Garden Nightmare

[Catworrier]

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?

Your neighbours are bang out of order! I agree with PP, legal advice would be a good idea. As I understand it you can sue the neighbouring homeowner, or you can sue the builders directly. (I think I'd favour the homeowner, because the builders would probably just vanish).

So that bloke is in YOUR garden doing work for next door? Bloody hell OP all credit to you for being so calm.

What on earth are they doing in your garden?? Do NOT allow them on your property until all the damage has been fixed.

all credit to you for being so calm.

Calm or an absolute pushover?

all credit to you for being so calm.

I think I'd have lost it on him to be honest and he'd have been wearing the contents of the bucket if he didn't get out of the garden.

@NeedAnExpert
I do apologise if you see this as me being a pushover. But I like my neighbours, and I've only had on opportunity to speak to the builders, and without knowing my rights I didn't know what I could say.
Also in previous relationships I've always been shunned for being out of order in these situations

They shouldn’t be on your land and you have every right to tell them to get off immediately and stay off until this dispute is resolved.

The damage and mess in you garden is appalling and you need a commitment from your neighbour that this will be put right.

It would also be helpful if you could provide a diagram of where they are building and the boundary because from your pics it looks like they are encroaching.

Sorry, but I wouldn't be having this.

I'd be round at the neighbour's asking them to have a word - and I don't like confrontation either.

IMO, they could do whatever they liked, so long as they put it right at the end of the process.

You are under NO OBLIGATION to allow them to stand in your garden while they work next door. This is trespassing if you haven't given permission, and while I would usually say it would be petty to point this out (IF and ONLY if they had asked permission), I certainly would if they were causing damage to my property.

It certainly looks a mess,and I would be furious about it all. Looks like cowboy workmen,as decent and proper builders etc, would not trash things like this.

You would soon find out what the men are like if you approached them about their shoddy ways. ( I am thinking about that programme on TV, Rogue Traders)

Moreso, I think that your neighbour should take up with these people if you have decent neighbours.

I like your plants, I love plants and shrubs, and know how much it costs to do a garden up. Good luck with everything.

I cannot believe the bare faced cheek of those photos
I would have screamed blue murder if someone had done that.

When the ndn did something similar where I lived we had a agreement in place that if anything got damaged they would replace like for like. They still NEVER came on our land

If they are building right up to the boundary then they have to inform you prior to work commencing. They are liable for any damage to your property - details here: www.gov.uk/party-walls-building-works

The builders need to be told that as you haven't been consulted about this work then they need to stop trespassing with immediate effect. Breaches of this will be reported to the planning dept of the local council.

The neighbours need to be told that building on the boundary line requires proper notification which they haven't done, and that if they don't keep the builders in check then you will go to the council. You also need to point out that they are liable for the costs of the damage to your plants, lawn and doors and that you would like this to be paid for within 14 days.

I would go knock on the door to the neighbors with a written letter stating that 1.
You have not granted permission for builder’s to access your property. 2. Builders have already caused damage to your property. 3. Access is specifically denied until a party wall agreement is in place that includes provisions for repair of all previous and any future damage.

This is a fences make good neighbors situation. By not speaking up now, the situation will actually get worse. You can nip this in the bud now or you can let resentment fester and permanently damage the good neighbor relationship you want to have.

You can absolutely be kind and accommodating and not be a pushover simultaneously

Have you spoken to your local council building officer , have they actually built something that’s bigger than agreed? They are very close and I know my father in law has had issues with neighbours building much bigger than was agreed and having to take it down partially

They are really out of order. I hope they sort it out for you without a fuss.

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

I wish I'd known that when my neighbour was having an extension built.

I came home from work and found scaffolders in my drive, putting up scaffolding on her side wall. And they were doing it in such a way that they were putting poles diagonally, from ground floor on my side to first floor level on her wall, in such a way that I couldn't have got my car in my drive.

Thankfully, I'm not scared of confrontation and told them, in no uncertain terms, to think again. (I think the words "What the fuck do you think you're doing?" may have been used).

Possibly deliberate, but they dropped a board and a scaffolding clamp through our garage roof when they took it down, and ripped the cover on one of DPs classic motorbikes. The builders repaired the roof and NDN bought him a new motorbike cover, flowers for me and a bottle of wine for us to share.

Ring the Council Planning and ask for advice about the legality of the structure. Ask the neighbours if their builders have public liability insurance for the damage they are causing. It's time to stop being nice and non-confrontational or you will end up with an eye-sore on your boundary line. There's still time to stop it.

Are they really allowed to step on your land without permission. Shouldn't they be working from their own side of the fence. If they can't reach things it's really not your problem. What you absolutely must do is take as much photographic evidence as you can. A picture speaks a thousand words and you can't argue with evidence. If you have before pictures to compare and receipts for work you've done it will also help. Do you have a citizens advice near you?

If you get on with your neighbours why not ask them to instruct their builders to be more careful as they are causing damage you can't afford to repair. Just because they have money for improvements it doesn't mean you do too. Be polite and be careful of your tone but simply express your sadness at them destroying your plants and your efforts. Good luck. Your tone of voice is everything, keep it kind and in control. You could also ask 'did you know......?
Good luck.

How is going OP?

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor surprisingly well! I wrote up a letter to our lovely neighbour to exclaim about the builders.

I outlined the costs of the damage and advised that I was keen to go down this route as we have a good relationship and I don't want to get a solicitor involved.

He had assured us that the builders will be paying, but I've asked if we can carry out the work as I would much rather put in the labour myself than have to deal with them.

A huge thank you to all your support. You all gave me plenty of confidence to write a letter and chat to the neighbour.

Well done