To be fed up of and stressed out by neighbours’ building work?

[Quartermaster]

The house next door to us changed ownership in mid June (at around the same time as our daughter was born). The new owners then embarked almost immediately on an extension project.

We came home from holiday in August to find the builders had scaffolded onto our drive. They didn’t ask in advance if this was ok, and to be honest it was inconvenient as it meant we couldn’t drive forwards off our drive (which is u-shaped so ordinarily it is possible to drive on and off without needing to reverse).

This was made worse by the fact that the builders constantly parked overhanging or blocking our drive/dropped kerb. One day I had a really scary near miss with baby and toddler in the car, because I simply couldn’t see round their overhanging high sided van.

Anyway, the scaffolding on our drive came down a couple of weeks ago. Then, yesterday, I came home and was in the living room when I realised the house was shaking. I went outside and saw that in the absence of the scaffolding they were using our flat roof as a base to build the extension next door. They claim it is not possible to scaffold because of the narrow gap between the houses, so they will need to use our roof but will now put boards down to protect it.

The final straw was today. I had to take the baby to have her jabs, and when I got back more scaffolding was up. Again it was on our drive but this time it is so close to our house that we cannot even open our garage door! There was also a really precarious pile of bricks balanced on a wobbly plank on our drive, several feet in the air.

I am so close to a meltdown over this. I don’t want to fall out with our new neighbours as we will likely be living next door to them for years but not sure I can live like this!

You need to lose your shot with the neighbours so they lose their shit with the builders.
I came home to scaffolding on my land once. I pointed out very very firmly it was a trespass. Neighbour and builder blamed each other. I graciously gave permission because it didn't put us out.
This does put you out. It stops now!

Of course yanbu
But unless you say something, how will they know you are being massively inconvenienced? As long as you approach it im a friendly fashion and make it about the builders rather than them, hopefully they will be understanding and soeak to their builders.

Have you had much to do with your new neighbours just yet?

How horrible!

Not much you can do about them building, but I would tell them clearly and in writing that they, and their equipment, are not allowed on your land.

Explain to your new neighbours why it's a problem, and if they're halfway decent they will respect that.

If they don't, they're not people you'll ever get along with anyway!!

You will have had warning from your council in a letter this was happening and advised to get a party wall surveyor in?
Our neighbours have an extension going on with scaffolding on our drive too, but... The agreement we had drawn up gives us and them protection. Not sure you can get one once it's started though but you should have been written too from your council, worth checking it's on the planning department you can look online

No party wall agreement. I’m 99% sure there should be one, and we would have signed if asked - but haven’t been asked.

Does anyone know if we would be allowed to remove the scaffolding from our property if they don’t?!

Completely agree with @cheninblanc

How on earth have you got into this position OP? Do you have a partner or any family that can support you to go round and tell them to get their arses in gear and their house in order? They have no right to put anything on your drive, use your flat roof etc - the builders must be laughing behind your back!

I'd have called the damn police

Good grief ! I'm thinking planning permission; regulations; trespass; etc etc

Report them to the council - if you weren't given warning of scaffolding nor walking on your roof, then they are doing something illegal.

What a cheek! YADNBU OP!

You can't open your garage door? Get round there first thing and tell them to take it down. That's not a bit inconvenient, it's completely obstructive and unfair.

I'm sure that they wouldn't be insured on someone else's land either.
Quite dangerous.

The builders here had to use a system where by they took it all down whilst doing lower level and now its up but I can drive under it. They jet wash my car, windows and side door every night too. There's been minimal disruption to us so I'd be looking to take it further, you shouldn't be inconvenience in any way at all

Did you tell them to remove it?

I would be straight round there and tell them to take it down immediately and stay off your roof too - cheeky fuckers

In my recent experience the council will not help. The project manager will just cite restrictions related to the site, and the planners roll over.

I had to call Building Control when my neighbours builders used my house as part of their not previously approved project.

I really envy people that can maintain relations with neighbours during work. I tried so hard to be reasonable, but my neighbour just continuously brushed us off - we had chunks of masonry falling into our garden from four floors up.

You really shouldn’t be put in a position where, as the non building party, the only option left is to lose your shit.