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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbour putting up extension

539 replies

BigPaperBag · 27/03/2021 21:26

Ok, our neighbour has informed us that they are going to be putting up an extension. No problem with that, their house and all that. What really riled me was when he just said ‘and we’ll be putting the scaffolding on your patio so we can rebuild the wall’ (in total it will be there about 6 weeks) Please don’t anyone ask me why it’ll be there so long as I genuinely don’t know, this is just what he said.

Anyway, AIBU to say that he can put scaffolding up but only if he rents my patio space? Do people do this? It’s my first owned home so I have no idea, just asking for opinions really.

OP posts:
nitsandwormsdodger · 29/03/2021 16:14

You need to sign a party all agreement
It would be knobby if you to "rent" your patio but it's even more rude of him to "tell" you

I'd do some homework and be assertive from the start

nitsandwormsdodger · 29/03/2021 16:23

Check his plans as well
Measure do you know exactly how big

Freddiefox · 29/03/2021 17:07

Also, and I’m not sure where you stand here but make sure no guttering juts out on to your land! Even if it’s in the air

Saira1234 · 29/03/2021 17:27

He needs to get a party wall agreement. No issue - it’s required and without it your insurance may be invalidated if something goes wrong - which it could.
Second - you do not need to give him access or allow the scaffolding. It’s entirely your decision.

mumoftinyterrors · 29/03/2021 17:28

@Gooseysgirl too bloody right!

gypsy22 · 29/03/2021 17:30

It’s rally tricky having neighbours
I feel for you
Party wall agreement vital
And a timescale from them because extensions take time and you will be having to put up with noise and dirt apart from scaffolding .
We had so many issues over a simple brick wall dividing my house and next doors after they had work done and she’s a nice neighbour !
Your neighbour sounds ignorant of the proccess and inconsiderate before it’s even started - prepare for friction ahead I am afraid to say !

roxanne119 · 29/03/2021 17:37

It would be a big fat no from me don’t rent it as if you agree with this then if it goes pear shaped it on you .

MojAlone · 29/03/2021 17:44

@BigPaperBag you MUST get a party wall agreement (at least) - and there should be a scaffolding agreement. Don’t get fobbed off in this. You should have been asked to sign something before scaffolding erected and before work starts. I’m going through all this myself at the moment, as we have an elderly neighbour and we want to be very careful not to upset her. It’s illegal for them to start work without the agreement, please look into it to protect yourself. If you need to use a surveyor, your neighbours will need to pay for this. It is possible to work it out between you without the surveyor - but I’d be quite ‘put out’ that they haven’t approached you first anyway. Please ask if you want anymore info! Have been going through this over the past year or so. You appoint the surveyor - but they pay!!

exaltedwombat · 29/03/2021 17:46

He's being cheeky. Should have asked you, not told you. But you wouldn't have refused or tried to charge him, would you?

Yespresh · 29/03/2021 17:53

Expect this has already been mentioned but what about insurance if someone has an accident on your property or they damage your property.

Yespresh · 29/03/2021 17:54

It is also reasonable to ask that they clean your property outside and your windows

granniesbonnet · 29/03/2021 17:55

He should have asked you if this was o.k. Personally, I wouldn’t charge him but you are going to be inconvenienced for several weeks. He has no automatic right to use your property. Best of luck.

NespressoNutellaNow · 29/03/2021 17:56

It sounds like the neighbour is playing things down and acting all casual about everything (including timetable - 6 weeks sounds rather optimistic) in the hope you won't start to ask questions or stop and consider your own rights and risks here.

MojAlone · 29/03/2021 17:56

If you decide to instruct a surveyor - the surveyor will take photos of your property so you have evidence if their work causes any damage to your property. The surveyor will then make sure you are covered - they will be digging foundations near to your boundary - which is why they should have notified you. The surveyor will also make sure that the work is carried out properly. It’ll cost them about 800 to 1000 for a fixed rate surveyor - possibly less. Our neighbour wants us to use a pay by hour surveyor which is not great for us.. - or / you can work out a party wall agreement between you/take your own photos. But the fact that they haven’t bothered to inform you, would make me inclined to instruct them to use a surveyor.

MojAlone · 29/03/2021 17:58

But they need to pay for the surveyor - not you. It’s bloody cheeky that they didn’t ask, they absolutely would have known about this - the builder at least.

MojAlone · 29/03/2021 18:01

And if they say anything, or seem annoyed that you want to use a surveyor - say it’s because they didn’t ask you in the first place!! They SHOULD have done. The fact that they haven’t has caused you concern - hence you want a surveyor!! They may not be happy about this - but if it’s anyone’s fault it’s the builders for not making this crystal clear!!

Lydali · 29/03/2021 18:04

We didn't get along with our neighbours, and we had to bring our extension in a vit because they wouldn't let us on their property.
They were very old, set in their ways, hadn't updated their property in about 50 years. The side wall of our extension was going to be nice and new, and better than the wall which had preceeded it. We offered to do any finish they wanted, etc etc. They said no.
Their wall stayed, and we had to build beside it rather than take our extension right up to the boundary. We could have argued it, but couldn't be arsed.

Theoldwrinkley · 29/03/2021 18:15

Fairly certain it is mandatory (a step more than advisory) for a party wall agreement. I think they have to pay for it, and any costs incurred by you as well. It’s his problem if it’s ‘costly’.
He sounds a bully.

RainingBatsAndFrogs · 29/03/2021 18:18

Yes, they do have to pay for it.

DuckbilledSplatterPuff · 29/03/2021 18:21

Agreed, he sounds like a chancer.
You can always ring up or email the planning department and get their advice too. It doesn't have to be a formal complaint, but a question. We rang ours and asked them things.( this was a long time ago) but maybe you can email?
If you are selling your property you need to get all this sorted or it could derail the sale.

knockles · 29/03/2021 18:24

Awful! He needs to ask and be very pleased if you agree. Rude sod...Don't stand for that.

HaveringWavering · 29/03/2021 18:27

One thing I would say re the car is that (a) scaffolders tend to be really good at moving scaffolding safely - we had some put up at the back and they had to bring through our house with v narrow hall and didn’t even come close to damaging anything (b) you can move the car while it is being put up and then after that the builders won’t have to come on to your property again, the access is only to put the scaffolding up.

Not saying you should not get the PWA, just a bit of reassurance re the potential damage.

cherish123 · 29/03/2021 18:28

Just say it's not convenient/doesn't work for you to have scaffolding in your garden. They can't use your garden to put up an extension. Access for a few hours is fine.

Whythesadface · 29/03/2021 18:34

Scaffolding can crack slabs.
Also you won't be able to use your garden and it looks nasty.

HidingFromDD · 29/03/2021 18:46

If they’re intending to use the existing boundary wall if he checking a) where the foundations are being dug because in my experience they go around the wall, ie part of them will be on your property and b) any overhangs from roof and gutter, because they usually overlap the wall and therefore, again, they will be on your property. Both could cause you issues when you come to sell