AIBU?
AIBU to be pissed off about neighbour's scaffolding?
OrchidInTheSun · 19/10/2018 17:19
Have new neighbours in (rented) house next door. The landlord is doing a load of work which is fine. Last week a bloke came round here and asked if they could use my land as access to put up the scaffolding as their house is very close to the fence.
I said fine.
Scaffolding went up yesterday. I got back last night (in the dark) and have been out since early morning today and only just realised they have actually put the bloody scaffolding supports in my garden!
Not only that but the horizontal pole is rammed against the wall of my house and they've put a plank on my shed roof
AIBU to be a bit pissed off? And what should I do about it?
Gazelda · 19/10/2018 17:21
Get straight into the landlord and tell them you've not given permission for this. Demand that they arrange for the scaffolding to be removed from your property.
OrchidInTheSun · 19/10/2018 17:23
I don't know who the landlord is. Last time I tried to contact them (when a fence panel blew down), the former tenants didn't seem to know how to contact them either. Eventually I got so pissed off I had the fence fixed.
RedTriangle · 19/10/2018 17:24
Its only going to be there for a limited time. I would only say something if it is damaging your property or really limiting your ability to use it. I would put up with any minor inconveniences as its just part and parcel of having neighbours.
OrchidInTheSun · 19/10/2018 17:24
Sorry thinking and typing at the same time. I'm also not sure if I'm just being a bit of a git because I don't think their side passage is wide enough for a scaffolding platform if they don't put poles in my garden. It's hard surfacing so they're not damaging any plants or anything.
Aprilislonggone · 19/10/2018 17:27
Phew thought that was you Sharon!! Our scaffolding had been up for 2 months!! Work done weeks ago but no heads up from ll when it is coming down!
It is an eye sore I can tell you -
We rang the council as ours is a listed building and they didn't check regs. Maybe ring the council anyway? They may know the ll details (?)
OrchidInTheSun · 19/10/2018 17:28
Thing is Red - how do I know if it's damaging my property? If it does (break a tile/damage brickwork/ damage my feeble shed roof), are they going to say that I gave them permission? Because I categorically did not.
dizzydaisies · 19/10/2018 17:28
If it's not damaging anything why are you pissed off? Is it blocking access to anything?
If there's no harm I'd just let it go
eggsandwich · 19/10/2018 17:29
Land registry but it should be on their tenancy agreements with name address and possibly a contact number.
legofriendly · 19/10/2018 17:30
How long is it going to be there for?
What work is happening?
It might be best to just let them get on with it if it means property next door won’t become unliveable?
gamerwidow · 19/10/2018 17:32
You could surely see if it’s damaged your property or not?
I wouldn’t care about this I had a neighbours scaffolding poles in my garden for about a month while they rendered and painted their house. It didn’t block access so I let them get on with it. Everyone needs to be able to repair their house if necessary. You might need the same from them one day so what’s the point of being an arse about it?
Noodledoodledoo · 19/10/2018 17:33
If its rented and through an agency I would contact them.
OrchidInTheSun · 19/10/2018 17:40
I'm not being an arse. If the bloke had said 'Look, their side of the fence is a bit narrow, so we'd ideally like to put some scaffolding poles in your garden if possible. Is that okay?', then I'd probably have said yes.
It's the fact that he lied to me. And I have not given my consent to them putting stuff on my property.
CuriousaboutSamphire · 19/10/2018 17:50
Not sure how anyone can say "Oh well!, what you worrying about?"
That's areas of high pressure being exerted on OPs property, without permission and for someone elses benefit.
Easy thing is to take a note of the scaffolding company name and ring their boss, then the council (they gave to have a certificate, checked weekly etc etc) and raise a fuss. If you can find the letting agent, apply pressure there too!
If you find damage when they take it down they will just tell you it was there before they put the scaffolding up! So you need to tell them you want to see that your property is covered by their insurance... don't let them get away with it, They are breaking so many of the regs covering scaffolding, but will rely on "She said yeah!" if challenged. So stop them now!
DadJoke · 19/10/2018 17:51
First decide what you want out of it. Do you want them to remove the scaffolding, vent at someone, get compensation, get apology and an acknowledgement? In any case, speak directly to the contractor, and if you don't get any joy, the contractor's boss.
legofriendly · 19/10/2018 17:51
asked if they could use my land as access to put up the scaffolding...
This might be builder speak for the access will be on your land.
As you would have let them anyway, even if you had explained that, I’d just let it be.
The scaffolders may have long gone as they are often contracted just to put the scaffold up and take it down for the builders. It might take ages for them to come back even if they were willing.
CuriousaboutSamphire · 19/10/2018 17:52
Oh, if you don't get anywhere fast you could do what our neighbour did.
She put signs up, under the company name on the scaff, saying "I didn't give them permission to use my property" - it came down early one morning!
legofriendly · 19/10/2018 17:54
CuriousaboutSamphire the op has admitted she would have given permission if he’d asked in a different way! Why the need to contact the council?!
Ariela · 19/10/2018 18:03
We have a similar problem, gave access for digging and concrete, next it's scaffolding poles on our land. All being ongoing for 3 months so far
However we decided we are keeping quiet as we may need to do the same next year to next door, but a lesser job so won't be up as long or as involved.
Does it inconvenience you? If not then I'd not bother complaining.
OrchidInTheSun · 19/10/2018 18:11
I'm ringing the letting agents in the morning. The more I think about it, the more cross I am.
And in answer to legofreindly about how long it's going to be there - I've got absolutely no idea. Because I didn't actually know it was going to be put up on my property!
radioband · 19/10/2018 18:17
Jeez, it's doing no harm and won't be there forever. Just let them get on with what they need to do. I'm sure you'd appreciate their cooperation if it was the other way round.
Iaimtomisbehave1 · 19/10/2018 18:21
I'd raise it with the letting agency and have a word with the builders just incase there is any damage or your shed roof falls in. If they are using the shed roof to support a plank they walk on, and it collapses... well, they will sue you. So I would want them to know they do not have permission as the shed hasn't be tested for use as a support. And if anything gets damaged, you want to be able to say they did not have permission.
Shitlandpony · 19/10/2018 18:22
I think a lot of these neighbour annoyances are because whoever is taking the favour doesn’t have the basic manners to go round with some bottles of wine/flowers or whatever and ask first.
I know the scaffolding company asked on the day but the landlord should have visited before work started anyway. It’s just poor behaviour.
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