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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

Dutch1e · 18/04/2023 16:48

If intact asbestos was flimsy enough to be disturbed by a cat scratch we'd all've been wiped out by mesothelioma 50 years ago.

DeflatedAgain · 18/04/2023 16:49

Get one of those cat repellents - a high pitched soundless alarm. Should stop them from going up there

ChocChipHandbag · 18/04/2023 16:51

Suzi888 · 18/04/2023 16:40

You won’t get useful replies in aibu.

The issue appears to be that the cats (who are allowed to roam anywhere) so it’s absolutely pointless asking your neighbour to “keep them inside”, may disturb the protective coat.
This exposes you to asbestos. Are you willing to take that risk? If so, crack on. If not then you need to cover it keep the cats off it.

You could cover with the felt stuff? Not sure what it’s called. Should be relatively cheap.
Try spikes (unlikely to work).

It's been certified as safe by the council. When certifying it safe, the council surveyors would have taken into account all possible ways that the asbestos might be disturbed, They would have been well aware that cats and birds sometimes climb or land on roofs. It will have been taken into account in the risk assessment.

NoTouch · 18/04/2023 16:53

Suzi888 · 18/04/2023 16:40

You won’t get useful replies in aibu.

You could cover with the felt stuff? Not sure what it’s called. Should be relatively cheap.
Try spikes (unlikely to work).

You won’t get useful replies in aibu.

Hope you are including your own reply in that message!

Original poster

imnotyourbitch · 18/04/2023 16:54

SofiaSoFar · 18/04/2023 16:11

@LumpyandBumps

Those corrugated sheets of asbestos cement it that were used for roofs are ok to dispose of in some council waste disposal centres, as long as they're bagged up properly, so possibly cheaper than you'd expect to remove and dispose of.

But yes, there can be huge costs involved with asbestos removal, that's true!

The cost is removal AND getting a new roof fitted.

OP posts:

Roundandnour · 18/04/2023 16:55

Suzi888 · 18/04/2023 16:40

You won’t get useful replies in aibu.

You could cover with the felt stuff? Not sure what it’s called. Should be relatively cheap.
Try spikes (unlikely to work).

The neighbour could take measures to ensure their cats don’t leave their garden. The fencing is cheaper and protects cats from the various dangers of roaming the neighbourhood.

Jonei · 18/04/2023 16:56

Suzi888 · 18/04/2023 16:40

You won’t get useful replies in aibu.

You could cover with the felt stuff? Not sure what it’s called. Should be relatively cheap.
Try spikes (unlikely to work).

Yes I can see your reply isn't very useful.

Tink2007 · 18/04/2023 16:56

Tell your neighbour you would be happy for it to be replaced at their cost and get them some quotes.

ChocChipHandbag · 18/04/2023 16:58

Can you tell your neighbour that you are happy for them to run a hose with a motion-activated sprinkler on to the roof? That way the cats won't want to sunbathe there.

thing47 · 18/04/2023 17:00

Your neighbours do not own these cats, @imnotyourbitch as cats don't have owners 😂. Therefore I would say any dispute is between you and the cats – and the cats seem happy with their risk-benefit analysis.

To be on the safe side you could put up a notice for the cats saying that you take no responsibility for them being on your property and if they insist on sun bathing on your garage roof it is entirely at their own risk. I expect the cats will be happy with that deal.

AP5Diva · 18/04/2023 17:01

Your neighbour is bonkers. If they are that concerned, give them permission to hire a roofer to put a rubber overlay on the roof to protect their precious sun worshipping kitties.

Blossomtoes · 18/04/2023 17:02

I wouldn’t engage with them at all beyond agreeing that they should talk to Environmental Health. And wish them luck.

Wbeezer · 18/04/2023 17:02

It takes a long time for asbestos to cause problems to develop, longer than a cat lifetime!

Yogazmum · 18/04/2023 17:02

This has made me giggle! Of course they are BU expecting you to replace the roof. That’s hilarious!
Tell them
if they are worried then they should clip their cats claws nice and short 🤣🤣🤣
Failing that, you could offer to smash a few glass
bottles up and glue them to the roof of the garage to stop the cats sunbathing up there. My grandad did that in the 70’s to stop burglars climbing over the wall into their business. It’s illegal now but you could offer it as an option anyway just to see their faces 🤣

RandomMess · 18/04/2023 17:04

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Hilarious CF of neighbours!

belikejeff · 18/04/2023 17:05

Their cats their problem. I say this as a cat owner.

You've made the roof safe. If they want it replaced because of their cats they can pay for it! What a sodding cheek of them to ask!

DannyZukosSmile · 18/04/2023 17:08

LOL what a cheek! 😆 Tell them you will replace it if they pay. Also, their cats are on YOUR ROOF because they went there themselves. So this is your problem because......... ???

Original poster

imnotyourbitch · 18/04/2023 17:10

We've found their cheekiest cat in our house at times as he can get in a window from the garage roof!

OP posts:

Pluvia · 18/04/2023 17:13

I've been thinking. It can cost a lot to have asbestos removed. I once worked on a building project where blue asbestos was discovered, just a small amount, and it cost upward of £5k to get it removed by men in breathing apparatus who sprayed it with stabilising foam before cutting it up and removing it in sealed bags.

How about being a CF back, OP, and say that you hadn't planned to replace the garage roof because you have been hoping, in the next five years, to build a side extension and replace the garage completely. You can't afford that at the moment, but if they'd like to get a price for the removal of the asbestos roofing and replacement and give you the money, it's possible that you could afford to get the project underway this year.

Thesharkradar · 18/04/2023 17:23

I'm concerned for you OP!
Concerned that you are taking this seriously enough to make a thread about it.
They are being silly, just ignore....
OR if you want a bit of fun, ignore and then a few weeks later write to them complaining about the damage done to the roof by the cats and demand that they pay to repair the roof.

AnneElliott · 18/04/2023 17:23

I've got cats but your neighbour is bonkers. It's up to her to keep them in if she doesn't approve of where they are going!!

Whiteroomjoy · 18/04/2023 17:39

Quveas · 18/04/2023 15:12

^This^

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

Show quote history

This.
whilst the law means their cat will wander and you can’t stop that, any damage it does they must pay for.
if his claws break into the asbestos surface penetrating your new coating they need to pay for that to be repaired
I’d just say to them that if their cat does end up with asbestos on his claws he will have damaged your roof and you will present them with the bill. ,aybetheyd like to pay for the replacement at same time?
cheeky fuckers

Hallmark1234 · 18/04/2023 17:46

I'm gobsmacked at the cheek of your neighbour! I have a cat and love her to bits, but it would never occur to me to ask a neighbour to replace a roof!

What planet does she live on? Seriously though, it's rather worrying that she actually asked you this, as it hints to how she probably feels superior to you to think she can expect you to do this. Be firm before she comes up with the next 'ask' of you!

viques · 18/04/2023 17:48

If their cats can access a garage roof then they can access a road. Cars are far more dangerous for cats than a roof.

LucifersLight · 18/04/2023 17:50

Can you paint the roof with anti-climb paint instead? - that way they can take some back to your neighbours carpets.

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