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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:
Tillytwilight · 29/03/2021 18:47

Just say no. Who would want the inconvenience of someone else’s scaffolding and workmen in their private space. The weather is now glorious. I wouldn’t agree

Owl55 · 29/03/2021 18:54

I would contact the council planning to ask what your rights are , if he is trying to do it on the cheap and not meeting building regulations it could affect your property. Also are you insured for any damage or accidents that happen when using your patio?

Tiktokersmiracle · 29/03/2021 18:55

After how rude he was, I would be saying no.
Tough shit if he doesn't like it.

Mitzimccormack · 29/03/2021 18:59

I have a semi detached house and have just put up a massive extension. I drew up a party wall agreement myself and took it round to neighbours and showed them plans. Your neighbour cannot do any work without an agreement in place. If anything starts get straight on to building control at your local council and they will halt it immediately.
I put up 2 stories on the party wall line, and my new roof came off of theirs. I had no need to put any scaffolding on my neighbours land. So I would ask for a discussion with the builder and/or architect to ask them exactly why they need to scaffold on your land. I honestly can’t see the need. Ask if you have anything I can help with.

Bluebird2021 · 29/03/2021 19:03

what if we go back into another lockdown and its half finished?everyone downs tools and leaves it? oe will all the builders count as part of the six people allowed in the garden?

i would say no over the summer....not like you will get to go away or out much with many restrictions still in place

bmush · 29/03/2021 19:04

Yes, please get agreements in place first. I had a neighbour who did an extension, then bit by bit took the p- ended up coming into my flat without warning, did a lot of damage to the party wall etc. You can be nice, but be organised and very firm- you don't want to end up having arguments about damage or scaffolding still up in Autumn!

HeelsHandbagPerfumeCoffee · 29/03/2021 19:08

Just keep saying NO
Send a recorded delivery letter saying NO access via my garden or house

VaizyCrazyDaizy · 29/03/2021 19:18

You don’t have to let them, they should complete all works without trespassing, but usually it is to make their life easier! Personally I wouldn’t let them as work can go on and on and is very disruptive to use of your own home especially with better weather. They can cause damage which would need repair. I had neighbours builders trampling my garden plants when they commenced building without warning, I told them get out as they did not clear up just left mess and ruination and they had to do everything from own side.

Original poster
BigPaperBag · 29/03/2021 19:24

I had a closer look at the 3D plans and both DH, my mum and I agree that it looks as though there’s a chance that the roof very slightly encroaches on our land. I hadn’t noticed before as it’s slight and could be the angle of the shot. For now DH and I have decided to register an objection but it’s more of ‘can this be checked please?’

OP posts:
DoubleTweenQueen · 29/03/2021 19:30

Yrs - eaves and water run off must not encroach onto your property

Movinghouseatlast · 29/03/2021 19:35

It means that you really really really need a party wall agreement.

Please don't do what we did and end up thousands out of pocket trying to get our neighbour to rectify the damage he did.

Carpedimum · 29/03/2021 19:37

Just a big red flag @BigPaperBag - don’t confuse a planning application & your response to it, with the PWA or an other ‘civil matter’ like access to your property or even whether it is on your land. Theoretically, he could apply to extend into your garden, and be granted permission. The planners will only judge on planning merits. The civil issues between you as neighbours must be dealt with via a PWA, for more info. see: www.gov.uk/party-walls-building-works

Original poster
BigPaperBag · 29/03/2021 19:42

We’ll still do the PWA @Carpedimum I may even be wrong about the roof. The 3D drawing is at a slightly odd angle but I thought if I don’t say something now and I’m right then I’ll regret it later.

OP posts:
Original poster
BigPaperBag · 29/03/2021 19:43

@Movinghouseatlast How awful for you, must have been so stressful 😥

OP posts:
Roadtohades · 29/03/2021 19:46

We have had scaffolding erected twice on our detached house, by two different companies. Both times we had to badger and pester them to come and take the scaffolding away after the work was finished and both times it took several weeks before they did so. Just saying. And that was on top of the jobs taking longer than originally planned, of course. You would be wise to refuse.

cliffdiver · 29/03/2021 19:50

@Roadtohades

We have had scaffolding erected twice on our detached house, by two different companies. Both times we had to badger and pester them to come and take the scaffolding away after the work was finished and both times it took several weeks before they did so. Just saying. And that was on top of the jobs taking longer than originally planned, of course. You would be wise to refuse.
Frustratingly, this is normal.

