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

Neighbour wants us to replace garage roof

187 replies

imnotyourbitch · 18/04/2023 14:49

We have an old side garage between our house and our neighbour. They don't have a garage, so while ours goes up to the boundary, theirs was removed many years ago, so they have the width of a garage between ours and their house.
The garage was built at same time as house, in 1950.

The garage has an asbestos roof. We had it checked by the council when we moved in (we were having other work done we needed building regs signed off on), and also had it coated with a protective coating, and we were told that it is perfectly safe as it is. Our long term plan is to have the whole garage replaced as part of a side extension, but that is at least 5 years away.

Our neighbour has cats who climb on the garage roof to sunbathe. (It's slanted, so not entirely flat but not a normal roof shape). They've said they are concerned that the cats claws will disturb the asbestos and cause health issues in the cats, and that we need to replace the roof. And after discussion, they've said they will report us to environmental health if we don't change it.

Technically, we could afford to do it, but it would wipe out all of our savings due to the cost of removal.

We paid for the roof to be coated to make it safer - it wasn't needed but we felt it would be a good thing to do. Neighbour didn't have cats when we moved in. Wiping out our savings would change our plans for the next year, and would also impact our kids hobbies (some of the savings is earmarked for new equipment for it) so we really don't want to throw it all on a roof for a few years. But also, I do get that if her cats claw / scratch at the roof it could put them at risk.

Aaahhhh. Any ideas?

OP posts:
itsmylife7 · 18/04/2023 14:51

Just ignore them I'd imagine environmental health will get a laugh out of their complaint.

SoupDragon · 18/04/2023 14:52

Suggest they "simply" stop their cats climbing on it.

YetAnotherUser · 18/04/2023 14:53

Tell them to keep their cats indoors.

TheSnowyOwl · 18/04/2023 14:53

I am a cat lover and have several cats but your neighbour is being totally unreasonable.

I would leave the roof and let them know you letting their cats outside comes with it’s own risk that and the responsibility for it lies completely with them. I’d also add that you will bill them for any damage caused by their cats.

FeeFiFoFumble · 18/04/2023 14:53

You sound lovely, but what is your neighbour's plan if the cat finds a better sunning spot a couple of streets away where there is also asbestos? Demand they replace it too?

Sortyourlifeout · 18/04/2023 14:54

Offer to supply them with 3 quotes if they'd like to pay for it?

Otherwise they can jog on?

PinkiOcelot · 18/04/2023 14:55

Tell them you wouldn’t be offended if they changed the roof. After all, it’s their cats.

Dixiechickonhols · 18/04/2023 14:55

I’d just reply what you’ve said here. That it was checked by council and ok’d as safe. You’ve paid for protective coating over and above what required. If you eventually have an extension it will be removed safely but no plans for that yet.

Neededanewuserhandle · 18/04/2023 14:55

(It's slanted, so not entirely flat but not a normal roof shape).
I believe this is called a pent roof.

As for the neighbours - the answer is obviously no. Have they tracked all of their cats wanderings and asked everyone to remove items and materials that they don't approve of? It's beyond ridiculous.

AliceTheeCamel · 18/04/2023 14:56

Put some anti climb spikes round the edge of the roof?

I certainly wouldn't be replacing my roof and I doubt Environmental Health (part of the council) are going to give this the time of day if the council have already checked the roof.

Ponderingwindow · 18/04/2023 14:56

It’s your neighbors responsibility to control her own cats.

I say this as a cat owner.

LaLoba · 18/04/2023 14:57

I’ve got cats, love them. I won’t have any more because of the stress levels involved in trying to keep healthy an animal which goes wherever it pleases. The neighbour is trying to make it your problem, and it really isn’t. As a pp said, letting the cats outside has risks, which are the owners’ problem, not yours!

Dixiechickonhols · 18/04/2023 14:57

Their cats shouldn’t be scratching or damaging your property. They could Keep them in. Or if you don’t mind how it looks they could pay for some cat proofing around garage roof.

EuripidesEumenides · 18/04/2023 14:57

You appear to be managing the asbestos and the council has already inspected it. If your neighbours want to waste their time they can contact environmental health. If they want to waste their money they can replace the roof themselves. Nothing you need to do though.

Alwayswonderedwhy · 18/04/2023 14:58

I'd tell them they're welcome to pay for it or suggest they stop the cat from going on the roof.

SquareRootOfAllEvil · 18/04/2023 14:58

Their cats, their responsibility.

One of the risks cat owners take if they let their animals outside.

BruceAndNosh · 18/04/2023 15:00

Are they offering to pay for a safer sundeck for their cats?

TomatoSandwiches · 18/04/2023 15:02

Let your neighbour waste their time with Environmental Health, you have your bases covered, it will amount to nothing.

Lysianthus · 18/04/2023 15:03

Cover the roof with chicken wire? Much cheaper.
Your neighbours are CFs.
And I like cats too but they'll find somewhere else to sunbathe.
Oh, and I don't think clawing will disturb asbestos.

Sewingdufus · 18/04/2023 15:05

That’s what you get for being a cat’s minion. They can’t control where their cat goes. You shouldn’t be paying for work that essentially is only for the cat’s benefit.

IIWY I would graciously allow them to pay for the work to be done. I would not be undertaking work that you don’t need done yet especially if it then reduces funds for family activities.

mondaytosunday · 18/04/2023 15:07

I have cats that like to hang out on my neighbours sheds. No way would I dream of telling them to replace/repair or otherwise alter them! They'd probably just say keep your cats off my roof. Surely if the cats damage the roof their owners would have to pay for the repair?
Also if they did manage to damage the roof enough to cause fibres to be released it is unlikely to cause harm to the cats in the short term (unless they stick their heads and inhale). It would take years (probably longer than their lifespan).

Scottishskifun · 18/04/2023 15:09

No environmental health officer is going to tell you to replace a roof if you have the documentation that shows its safe!

Simply state we had it checked it's safe!

Quveas · 18/04/2023 15:12

BruceAndNosh · 18/04/2023 15:00

Are they offering to pay for a safer sundeck for their cats?

^This^

Tell them that you are suing them for any damage done by their cats trespassing on your roof.

maximist · 18/04/2023 15:14

I had an asbestos roof on the shed at my last house, which my cats loved to sleep on. One lived to be 17, the other's still going at 19. Doesn't seem to have done them any harm...

Hugasauras · 18/04/2023 15:16

CFers! Aside from the fact they are admitting their cats might damage your property, the roof has been deemed safe so what are EH going to do? Let them crack on.