’t have use of the garden during that time.

Not sure how it is with yours, but with my rented property I actually paid extra for a ground floor flat with a garden (higher rent for those of us with gardens) so if I suddenly was told building work was going on with a neighbour who owns and not for the HA etc I’d be a bit miffed paying that extra rent and not having use of my garden

What itto said.
Its not up to you to find out info for HA they can easily put a letter through cfs door.
Do not let him do a thing until its all gone through HA channels first.

Thats excellent progress OP. If you bump into the builder I'd say it to him- hes not going to want the hassle of potentially being sued along with PCF if he is the one who physically damages the property.

I don't know if there are any laws are there - building seems to go on willy nilly in the London burbs so I doubt it.

www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/wildlife-and-the-law/wildlife-and-countryside-act/