I made an earlier post about my neighbour’s builder

[Allthecoolusernamesaregone]

Link to previous post, and posting this in AIBU as related.

www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4573015-have-just-sent-neighbours-builder-away

Things got better after my last post. They did the job a few days later. All went ok. There were 2 workers, neither had called previously. It took less than 2 days, wasn’t very disruptive and I swept up the bits of mess they made. I preferred to clean up myself rather than have them coming into my back garden.

The scaffolding remained. My neighbour didn’t know when it would be coming down.

I was in my front garden this morning, and not visible from the gate, when I saw someone walk along my path towards the house. I went to speak to him, and as I removed my headphones he said he was here about scaffolding. I was pleased it was finally going, and told him I would keep my dog inside whilst he was in the back garden.

I was concerned about my greenhouse, but it escaped any damage. The dismantling was incredibly quick. They left without saying anything more.

I was a bit irritated, hours later, to see two boards and some of the protective foam tubes left behind.

I assumed that they would have already dismantled the small tower in my neighbour’s garden and been long gone, but when I went shopping early afternoon it was still there.

I went to see her to ask her to let them know to collect when they came back.

She seemed surprised, and said the scaffolding was being removed 21/7/22.

She tried to get hold of her builder, as she didn’t know which scaffolding company it was. She had to leave a voicemail.

She missed their call back but they left a voicemail to say the scaffolding company has not been to collect their equipment.

When the scaffolding was put up the workers didn’t say the company name or introduce themselves except to say they were here about the scaffolding, so I had no real reason to question them today.

I am now waiting to see what happens next. If it has actually been stolen I will probably have to make a statement to the police. I have no clue about their vehicle and didn’t really look at the workers, so I am not going to be much help.

I do feel sorry for the scaffolding company, and my neighbour, but this matter has been a real PITA.

It is a lesson learned for me. If I am ever asked for access again I will make sure I get a written agreement setting out precise dates, the contractor details, specific work planned, and that the neighbour/ contractor is responsible for making good any damage, and that I am not responsible in any way for items on my property.

With the benefit of hindsight I also wish I had asked the man today to show me some ID.

Oh wow, fancy nicking the scaffolding .... dont no what to say really!!! At least its off your property and they didnt cause any damage!

Sorry this has happened but I don’t see that it is anything you could have foreseen or prevented. The neighbour should have been more on the ball, and let you know who/when it was being collected.
(can I admit to a chuckle at the sheer audacity?)
At least it gone and thankfully you were in at the time, so didn’t get burgled. Which I’m sure they may have tried if they had the balls to so brazenly steal the scaffolding.

From one extreme to another ... My son's neighbour erected scaffolding across his flat to reach the windows on his. 9 MONTHS later it was still there, blocking the drive and his windows.

It not unheard of, cowboy companies taking another's job down and stealing the tubes/boards/fittings etc.
In my job we had some scaffolding put up on one of our properties, job was done, no one came to take it down (also they will often leave it until its needed for another job!) I phone and emailed numerous times...nothing! In the end we took it down ourselves, kept the parts in our yard, I think years later there are odd bits floating around most of it we have reused for other things.

Not your circus, not your monkeys! The neighbour should have been more on the ball and sorted it, as well as give you an update about the scaffolding:

Yeah thats a common trick, they keep an eye out for ongoing jobs then when the job is finished and the scaffolding remains for a little while they pounce. But not your fault and the scaffolding was not your responsibility.

Oh wow! Wouldn't have occured to be to check. The scaffolders round here don't have branded lorries so I would just assume it's the right company. Has it been left in a safe condition @Allthecoolusernamesaregone ?

If they are professional thieves, then the ids would be covered even if fake.

I read your earlier post and at least its all gone. If the job was finally done last month, why on earth would the scaffolding have stayed up another 3 weeks? Not your issue to chase any further.

If no one ever collects the remaining boards, I'd turn them into garden beds or sell them.

Yes, I am sure it is safe. Everything has gone except those few bits. Garden is fine except for the dead grass which was under the wooden ground supports.

I haven’t heard anything more from anyone, except to find out that my neighbour has known the collection date for over a week, but didn’t think to tell me.

Had I known the date I could possibly have stopped it getting taken - although a rather nasty little voice inside me is saying that I would then have had to put up with the inconvenient scaffolding for nearly two more weeks.

OMG, can't believe that! The audacity of some people.....

Tbh I'd just be glad it's away.

Maybe the scaffolding company will learn to remove their belongings at the end of a job. They were keeping it at your place for free storage between jobs.

Same thing happened to my in laws! They had some emergency roof repairs, but the scaffolding company delayed packing up for a few weeks. There was a date set, but the day before, a couple of guys said they were here from X Company to take the scaffolding down. Then the real scaffolders came around 2 days later wondering where their stuff was.

Don't feel bad OP. It's entirely not your fault. The vast majority of people would have done the same.

What will you do if they ask to put more scaffolding up? Is the job finished?

Fortunately the job is finished.

I wouldn’t refuse to have scaffolding again in future, but I would insist on a formal agreement for scope of work and timescale, and possibly penalties for non compliance.

I would not be willing to have scaffolding blocking out my light, making access difficult, and damaging my lawn for around 7 weeks again.

So she knew the date but didn't bother to tell you. Although I suspect if you'd said they weren't expected they would have blagged they found some time. Good scam!