Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Scaffolding on neighbours roof

134 replies

SuPerDoPer · 25/01/2022 10:29

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.

OP posts:
Original poster
SuPerDoPer · 25/01/2022 14:23

I think she too is worried about what sort of person has moved in next door. It's a nice, quiet area with mostly older people and here's me a single mum from the city letting builders trample on her herbaceous border. She said "we've lived here for 38 years and nothing like this has ever happened before". I think it's the shock thats upset her the most.

OP posts:
AdobeWanKenobi · 25/01/2022 14:24

Oh I needed that laugh.
I wish I lived next door to some of you lot. £500 vouchers and F&M Hampers indeed. Absolutely bloody hilarious.

SirChenjins · 25/01/2022 14:26

@SuPerDoPer

I think she too is worried about what sort of person has moved in next door. It's a nice, quiet area with mostly older people and here's me a single mum from the city letting builders trample on her herbaceous border. She said "we've lived here for 38 years and nothing like this has ever happened before". I think it's the shock thats upset her the most.
It’s a little bit more than her herbaceous border though, isn’t it?

Did you sound as patronising and dismissive of their completely justifiable concerns when you spoke to them in person?

ChimneyPot · 25/01/2022 14:27

You could get landed with a massive bill for this.
Men doing work for our neighbour caused damage to our roof which only became apparent when it leaked.
We didn’t even know they had been there until the people who repaired our roof saw that wires had been run along it and some other evidence of what had happened.

It costs thousands to repair.

PrtScn · 25/01/2022 14:27

This happened to me when I was at work and they ruined my roof, and despite repairs I still get ongoing problems. If anyone tries that again I’d be extrememy angry.

Freddiefox · 25/01/2022 14:29

@SuPerDoPer

I think she too is worried about what sort of person has moved in next door. It's a nice, quiet area with mostly older people and here's me a single mum from the city letting builders trample on her herbaceous border. She said "we've lived here for 38 years and nothing like this has ever happened before". I think it's the shock thats upset her the most.
I think you are really dismissive, I'm a single mum. I would also bring furious if scaffolding was put on my roof.

You are very dismissive of other people and their property.

You really shouldn’t let your workers trample on anyone’s boarders it’s very disrespectful.
The fact that it hasn’t happened in 38 years shows you this.

Somebodylikeyew · 25/01/2022 14:30

Wow. You’re not sorry at all, are you?

cookiemonster2468 · 25/01/2022 14:31

I would be very annoyed but it's clearly the scaffolders' fault and not yours.

You gave them clear instructions not to do something which they then went ahead and did anyway. In your position I would be seriously looking at terminating the contract and finding a different company.

It has soured relations between you and your neighbours - do you really feel you can trust the company now?

PattyPan · 25/01/2022 14:34

@Somebodylikeyew

Wow. You’re not sorry at all, are you?
She hasn’t got anything to be sorry for though - she asked the scaffolders not to go on the neighbour’s property. It’s them who should be sorry as they are the only ones who did anything wrong.
Original poster
SuPerDoPer · 25/01/2022 14:36

@Somebodylikeyew

Wow. You’re not sorry at all, are you?
Of course I'm sorry. Like I said, it shouldn't have happened and I have genuinely and wholeheartedly apologised twice. I've spoken to the contractors who are going to take it up with the scaffolders and have assured me that they will cover any damage. This comes down to the scaffolders being cowboys not how sorry I might appear to be. Should I allow myself to be flogged in the village square to satisfy Mumsnet?
OP posts:
SirChenjins · 25/01/2022 14:40

No need for flogging, but you could reframe your thinking around how your neighbours might be feeling and cease the patronising comments about borders.

Gilly12345 · 25/01/2022 14:40

Yes I would be very angry for this, did the scaffolders not check with you about the neighbours permission regarding the roof beforehand?

Original poster
SuPerDoPer · 25/01/2022 14:43

Yes, and as per my OP I explained that they DID NOT have permission.

Anyway, I knew how this would go. Thank you all for helping me see the various viewpoints and consequences.

