Scaffolding on neighbours roof

[SuPerDoPer]

I think I already know the answer to this but need clarification.

I've lived here for only 3 months and I'm having solar panels fitted. The scaffolders came yesterday and the area that they need to reach is very narrow and right next to my neighbours garage extension. The neighbours weren't in to ask so I was very clear that the scaffolders shouldn't put anything on the roof next door or encroach on their property. Next thing I know the neighbour has returned home to see 3 blokes on his roof putting scaffolding on his roof and has come round here fuming. I said I'll tell them to take it down and work round it but he seemed more angry about not being warned than what they were actually doing. I apologised profusely and he went off in a grump.

Today I bought a nice box of posh biscuits and went round again to apologise and offer the biscuits. This time his wife answered and kept me on the doorstep for almost 10 minutes telling me how upset and distraught she was and how worried she was about the scaffolding damaging the lead on her roof. I said I'll call them and ask them to come back and remove it but she said no it's done now but wanted to keep telling me how awful the experience was.

I realise I am at fault here but apart from making sure my workmen dont cause any further upset is there anything else I can do? Would you be this upset and distraught if a neighbour put scaffolding on your property? I'm not sure if I would give it a second thought after the initial surprise.

Well, I wouldn't be pleased either. I would have liked a warning that the work was being done, and I would absolutely wanted to be consulted about my roof being used too. Our nextdoor neighbours had to fix their roof and in order to do so safely, we needed a bit of scaffolding on our side too. Of course, the scaffold cut into on of our roof tiles and soon after it started raining in to our bathroom. The tiles a ruined as a result, and the wood around the window has been stained by the water too. The roofers kept promising to come back but of course never did.

I too would be really angry

@HumpreyDowny

But shouldn't the neighbours give access for reasonable requests e.g.installing scaffolding for a day or two for solar panels? Don't know about legalities but if a neighbour asked I wouldn't say no to this, it sounds a bit petty and precious to take such a defensive approach.

I think it's the fact that they were never told about it. Just came home to find scaffolding on their property.

The problem is if any damage has been caused how do you know it wasn’t like that.

You never gave them the chance.

To be honest, chocolate wouldn’t do it for me.

I do agree with a PP that only cowboys would do this. I'm not 100% sure, but isn't a party wall agreement required for this?

£500 / an F&M hamper?! Is there something in the water today? That's absolute madness.

The neighbours are right to be annoyed - with the scaffolders. It's not OPs fault the scaffolders ignored her instructions and OP has been round to apologise on their behalf.

What more do you want, a pound of flesh?

I'd be feeling just like your neighbours do.

My NDNs told their tradesman he could waltz into my garden to access their wall without asking me first.

Their excuse was that they didn't have my number... but they know my other NDN who definitely did and they could have knocked on the door first! First I knew of it was a notification on my ring camera - I thought I was being burgled.

I was furious - and the next time they want a favour they'll be given short shrift.

@HumpreyDowny

But shouldn't the neighbours give access for reasonable requests e.g.installing scaffolding for a day or two for solar panels? Don't know about legalities but if a neighbour asked I wouldn't say no to this, it sounds a bit petty and precious to take such a defensive approach.

Scaffolding is heavy and often cracks tiles if they are slightly uneven. I wouldn’t say no, but I’d take photos first.

A surveyor, party wall agreement and proof of insurance is what they need not biscuits

I wouldn't give consent for this - unless essential work (which solar panels aren't) the neighbour is under no obligation to risk their property for your benefit. You need to get that scaffolding down now, not done vague point in the future when the scaffolders cba to come back!

My dh is a roofer, so I can give you information on what he does.

He does an on-site survey of every job and has enough of a knowledge of scaffold to let the scaffold company know what he needs. For more complicated access issues, then the scaffold guy will go out to have a look.

So, the important bit for you - he always speaks to the customer and the next door neighbour himself to ensure everyone knows what's happening.

The big issue at the moment is that a lot of scaffolders (like most decent construction related trades) are really busy. At the moment it's 2 weeks from asking for scaffold to be broken down.

Their property does need checking afterwards to ensure there is no damage, my husband does a walk through generally.

A £500 amazon voucher!

Aside from the fact that I don't shop at amazon the solar panels are being fitted as part of a government energy saving scheme because I'm on a low income. The biscuits weren't meant as compensation (obviously) but more of a gesture of apology. I'm pretty new to home ownership and have certainly learned to think more about any future building work.

Thank you for all the opinions, I knew that they had every right to feel upset but I would like to move on and not have this cloud neighbourly relations forever. I'll try and be a more thoughtful neighbour going forward.

@Lockheart

£500 / an F&M hamper?! Is there something in the water today? That's absolute madness.

The neighbours are right to be annoyed - with the scaffolders. It's not OPs fault the scaffolders ignored her instructions and OP has been round to apologise on their behalf.

What more do you want, a pound of flesh?

I know! Putting right any damage yes, but nothing else is required imo.

Really, a party wall agreement for scaffolding?! But why, nothing is being done to the wall? I had one done with a neighbour for an extension, it was a massive headache and costed thousands of £. Cant believe one would be required for installing solar panels, it'd put me right off...

You need to be very careful about doing work close to the boundary with your neighbours,in some cases a formal agreement may be needed. Unfortunately you have been very naive in thinking they wouldn't mind. If it were me, I'd be livid but I wouldn't harp on about it as I'm not an arsehole.

If I were you I'd make sure you check they have public liability insurance at an absolute minimum as you don't want to end up liable for any damage they might cause.

Would you be this upset and distraught if a neighbour put scaffolding on your property?

I wouldn't be upset or distraught, I'd just be seriously pissed off!!

I'd. E cross that you hadn't made more effort to check first. I would have no issue, if you'd asked.

Also, its basic common courtesy to let neighbours know when you're having work done, how long it will take and any likely disruption, so in future I'd make sure you do this, tends to help keep relationships cordial.

@Lockheart

£500 / an F&M hamper?! Is there something in the water today? That's absolute madness.

The neighbours are right to be annoyed - with the scaffolders. It's not OPs fault the scaffolders ignored her instructions and OP has been round to apologise on their behalf.

What more do you want, a pound of flesh?

This! I sometimes wonder if I read the same posts as other posters!

I actually cant believe that the neighbours were as nice as this. I would have insisted that the scaffolding was taken down. I would have been slightly cross if it had been put in my garden, but having it put on my roof, no way.

Oh and solar panels are bloody ugly so I would definitely not have given you permission

I'd be moderately irritated and a box of posh biscuits would seem like an excellent apology gift to me.

I can see why you didn't think, but agree more thought required another time.

They are just getting the message across that it isn't to happen again. You're a fairly new neighbour, so they are setting ground rules. No need for anything else to be done.

It’s good that you’ve acknowledged this OP but you really need to emphasise to your neighbours that this was done without your permission and you are complaining to the scaffolders (and then do it). We had endless problems with contractors employed by a neighbour and he sent hampers and apologies and did lots of sad faces about how unprofessional the contractors were and it wasn’t what he expected and it drove me insane because HE hired them and therefore if they were unprofessional it was his problem to fix. Not to just keep apologising for after the fact.

I think courtesy to let neighbours know before workmen there even if not on their property if it’s likely to be noisy, vans etc.
I can understand why they were fuming - workmen have come into their property and put scaffolding up. Things like flat roofs are not to be walked on.
The solar panels men sound like charlatans who knows what they might have damaged.
If I was your neighbour id want a reputable roofer to check roof for damage and you pay him. You can try and claim back from solar panels company. It covers you otherwise when they get a leak in 3 months and say it’s because of your workman trespassing it could become very messy.