Are my neighbours being unreasonable?

[PawsAndReflection]

Hello!

We've recently bought a new house and our neighbours at the end of our garden are looking to redo the outside of their house.

They came by today to ask for permission as the work would require scaffolding in our garden, and were surprised to find seating and an olive tree in the area.

They've asked if we can move the olive tree and seating in order for them to have the work done, but I'm a little concerned about moving such a big tree. Does anyone have experience with this?

They were making out that it really wasn't a big deal but I've been researching it and it seems not quite as simple as they're making out.

Op has not bought the ground floor flat, but if I were her I’d be knocking on the ground floor flat and introducing herself and saying something neutral about we’ve met the upstairs neighbours, they want to do some work to the house I understand. And see if they start twitching uncontrollably.

The nuttiest part of this is the number of posters who think the op should bend over backwards here, go along with their suggestions, pay the extra cost from the scaffolders of working around the tree since it’s her tree, pay any solicitors costs on both sides (since these posters think she should go along with it and that’s what the neighbours have said, this is what they are pushing the op to agree to), expect no timeframe or end date for the scaffolding and also be responsible for any damage to her own property because of the building as why would the people who want the work done be expected to pay…. Totally batshit. Why not just suggest the op deeds the house over to them as well.

I wonder if the flat(s) has a leaseholder, that would be pretty usual. Might be worth speaking to them.

For the posters who are discussing flats....

We've recently bought a new house and our neighbours at the end of our garden are looking to redo the outside of their house.

The OP only says the neighbours live 'upstairs' in later posts.
How can they 'only' live upstairs if they own the house?

This whole thread doesn't make sense to me.

My reasons are that the tree and benches are not new. The benches are very worn. The tree - if it's rooted at all - has not been recently planted.

The OP must have inherited them.

I did wonder if there was a long-standing dispute with the previous owners but this would have been flagged up in the selling process (or should have been.)

I also wondered if the owners who wanted the painting job had waited for the new owner (OP).

However, given that the OP has had loads of sound advice, such as consulting her solicitor who handled the sale, I'm beginning to think there's more to this than it appears as she's not come back.

@PawsAndReflection Have you found a resolution? Taken legal advice?

If your neighbours live upstairs in that house, who lives downstairs?
Are they landlords? Are they renting out the ground floor?
Are they wanting to maintain their house to protect their investment?

To be honest, if you buy a house with an adjoining wall in your garden, the owner will always need access to maintain it at some point.

Do you mean freeholder? The occupant is likely to be the leaseholder in this situation.

Also, if they are doing structural work and it’s a small building or a converted house, the chances are the neighbour at least owns a share of the freehold. However, I agree it’s worth checking since most leaseholders aren’t allowed to do anything to the outside of the building.

Yes, sorry, freeholder.

Even converted houses often have a freeholder.

I would respond to the email with a simple..
’Thank you very much for supplying the information.
We will not be covering any of your costs, neither are we happy to risk damage to our property, therefore we are very sorry but you do not have permission to erect any scaffolding or enter our property to carry out your work. I hope your contractors can find another way of doing so. This is our final answer and we ask respectfully that you stop calling and emailing us now about the issue as our decision is final and therefore will not change.
yours sincerely @PawsAndReflection

Well said. Their behaviour has become harassment so don’t engage with them any further. Just a polite “no” and “please don’t contact me again”. Block their number.

Any update @PawsAndReflection x

Hello! Nothing odd happening at all, I sent one of the suggested replies and it's all gone very quiet- I'll be sure to update if/when it develops

Wait a minute whilst I just shove my olive tree in my garden shed so you can get your scaffolding up 🤪
As if it were an easy task🙄

They were surprised to find a tree and seating IN YOUR GARDEN?!
Tell them they're welcome to access the garden for scaffolding but you won't moving anything that is growing???
Cheeky fuckers!!

"Hi neighbours, I agree this all seems very overcomplicated. Unfortunately, on that basis, we'll be saying no to access from our garden. We don't wish to be negotiating or communicating with YOUR contractors and we certainly won't be paying anything towards YOUR house renovations.

I'm sorry this isn't the outcome you wanted, but I'm sure you understand as I would never expect you to contribute towards any work we have done in the future. Any queries, [insert local solicitor firm] should be able to advise you. I'm sure your contractors can think of a way of completing cosmetic work internally. All the best, neighbour.

Could you please give the jist of what you said just in case it helps someone else in future?

Thanks

😂

@IMustDoMoreExercise Ugh the troll hunt

What do you mean? Is the OP an troll?

I'm not a troll haha, I've added pictures to the thread of the offending olive tree!

Honestly if I was going to make up a story I promise it would be far more compelling than this

@IMustDoMoreExercise No not at all.
But others on this thread keep troll hunting.

A while since I've posted but just wanted to update!

Took a lot of the advice given on here and after realising that we would absolutely not be taking on any cost ourselves as well as showing them we'd be entitled to compensation while it was going on. Surprise surprise, have heard nothing since!

So thank you again for everyone who contributed- you saved me a huge headache! Long live Mumsnet

Good update, thanks

Glad to hear you’ve had no more hassle

@PawsAndReflection brilliant. What absolute CFs. It was astounding.

Love an update.

Thanks OP

An update, yesss! Thank you OP.