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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Garden Nightmare

70 replies

Catworrier · 12/01/2020 00:12

Background: I've lived in my house for two years and it's needed a lot of work. That hardest and most tedious has been the garden. It's managed to sort a chill out pebbled area at the back and the boarder at the left of my garden.

Next door are now building a conservatory. I've had the builders destroy my hard work and I'm gutted. I'm having arguments with them in my head every night and lacking sleep because of it.

They've littered over my garden, their temp metal fence damaged my back door handles when it fell, they've killed at least 5 plants. Destroyed the grass and trodden in the bark on the flower bed.

I can't bring myself to speak to the neighbour as I hate confrontation. AIBU to speak to someone like the police? Or similar?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
CherryPlum · 12/01/2020 05:47

Those photos are shocking. Plants are expensive too, and the time and effort you've put in to creating a beautiful border - I would be gutted and angry.

I totally understand you being non-confrontational (I am the same - a scaredy cat!) but you can't leave this, you really must address it now while tge 'builders' are still around. They sound unprofessional and you should start putting your complaints in writing and let them know you will be seeking legal advice.

othervoicesotherrooms · 12/01/2020 08:24

The photos ARE shocking OP.
They don't give a damn do they?
Print the pictures and take them over to your neighbour. You must confront them.

Plants tend to bounce backMost plants are cheap to buy
WTF?
Plants are not cheap and I doubt many in the OP's garden will 'bounce' back. Hmm
I wonder if you'd feel the same if it were your garden.

RhymingRabbit3 · 12/01/2020 08:46

They shouldnt be in your garden trampling your plants. We had an extension done at the end of last year and the builders didnt need to go near the neighbours garden at all. And if they did they would have asked, not just wandered in and started working. I think you should talk to your neighbour again, more sternly. Continue taking photos when they enter your garden or if more damage is done. Chase your neighbour for the payment to repair your border, rather than chasing the builders themselves.

EscapeTheCastle · 12/01/2020 09:00

The pictures are very clear. Sorry this has happened. I think sending the photos to the neighbours telling them you would like £60.00 worth of plants and a gardener to put them in in the spring will be the solution. Get a quote ready.
The door handle, start looking for a replacement and a quote for a handyman to do it.

I had a random builder from next door in my garden once sawing something up using my raised bed (made of railway sleeper) as his work bench.
I dashed outside telling him off and shooing him back into next doors garden. I was so flustered. Extra embarrassing as this workman was also a neighbour from down the road.

annualleavepurchase · 12/01/2020 09:05

Have you or your husband gone out while the builders are there and asked them to get off your land?

LolaDarkdestroyer · 12/01/2020 11:21

That's really bad and the fact you haven't said anything before now is shockkng...which is why they are continuing to take the possible don't understand why the fence had to be taken off what if you had a dog etc?

Original poster
Catworrier · 12/01/2020 12:10

@LolaDarkdestroyer we both work full time. It's only because I worked from home recently that I saw them. And wasn't brave enough to confront them when I was on my own.

OP posts:
PhilCornwall1 · 12/01/2020 12:17

AIBU to speak to someone like the police?

It's not a Police matter. Unfortunately, you are going to have to overcome the issues with confrontation and speak to your neighbour. Plenty of photos are required for evidence.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 12/01/2020 12:18

You don't need to confront the builders,you need to make it very clear TODAY to your neighbours that you will not allow access until something is in writing about repairing damage to your property. Did you agree beforehand about access?

Original poster
Catworrier · 12/01/2020 12:30

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor
No agreement before hand. We got a letter through saying they have put in notice for structural changes and we had no issue with that. No mention of access to our land (otherwise I would have waited to improve our garden).
My other half is going to wfh tomorrow so he can address the builders.

OP posts:
Baileys4two · 12/01/2020 12:35

They're not allowed to step foot on your land without permission.

Technically they'd have to lean over from their side if you didn't give them permission. You'd be entitled to allow them but insist it's returned to the condition it was before they began.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 12/01/2020 12:38

You have every right to tell your neighbours if they step one foot on your land that you WILL be calling the police. Go and talk to your neighbours and get it sorted so they aren't on your land tomorrow morning. You need to halt the work now because once it's finished they won't be interested in putting right any damage.

maryberryslayers · 12/01/2020 12:41

OP they have absolutely no right at all to access your property at any time, not even to carry out works.
Why are they cladding the side of their building when it's in your garden and they won't be able to see it?
You need to be very clear with them. They must not have materials or builders on your land at any time and must keep their fence along the existing boundary line. Be very careful when they reinstate the fence that they but it back in the correct place.
I'd get a cheap camera to record them if I were you.
If the neighbours don't reimburse you for everything that's been damaged you can go through small claims, it's cheap and very easy to do.

Baileys4two · 12/01/2020 12:41

Also, it's your neighbour that will be responsible for the costs to repair the damage.
Did you agree to have a party wall agreement in place?

BovaryX · 12/01/2020 12:43

OP
That's appalling. Your pictures clearly demonstrate how much you cared for your garden and they are trampling all over your property. Can you contact the council? I am not in UK but it looks like they are building right up against your boundary. Is that allowed? The pictures are evidence. You need to complain the builder and neighbour

Baileys4two · 12/01/2020 12:46

If you haven't agreed to this party wall agreement and the excavation work is being carried out within 3m of your boundary, then you can contact the planning enforcement/building control at the council and explain the situation and they can advise you of your rights and I'm pretty sure they'd have to pay for your costs too, if it came to that.

atomicblonde30 · 12/01/2020 12:46

I’d be more concerned about how far they’ve built over, is it over your boundary? Certainly looks like it it’s gone over a bit.

Baileys4two · 12/01/2020 12:47

They being your neighbours.

HuggedTrees · 12/01/2020 12:47

OP, they don’t have to have access to your garden at all!

Who does the fence belong too?

Our neighbours built a conservatory and they had to build it entirely within their garden and from the inside. They had no access from our house.

They did break into our garden when we went away and damaged the fence and gate to make their building easier but we couldn’t prove it.

Unless they’ve given you a party wall agreement, which they should have as it’s within 3m of your back wall and they have to pay to put it right.

Ask your neighbours when they will be repairing your garden.

HuggedTrees · 12/01/2020 12:49

OP, it’s not the builders you need to talk to, but the neighbours today. That wall needs a shared party wall if it’s in the middle of your land. If it’s not then they build it within the fence and they shouldn’t be on your land.

Send your DH around today.

CakeandCustard28 · 12/01/2020 12:55

I would ask the neighbours money towards the damages.

Baileys4two · 12/01/2020 12:58

Definitely deal with it now before they're finished, as then they'll be more likely to want to sort it out.

To get a party wall agreement in place would be at their cost, not yours.

You can allow access, but only on condition that they restore your garden back to how it was before, to your satisfaction.

Baileys4two · 12/01/2020 12:59

Get everything in writing though, so that you have proof, just in case they try to back out of paying further down the line.

BovaryX · 12/01/2020 13:01

I think you should perhaps contact a lawyer? It looks from your pictures that they are intending to build the structure flush against your wall or maybe even over the boundary which they are already breaching. No wonder you are anxious, you need to take action to stop them asap and they should compensate you for the damage they have already caused

NeedAnExpert · 12/01/2020 13:01

Looks like they are building right up to/on the boundary. That requires a Party
Wall agreement which you would have had to have signed up to.

Tell them you are refusing access to your garden for any reason TODAY and taking legal advice regarding their builders’ actions and restorative action. Then hand them a letter stating the same.

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