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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Can we get into trouble?

87 replies

Harleyisme · 03/06/2019 07:19

We had our roof redone this week wi5h all drain pipes fascia borads done. Our neighbours ariel was on our front fascia board. So the builders had to take it down and put it back up on there house.
She came round yesterday saying how cheeky it was to touch there ariel and that it wasnt working downstairs that the wore wasnt connected and wanted my 14 year old to go uo and fix the wire. Now shes not been up so cant see how she knows how its not connected as theres no wores hanging down.
Can we get into trouble touching her ariel or are we within rights as it was on our property. Its not been moved by much.

OP posts:
1tisILeClerc · 03/06/2019 08:08

Post an invoice to them charging them for using your fascia board for their aerial.
The electricity companies pay 'rent' if they have poles on your land. Something like a quid a year, not massive but it underlines a legal point, they are on your property.
If one of their televisions works and the other doesn't and they 'share' the same aerial, for a start this is 'bad practice' technically and also that the aerial just needs more careful lining up.

Original poster
Harleyisme · 03/06/2019 08:10

We own the property. It was there when we moved on. There was nothing from the solicitors or previous owners documenting it being on our house and there was no document about an agreement.

OP posts:
IHeartArya · 03/06/2019 08:11

Maybe post in legal as well as I don’t think you have to rectify but someone in legal will know. By rectifying you may be admitting liability & you don’t want that. Personally I think what they did was trespass so you are under no obligation to rectify but I’ve not worked for 20 years so my law is slightly rusty.

Miniloso · 03/06/2019 08:15

OP, it’s NOT your fault. I’d talk to her again/write a letter saying you may have more work done to your roof and will need her ariel moving onto her own property as it may further disrupt her signal. State that until you have further ‘work’ done no one will be going up to the roof but she can organise to get it moved onto her own property and fixed in the meantime.

It’s not your problem. Her ariel is on your property and it is not your responsibility.

Angie169 · 03/06/2019 08:20

I agree with PP if she doesnt answer the door a friendly note to let her know whats going on . followed by a firmer note a few days before you knew the work was going to be done , but hindsight is a wonderful thing .
Now regardless as to why its there and who gave permission to keep thing civil I would discuss jointly calling out a someone to look at it ( split the call out fee ) if its not working because its been moved you pay , if its not working because its faulty /old / or any other reason she pays .
I would not want to pay for it but for the sake of keeping a decent relationship with her ( and possibly others on the street ) Id suck it up .

onalongsabbatical · 03/06/2019 08:22

Your house survey did not point out that her aerial was on your property?

Original poster
Harleyisme · 03/06/2019 08:24

No the house survey didn't point it out

OP posts:
insancerre · 03/06/2019 08:28

Give her the number of a local Ariel fitter and tell her it’s now her problem to get fixed
The Ariel should not have been on your property without your knowledge or permission
You’ve done nothing wrong

BasinHaircut · 03/06/2019 08:30

OP I don’t think anyone thinks you are nasty. You have tried to sort it out the best way you could at the time, it’s just unfortunate that it now doesn’t work.

The arrangement for the aerial being on your properly pre-dates you and possibly your neighbour too. She may not have realised it was on your property, or may not have realised that it would be an issue as it was something agreed with the previous owners that you have never raised before.

Aerial’s have to be set up though, not just moved, so it probably now needs to be adjusted by an engineer.

You should probably offer to go halves on having it looked at.

DaisiesAreOurSilver · 03/06/2019 08:32

It's her problem. not yours. Drop her a note saying you're sorry if she's lost reception but it shouldn't have been on your house in the first place and she will need to get one on her own property.

Celticrose · 03/06/2019 08:33

I imagine the reason it was put on your property was that it is the only place they can get their TV to work properly.

IHeartArya · 03/06/2019 08:34

Do not offer to pay or go halves. You may be admitting liability for moving her property. Post in legal op & ask for legal advice & act on that rather than AIBU.

Original poster
Harleyisme · 03/06/2019 08:36

She new it was on our property when she came yesterday she said our ariel was on your house and your roofers have moved it to our house. It was cheeky to touch our ariel without asking us and she asked for builders number after i said my 14 year old can't get up to it.. From what i can gather they put on our property previous to us as it was wood fascias and easier to put up there than her plastic fasica.

OP posts:
1tisILeClerc · 03/06/2019 08:38

I am pretty sure you are not in any 'legal' trouble, their aerial should not have been on your fascia board unless they or a previous owner had specifically requested it. If it had fallen it would not be right that you would be responsible for any damage or injury.
If you are in a 'marginal' area (a long way from the transmitter) then exact placement is critical, which may have been a reason it was put on your property originally. However this is not your problem.
Aerials corrode and rot anyway, so they be being 'opportunist' trying to get it replaced by you as they saw it was moved.

IHeartArya · 03/06/2019 08:39

Then it’s her look out. Do not give permission for it to go back on your side. Post in legal please as my law is rusty & this was not my area unless someone on this thread is a solicitor who can advise.

Original poster
Harleyisme · 03/06/2019 08:39

I will see if they comes back to me and what they has to say after they have spoken to the builders.

OP posts:
Wheresthebeach · 03/06/2019 08:40

Tell her that she can't have her aerial on your property. She needs to sort it. It's a shame you didn't think of a note, but that's done now. You need to make sure her aerial doesn't 'come back' to your property, and no don't pay for it.

IHeartArya · 03/06/2019 08:41

This is legal or ask MNHQ to move this thread for you

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/legal_matters

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 03/06/2019 08:43

I wouldn’t offer to pay. It would have been polite to warn her, but as you say, her not answering the door makes that difficult. Make sure they don’t put it back on your roof.

Kahlua4me · 03/06/2019 08:43

Can you ask the roofers to come back and check the aerial? They should have left it in working order as it was before they moved it.

Perhaps they can make sure the wires are all connected it whilst leaving it on your neighbours roof not yours.

onalongsabbatical · 03/06/2019 08:44

So it's been put back on her own house now? I'd say you don't really have a problem. Her aerial is on her house. You moved it from your property, I'd have thought you've got the right to do that.

cees · 03/06/2019 08:46

Yanbu, she is. What a cheeky cow tell her to put her Ariel on her own property

ChesterDrawsDoesntExist · 03/06/2019 08:46

Relax. She can't do a thing. You tried to speak to her and she wouldn't answer (maybe she's one of these MNers who won't open their door without prior appointments so she may see this anyway) and you had every right to remove it from your property. It should never have been put on in the first place. You wouldn't have been doing anything wrong had you detached it completely and handed it to her at her door (though I guess she wouldn't have opened it...)

gamerchick · 03/06/2019 08:49

Is a sky dish OP, I'm trying to picture what you mean by arial? If it's a sky dish then she'll need to get them out to put it where they should have in the first place

JaynePoole · 03/06/2019 08:49

"AERIAL"!