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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

My neighbour wants me to take my shed down

117 replies

emma071981 · 02/07/2018 09:49

The previous owners pur a metal shed on the side of my property over 13 years ago. I have taken the majority of it down and just lefy the framework and roof so I have access through my side gate and still have somewhere to store my daughters bike. The neighbour has came around this morning saying she is getting her house painted and i need to take the roof down so her decorator can paint her facia boards. Do I need to take it down?

My neighbour wants me to take my shed down
My neighbour wants me to take my shed down
OP posts:
IWannaSeeHowItEnds · 02/07/2018 09:51

I would imagine that if it's attached to her house, then yes.

SD1978 · 02/07/2018 09:54

Yes- and depending on the permission given, may have to repair her wall if there is any damage. If it’s attached to her wall, she is entitled to have it removed whenever she wants or needs.

bumblingbovine49 · 02/07/2018 09:55

I am not sure if you need to and somebody may advise but I think if it is attached to her house you probably do need to take it down. In the interest of being a good relations with a neighbour , would it not be better to agree to take down while the painting is done but to mention that you would like to put i back after the painting has been done? See what she says to that. If she is happy for it to go back after the painting is done, then I can't see a major problem.

If she isn't then maybe others can advise but as I said if it is attached to her house, I assume it needs her permission

Imchlibob · 02/07/2018 09:58

Yes you need to take it down. And get written agreement from her before replacing it.

Original poster
emma071981 · 02/07/2018 10:02

It is not attached to her house, there is about a 2cm gap between the framework and her house.

OP posts:
SandyY2K · 02/07/2018 10:09

A 2cm gap is too close for her to gain access to do any maintenance to her house. I don't know how it was agreed in the first place to be honest.

SomeKnobend · 02/07/2018 10:10

Were you planning on taking it down anyway, or did you want to keep it? I doubt she can make you take it down after 13 years tbh. But I imagine from the look of it, it wasn't your long-term plan to keep it like that anyway, in which case I'd probably just take it down now, but before you do, agree with her what you're going to replace it with (because if she doesn't want it replaced at all, you might then decide to keep it).

ShatnersWig · 02/07/2018 10:10

Of course you need to take it down

Tartsamazeballs · 02/07/2018 10:13

I think you should take it down anyway because it looks a bit of a state!

Original poster
emma071981 · 02/07/2018 10:15

I only started taking the panels off yesterday. I wanted to keep to roof section on so i have somewhere to store my daughters bike and scooter. At the moment they are in the conservatory.

OP posts:
SD1978 · 02/07/2018 10:16

If you didn’t want to, other option would be to pay for full scaffolding to go up around it, if it’s thatnimoortsnt to you it remains. I’d imagine though she was the right to access the part of the wall covered by it.

IWannaSeeHowItEnds · 02/07/2018 10:17

Do you own the alley? I see your point if it is yours but I think you still have to give her access for maintenence to her property.

JennyOnAPlate · 02/07/2018 10:19

Yes you need to take it down. She legally has to have access to her own property to complete repairs/maintenance etc

Original poster
emma071981 · 02/07/2018 10:21

Yes i own the alley. The boundary line is her house. I have said she can have access at anytime, just let me know in advance so I can make sure im available to let them in.

OP posts:
bearbehind · 02/07/2018 10:22

It looks like the neighbour can't access that wall without a ladder being on the OP's property so I wouldn't take the roof down. The neighbour can't expect to access her walls from the OPs property.

bearbehind · 02/07/2018 10:24

Yes you need to take it down. She legally has to have access to her own property to complete repairs/maintenance etc

What law is that?

A person isn't legally obliged to allow their neighbours access to walls etc which are on a boundary line, therefore can only be accessed from the other persons property.

Gemini69 · 02/07/2018 10:24

it's handy too OP.. for your daughters wee bikes and things.. if you took it down could you get it back up Flowers

birdonawire1 · 02/07/2018 10:26

Your neighbour has a legal right to go onto your property for the purpose of maintainance on her home. I don’t think she can demand you remove a freestanding shed on your own property though so I guess she will have to pay for scaffolding rather than a man on a big ladder.

ShatnersWig · 02/07/2018 10:26

@bearbehind I'm afraid you're talking nonsense. The neighbour is legally entitled to access her walls from the OPs property courtesy of the Access to Neighbouring Land Act of 1992

worridmum · 02/07/2018 10:27

wrong Legally the owners have rights to access and some cases even put scaffolding up on other peoples properties to perform maintenance and other building works how else do you think people in flats manage to do needed maintenance works unless they own the ground floor flat?

Original poster
emma071981 · 02/07/2018 10:27

I wouldnt be able to get it back up as it is steel that has been welded together. I borrowed an angle grinder to get all the panels off and make it so the air runs through and that way it would reduce the risk of damp to her property which she said she was experiencing. That was the main reason I started taking ot down so i could keep good relations with her.

OP posts:
worridmum · 02/07/2018 10:28

sorry that was the Bearbehind mumstnet didnt update while i was posting.

MereDintofPandiculation · 02/07/2018 10:32

We were looking to buy a house where access to the end wall meant going on the neighbour's property. The neighbour had put in a lot of stipulations eg he would allow access only to a reputable company, length of notice given, clearing up (eg removing paint drips), restoring all damage. You may have a lot of control in the situation.

On the other hand, if it escalates to a dispute, you have to disclose it to a future buyer, and we walked away from the situation described above.

birdonawire1 · 02/07/2018 10:32

bearbehind That information is incorrect. Access to Neighbouring Land Act 1992

Sparklyfee · 02/07/2018 10:32

She doesn't want to get a decorator. She just wants you to take it down. She was happy to hear you out with the angle grinder...finally taking down a shed that was annoying her. She is now disappointed to find you are leaving the roof on (for water to pool on and cause damp to her property). So she has invented a "decorator" as another reason for you to take it down.

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