OP posts:
TarpaulinEyes · 25/01/2022 14:48

I was fairly new to moving into the house I now live in and my neighbours had builders who wanted to put scaffolding in my garden. I was very unamused with them, and forceful in showing my displeasure, but agreed as long as they were careful. The builders reported back to the neighbours two doors up who were having joint works with next door and I received a genuine apology and three bottles of wine from them. Apparently I was a bit terrifying in the rage I showed! The builders turned out to be great and fitted a lock on my garden gate for me at no charge. In no way have relations been soured with my neighbours, I have had guttering replaced and a bit of fence mended for free since then by them or people working for them. I try to do similar good turns for them.

I lived next to real piss takers previously, think wanting to use my back garden as a work yard. I take no prisoners after that experience and will happily rip people a new arsehole if needed.

SpinningTheSeedsOfLove · 25/01/2022 14:53

@SuPerDoPer

I think she too is worried about what sort of person has moved in next door. It's a nice, quiet area with mostly older people and here's me a single mum from the city letting builders trample on her herbaceous border. She said "we've lived here for 38 years and nothing like this has ever happened before". I think it's the shock thats upset her the most.
That's really patronising.

I'm a 'single mum' who has worked hard for her house, pays whopping insurance premiums, and doesn't appreciate being unpleasantly surprised by the neighbours, their contractors or their scaffolders in or on my property without proper signed agreements, licences etc.

And I can afford my own box of biscuits, ta.

Lolamento · 25/01/2022 14:54

@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.
Collateral damaged by neighbours building work is a nightmare. People always claim they would pay for the damages but even if the do is a massive inconvenience. Also, repairs on damages can bring more collateral damage. It is not about being a good neighbour is about using competent builders and traders. I can understand why the neighbour is worry. It is very telling the builders are cowboys.
hidingfromthemouse · 25/01/2022 14:55

I can see it from both sides. I'd be really annoyed if I was your neighbours but you've gone round, apologised hopefully told them you told them not to go on their land and I'd move on from it.

That said I do always let my neighbours know if I'm having any significant work done just to pre warn them of noise more than anything.

Whammyyammy · 25/01/2022 14:57

If I was your neighbour I would be ordering the scaffold removal immediately, booking a survey for the roof at your experience and any faults rectified at your expense.
Not your fault, the scaffolds were acting on your behalf though Hooe it works out

Jaxhog · 25/01/2022 14:58

I'd be livid too.

I'd also want an independent inspection to ensure they had done no damage to the property as well. Stomping about on a flat roof can cause substantial damage.

Clymene · 25/01/2022 15:01

@SuPerDoPer

I think she too is worried about what sort of person has moved in next door. It's a nice, quiet area with mostly older people and here's me a single mum from the city letting builders trample on her herbaceous border. She said "we've lived here for 38 years and nothing like this has ever happened before". I think it's the shock thats upset her the most.
I'm a single mum. I was spectacularly cross when the people next door put scaffolding up on my property without my permission.

They're angry at what your scaffolders have done. For all they know you're lying. I would absolutely insist that it's removed from their property immediately, whatever she said to you this morning.

Jaxhog · 25/01/2022 15:02

PS. I'd have hurled your 'posh biscuits' over the fence at your house!

PattyPan · 25/01/2022 15:16

@Jaxhog

PS. I'd have hurled your 'posh biscuits' over the fence at your house!
Well don’t you sound like a treat…
Cissyandflora · 25/01/2022 16:04

@SuPerDoPer

I think she too is worried about what sort of person has moved in next door. It's a nice, quiet area with mostly older people and here's me a single mum from the city letting builders trample on her herbaceous border. She said "we've lived here for 38 years and nothing like this has ever happened before". I think it's the shock thats upset her the most.
Yes, that and you letting workmen put scaffolding up on her property.
Whitefire · 25/01/2022 16:11

Scaffolders do their own thing. I'm so glad mine finally got removed yesterday. I have only very basic scaffolding experience but when it first went up it was an absolute hazard. Neighbour has moaned a lot (we are attached, nothing on his roof) he even moaned that the lorry was close to his car when it was turning round. They were a nightmare though, luckily DH got out first after they had gone to sweep the neighbours drive as they had left a cigarette end.

Somebodylikeyew · 25/01/2022 16:39

If you knew how it would go why the snippy comments about her herbaceous borders and her being worried about single Mums from the city?

They’re cross because YOU have allowed YOUR contractors to behave unreasonably. So yeah, YABVU.