Garden wall falling down - neighbour dispute

[Pipoverseas]

Hi All, I wonder if anyone can help me with what to do... my rear garden wall has started to fall down. My tenants notified me of this a year ago. I live in NYC. I’ve been tracking down my rear neighbours over the last year and finally got a response when I found the neighbour’s mothers Somerset address on the land registry (looks like they bought the property together). Anyway thank goodness she emails me back, saying they’ve not been to the London house since the beginning of the pandemic - fair enough. But meanwhile, said wall is getting really bad. She suggests I find 3 quotes. Which I do from 3000 miles away. One handyman, who isn’t confident he can do the job, one mid price (comes recommended from friend) and one from the team my letting agents use (expensive). I suggest the middle one, she says handyman fine, I’m not convinced and now she’s not emailing me back. How do I proceed?

I should also add, they have bamboo growing against the wall that is falling down. I have no expert knowledge on this but have been informed that bamboo can cause a great deal of damage to walls?! I’ve suggested we pay half of the middle quote; approx £1500 each. Versus half the handyman’s quote £1000 each. Am I being unreasonable? How can I move forward before the wall falls down and the tenants really put out?!

Who is responsible for maintaining the boundary of the property?

YABU for your title of a dispute when the neighbour seems perfectly agreeable to share costs of rebuilding a wall.

How big is this wall? £3000 for a garden wall seems steep.
Who actually owns the wall?

Entirely depends who's responsible for the boundary. If it's yours, they don't owe you anything. If it's theirs, its theirs to sort but unless it's stated somewhere that it HAS to be a wall, then they could just put a 1ft fence in, if you want something better you have to pay for it. If it doesn't say whose it is then it's whoever wants it doing that pays.

Accept her offer of £1000, but go with the middle option and pay the extra yourself?

Is it your wall? Do your deeds show that your are responsible for that boundary?

What are letting agents for if they are not dealing with this, or would that cost you even more?

Who own the walk? Have you checked? If you are responsible for it you should cover the cost.

• Owns the wall

I am guessing from your post that the wall is a retaining wall, ie that there is soil piled against it from the other side.

The bamboo is probably the thing that is pushing the wall down, it is pretty strong, invasive and roots/shoots would push the wall.

It is important to work out who is legally responsible for this wall. Every boundary belongs to someone, so the wall on the left of my garden is mine and the fence on the right is the responsibility of the neighbor. There is no easy way to work out who is responsible. On your house deeds it may be marked, but isn't always. If it is your wall, you are 100% responsible. If it is hers, she is responsible. If it is not clear, then it makes sense to split it.

If your handyman cannot do it, ask him to put it in writing that he cannot do it (to be honest if it is retaining soil, I would want it done by someone who will back it with a guarantee)

If not a retaining wall and her bamboo has pushed it over, then she should replace it due to damage and remove bamboo.
You don't need a wall, you could get the handyman to remove the debris and stick a fence in.

You need a LOT more information, stacks of photos and the name and address of the owners.

Thank you all. You are fast! It’s the rear wall and shared as far as I’ve managed to find out. Fence might be the option, but I’d prefer to put back as was the original. The quotes transfer from £4500-2000, so I assumed £3000 was reasonable for London prices. Maybe I’ve been away too long?! I would go with the handyman except he thinks his skills aren’t up to it. Anyone know a good surveyor? Letting agents were next to useless in helping with all this. They might provide me with details of people but it seems there’s a premium on their guys!

I wouldn't pay a handyman who said themselves they might not be up to the job.

How big is the wall? We've just had one rebuilt - it's a good size and cost £4000 and it took the builders 8 days so was a good price. We had quotes ftom a handyman (£1000) to a builder with a high end website (£7200) and went in the middle. I definitely wouldn't go with the handyman.

@NeilBuchananisBanksy

I wouldn't pay a handyman who said themselves they might not be up to the job.

agree

If you want to know the names of the owners, do a land registry search. It costs a few pounds and you can find out who the house belongs to.

Paying the handyman would be a false economy.

Why did you even entertain that quote?!

Just tell her the handyman says he can't do it so it has to be one of the other two quotes.

I don't think you can force her though.

I agree with a pp, accept her £1000 and pay the extra yourself.

I think you’re right...might be cheaper than getting surveyors etc involved?!

You e all been so helpful! Thank you!