Many scaffolding companies don't have a yard to store their equipment, so scaffolding in situ will only be struck when they have another building to put it up on.

Why rent a yard when you can use some poor sods house for free?

tallbirduk · 29/03/2021 19:54

From a planning perspective, they won’t be interested in whether any of the proposed extension is on your land - that is a legal matter.

Anyone can apply for planning permission for anything and have it granted so long as it meets planning requirements. You could apply for permission to build an extension on MY house, and have it granted, but of course you would not be legally allowed to build it.

If you object it must be on one of the potential planning issues: www.bristol.gov.uk/planning-and-building-regulations/comment-on-a-planning-application it actually says they can’t take account of boundary disputes.

Kazzyhoward · 29/03/2021 20:02

@Roadtohades

We have had scaffolding erected twice on our detached house, by two different companies. Both times we had to badger and pester them to come and take the scaffolding away after the work was finished and both times it took several weeks before they did so. Just saying. And that was on top of the jobs taking longer than originally planned, of course. You would be wise to refuse.
Not just scaffolding but skips too!

I tried to be a helpful neighbour when they had their roof replaced. I didn't complain when the scaffolders put poles right in front on my door meaning it was a struggle to get in/out. I didn't object when they asked if they could put the skip partly on my drive (they didn't have one).

I bloody well DID complain when both the scaffolding and skip were still there a couple of weeks after they'd finished the roof. I complained even more when a month had passed and it was all still there. After six weeks, I started taking rubbish out of the skip and putting it on their doorstep. It took two sodding months for it all to be removed.

Never again. I don't give a toss about being a friendly neighbour anymore. Whatever any neighbour wants to do, they can do it without encroaching on my land!

Gilld69 · 29/03/2021 20:02

id be wary too ive just had scoffolding in my own garden for work to my roof its damaged two flags on my patio , was only supposed to be up 2 days its taken me 4 weeks to get them to come and collect it

Roxy69 · 29/03/2021 20:04

Don't let him. It happened to me, the scaffolding was up for months as he lost his contractor he also built too close to my wall, when it's up it would have caused a lot of problems to get it down again. Refuse, it's your right and the mess will be unbelievable too. He also had the cheek to start putting in a window overlooking me until the council checker stepped in but planning are very busy and hard to get them out on time when I had issues, then the work continues so it's too late. Please, don't let him do it. Saying no is the easiest option.

Original poster
BigPaperBag · 29/03/2021 20:04

@tallbirduk

From a planning perspective, they won’t be interested in whether any of the proposed extension is on your land - that is a legal matter.

Anyone can apply for planning permission for anything and have it granted so long as it meets planning requirements. You could apply for permission to build an extension on MY house, and have it granted, but of course you would not be legally allowed to build it.

If you object it must be on one of the potential planning issues: www.bristol.gov.uk/planning-and-building-regulations/comment-on-a-planning-application it actually says they can’t take account of boundary disputes.

Thanks that’s useful. So is that where a conveyancer comes in or is it only a solicitor that can help?
OP posts:
Kazzyhoward · 29/03/2021 20:05

@BigPaperBag

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.

It will almost certainly be a lot longer than 6 weeks. Workmen don't do anything quickly and the scaffolders won't be in any hurry to remove it even after the building work is finished. Just say no.
Kazzyhoward · 29/03/2021 20:07

Planning permission is completely different to them using your land for their scaffolding/access, etc.

You probably have no legitimate right to object to the planning permission, except for very specific reasons. But even if PP is granted, you DO have the right not to allow them on your land.

billy1966 · 29/03/2021 20:12

@Roxy69

"Saying No is the easiest option".

A CF like him will most likely go for a CF builder.

You don't know stress OP until you have a CF builder making a mess of your garden, accessing your garden whenever they like, completely impinging on your privacy and after months and months of this bullshit, nothing at the end of it...just the inevitable clean up that you will end up doing.

PaddingtonsSister · 29/03/2021 20:14

Our scaffolders were very cavalier about what they walked on, knocked against etc I certainly wouldn’t want someone else’s scaffolding on my garden