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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbour demanding money. AIBU to ask you what I should do?

38 replies

TheEighthMrsSK · 01/09/2018 20:21

I live in a mid terrace Victorian house. We share a roof valley with the neighbouring house. For context we are on ‘hello’ and a short conversation terms with the owner of the neighbouring house, but nothing more.

His house is suffering from damp, he has been quite vocal about this to me pretty much every time I see him. This evening i have received a letter informing me of upcoming building works on HIS roof and MY chimney stacks which are in our shared valley, to fix his damp problem. As the chimney stacks are mine (apparently they are anyway. I don’t often poke around on the roof!) he is requesting a four figure ‘contribution’ from me for the work he’s agreed to have done. I can’t afford to pay this, and neither do I want to. AIBU to ask what on earth to do? This is not a situation that I’ve ever been n before. My instinct is that he wants his roof sorted out, and is being a CF trying to get me to subside the cost, but of course I could be wrong.

OP posts:
Original poster
TheEighthMrsSK · 01/09/2018 20:22

Apologies for the typos!

OP posts:
Di11y · 01/09/2018 20:24

Well if you refuse to pay he'll have to do the work anyway surely? However is it problems with your chimney that have affected him? That sounds like your eresponsibiliy??

endofthelinefinally · 01/09/2018 20:25

Contact your buildings insurers. As he should be doing. Not harrassing you.

percheron67 · 01/09/2018 20:25

Ask a surveyor to look and give you a written report.

Squidgee · 01/09/2018 20:25

right

firstly, if they're your stacks he needs your permission to do any work on them.

and if you can't afford it you tell him no, in writing.

You can also tell him if he wants to do work, then he is liable to

  1. full costs.
  2. any damage caused to your property and any subsequent repairs required.
Original poster
TheEighthMrsSK · 01/09/2018 20:26

Apparently it’s both my chimney and his roof. My house isn’t damp.

OP posts:
Lavalamped · 01/09/2018 20:26

Did he not even discuss your 'contribution' face to face?

endofthelinefinally · 01/09/2018 20:26

Only your and
his insurers surveyor should be diagnosing the problem.

Maelstrop · 01/09/2018 20:27

Get a roofer round to have a look. He can’t just demand you pay for his problem! Looking at my chimney tonight, it is one stack, 2 outlets, one mine, one the neighbour’s.

Squidgee · 01/09/2018 20:27

However, if its your chimney stacks causing his damp, then you are liable for the damage to his property.

You ought to speak to your buildings insurance, and you need evidence of whats causing his damp.

MojoMoon · 01/09/2018 20:27

Dig out all the paperwork from your solicitor from when you bought the house.
Ownership and responsibility of the chimney stacks should be part of the searches/research that solicitors do.

Don't engage any further until you have done that.

CoraPirbright · 01/09/2018 20:27

Squidgee is all over it. Do that!!

PanamaPattie · 01/09/2018 20:27

He has agreed to have the work done, so he pays for it. Not your problem.

Twotailed · 01/09/2018 20:27

What do your title deeds say?

Squidgee · 01/09/2018 20:28

I only know because on a previous property we shared a chimney with our neighbours and they had some work done. Their roofers disturbed the lead, which resulted in a leak in our roof and damage to our bedroom.

His insurance had to pay for it.

Original poster
TheEighthMrsSK · 01/09/2018 20:28

He has had a roofer round to look apparently. I had another note put through my letter box yesterday informing me of this, but only in the context of apologising for noise. No face to face communication whatsoever.

OP posts:
hibbledibble · 01/09/2018 20:28

A four figure amount for a chimney stack? That is utterly rediculous. I would definitely not pay that.

I would get your own quotes for whatever is required for the chimney stack. Tell the neighbour that he can do whatever works to his own home, and you will do what is required to yours, but you will each be liable for your own costs

Singlenotsingle · 01/09/2018 20:29

You'll need a specialist property adviser to deal with this. Ask for a copy of the surveyors report first.

hibbledibble · 01/09/2018 20:30

For context, when I had a leak caused by my chimney stack, I was quoted £200 to fix it.

nwatty · 01/09/2018 20:30

It's a common repair. He should have told you in writing what needed done and obtained at least 3 quotes. If he has not done this he cannot take you to small claims per tenements act (if you're in Scotland)

HollyGoLoudly1 · 01/09/2018 20:30

We have had to contribute to roof repairs in a similar situation before (old Victorian property, repairs cost a small fortune!). I think he should have communicated better with you but if the chimney stacks are needing repair and are indeed part of your property (check your title deeds) then I'm afraid you will be liable for fixing them.

I'm guessing it will be cheaper to have the work done at the same time as the other roof repairs as opposed to sorting out your own workmen, so at least you don't have the hassle of getting quotes etc. I would ask for a detailed breakdown of exactly what the costs are to ensure you are only paying for your part.

It's the downside of owning property I'm afraid - I learned the hard way to always had a contingency fund set aside since we had to do our repairs.

CSIblonde · 01/09/2018 20:32

Get your own inspection of the chimney stacks. His builder could be trying it on to get higher fee. Or your neighbour could be trying it on as too tight to pay it all. Never take anyone's word for for anything especially where £ is involved.

Doubletrouble99 · 01/09/2018 20:38

If both of you have an outlet to the chimney then you are only liable for 50% anyway. But you certainly won't be paying for repairs until you have seen a survey report and 3 quotes. I would let him know this before he goes ahead.

worridmum · 01/09/2018 20:39

He may have gotten the work done but if the damage was caused by the OP property she WILL be liable, so if he has evidence it was caused by the OP property she will have to pay out.

Get your own roofer to examine the offending stack if it is in fact your stack causing the damage it would be better for you to repair it and at least pay 50% of the repair costs (if your lucky as legally you could have to foot the entire bill)

If it goes to court and he wins she may even be hit with his legal costs as well, especially if he gave her evidence that it was in fact her property causing the damage.

worridmum · 01/09/2018 20:41

(My comment was more for the people saying he got the work done he has too pay, which legally is not the case for example if you drive into someone car / property you do not get out of paying for said damage simply because the only has been pro active and fixed the damage faster then the person who caused it was willing to do it.)