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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:
DancingLedgend · 18/04/2023 15:17

Never mind the cats' health.

The issue is, is the roof getting scratched?

Because if it is, you, your children and the neighbours are being exposed to windblown asbestos particles.

Time to inspect the roof.

GasPanic · 18/04/2023 15:18

If you want to keep the peace, you could tell them that environmental health have said that it is safe, but you are thinking of removing it, but it won't be for another 2-3 years. Then just stretch it out to the 4 or 5 you want to do. TBH with builders in short supply at the moment this might not exactly be bullshit.

Also, one good thing is that you may be able to link removal of your roof to planning permission being granted on your new extension - in other words they may not object to your plans because they are getting the roof removal as part of the process :)

worktrauma101 · 18/04/2023 15:21

Tell them you've seen their cats on another iffy roof, and another and possibly another. Maybe they even chewed on a dodgy bush in someone's garden ;)

Keep going until your neighbours are laughed at by everyone locally until they eventually move house 😂

Life is too short for neighbours like this!

GoodChat · 18/04/2023 15:23

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.

Chicken wire won't stop a determined cat

worktrauma101 · 18/04/2023 15:23

PS I love cats but this is 100% CFuckery

toomuchlaundry · 18/04/2023 15:24

If they are damaging the roof, won't just be the cats that are exposed to asbestos

WhiteBobbin · 18/04/2023 15:24

Tell them you are going to remove it in the future when you have saved up, but they are welcome to keep their cats inside.

skyeisthelimit · 18/04/2023 15:25

I would contact Environmental Health to confirm in writing that the roof is safe.

You could give your neighbour permission to put anti cat devices on/around the roof (without screwing into it or damaging it) providing they pay for it.

LumpyandBumps · 18/04/2023 15:26

Of course you are being unreasonable. You can’t leave health hazards lying around which might cause harm to your neighbour’s pets.
You should replace the roof immediately and pay for the poor pussies to go on a spa day to get over the stress.
Whilst you’re doing that you should also block up both ends of the road so those inconsiderate car drivers can’t harm their cats. Don’t forget to also inspect every garden within a one mile radius for potentially harmful plants. Plus everyone in the vicinity should get rid of their dogs in case the cat fancies having a dig in their garden.
I can’t believe that you are wasting time on Mumsnet when you should already be getting on to this. 😀

Clymene · 18/04/2023 15:26

DancingLedgend · 18/04/2023 15:17

Never mind the cats' health.

The issue is, is the roof getting scratched?

Because if it is, you, your children and the neighbours are being exposed to windblown asbestos particles.

Time to inspect the roof.

It is an external roof coating. It's not going to be damaged by cat claws

CwmYoy · 18/04/2023 15:30

How did you manage to keep a straight face? I'd have laughed out loud.

Tell him not to let the cats out if he thinks they are in danger.

Idiot.

Skybluepinky · 18/04/2023 15:31

If they r that worried they should keep their cats in, or pay for it to be removed.

LemonSwan · 18/04/2023 15:33

I am a cat lover, and sadly it’s just not something that can be controlled.

Tell them the plan to change it in five years, get a quote to do it now and send it over and ask them if they want it changed and will pay for it your happy to oblige.

ProfYaffle · 18/04/2023 15:35

Recommend this to them. Stops your cats roaming outside of your garden, safe for the cats peace of mind for the owners. It's worked successfully for our for about 6 years (other than the time the gate got left open Hmm) https://www.secur-a-cat.com/

Secur-a-cat Garden Catproofing System

Secur-a-cat.com is a garden cat-proofing system designed to keep your cats safe within your garden so they cannot come to harm on the roads. Kits from £184.50

https://www.secur-a-cat.com

Mrsherdwick · 18/04/2023 15:37

Charge the cats a sunbathing charge. Your neighbour is a CF!!

TomeTome · 18/04/2023 15:40

It takes a couple of decades for asbestos to kill you so I think it’s unlikely their cats will be alive to die from the effects.🤣

Puffthemagiclizard · 18/04/2023 15:40

Fucking hell, that would be a hard no from me, once I'd stopped laughing. I'd suggest they keep their cats off your roof if it's such a concern.

Holidayneededplease · 18/04/2023 15:42

This is crazy! I have 2 cats an I’m apologising they go in neighbours garden not getting them to change it for their benefit l! Crazy!!!

side note we have a garage with asbestos roof that needs to come down soon you’ve panicked me about pricing to get removed does anyone know (roughly) what we’re looking at! Hundreds or thousands??? 😬

Rosscameasdoody · 18/04/2023 15:42

Their cats, they can foot the bill if they’re worried. You could put something up to discourage them getting up there, or spray with cat repellant to keep them off, but paying out to the point where it will affect your plans just to keep CF neighbours happy ? Don’t think so. Tell them to jog on.

Easterbunnywashere · 18/04/2023 15:44

Tell the neighbours that their cats are causing damage to the roof by scratching the coating you had applied. If they continue to do so, then you will be seeking compensation! Hopefully that might be enough for them to see it from a different perspective.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 18/04/2023 15:44

Tell them to piss off! Cheeky fuckers.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 18/04/2023 15:44

And totally agree with @Easterbunnywashere

BringtheJury · 18/04/2023 15:44

Charge them for allowing their cats to damage your property.

RedToothBrush · 18/04/2023 15:44

Tell them to feel free to report to environmental health or to pay for your new garage roof.

Failing that, they are free to keep their cat indoors so it doesn't bring home any diseases such as bird flu from any animals it may come across.

They are ridicilous and haven't a leg to stand on.

gamerchick · 18/04/2023 15:47

Howay OP. Either laugh and tell them to go ahead. Tell them sure you'll get it priced up and they can transfer the money first or keep the cats in.

They're batshit, stop entertaining it.