Lovely tiles being removed by next doors builders

[JusteanBiscuits]

We live in a semi detached house from the 1930's. Next door, the one we're attached to, are having the front of their house rendered. Between our front doors is a row of lovely, original tiles (so our front door is on the left side of our house, and theirs is on right side of their house, so separated by this row of tiles). It's about 1ft wide.

They came round last week to tell us the builders will be removing the tiles as so they can render their "half" of where they are. They said we could pay for our half of the area to be rendered if we want, or it will just be left.

I've just managed to catch the company who will be doing it, and they said they could try to cut the tiles in half but it's unlikely to work and will look terrible. But it would "only" be £200 for them to render our half of the area (so 8ft by 0.5ft). It's some special water proof rendering. (We can't afford £200 for something like this at the moment.)

We're not happy with either of these solutions. I love the tiles and think grey rendering is going to look terrible.

Anyone know of a way we could stop them doing that patch? Are our neighbours / rendering company liable for making sure that our patch looks good? At the end of the day, I really want to keep the tiles, but also realise I might get my own way here but desperately don't want a patch next to our door left looking messy.

They can not make any changes to your property without your consent.

If they damage yours whilst working on theirs they have to make good at their expense.

A decent builder will know this.

The top half of our house is rendered, the bottom half is brick. the new rendered area would be entirely separated from brick by the door.

I assume half the tiles are yours and half are theirs. If they remove all the tiles and render it all, it will look like it all belongs to their house as it will match their render. I definitely wouldn’t pay for it to be that way. I’m not sure where you stand legally as they will be damaging your property by removing their half of the tiles. I wouldn’t be happy with that.

Unfortunately I have no say in the rendering company they are using. Not builders, a specific company that just does rendering.

I'm not happy! But not sure what, or rather how, I can do anything about it. I don't want a fight as we're on perfectly friendly terms with them, but really don't want to end up either paying or having a crappy section simply left.

I think you have to say that they can’t render that area because they will be damaging your house. Would it look weird rendering to the tiles? Can you share a pic of house with a similar set up?

I would be taking photos now before it starts, you might need them for proof if it gets messy later on. This doesn't sound right, they should be replacing the tiles with similar ones that look OK by themselves.
You shouldn't have to have the front of your house changed to suit them.

Why does the tiled area need to be touched at all? Hard to tell without seeing a picture of the tiled, bricked, rendered and other areas, but it sounds odd that they want to do this.

Long and short of it is it doesn’t sound like they can remove their half of the tiles without also removing yours, and you are perfectly within your rights to refuse permission to remove yours. I’d be furious if this original feature was being destroyed!

I am struggling to picture it. But I think it's maybe the same as what we have on our house

They really can't touch your tiles unless they can put it right.

Yep, flatly refuse permission to touch your half of the tiles and also tell them that if any of your half of the tiles are damaged you'll be expecting them to pay for the damage, especially as this is an original feature that adds value to your house (both houses!). They might decide it's not worth the hassle. A lot of people are clueless about original features.

Really need a photo for this OP but my instinct would be to absolutely refuse to let them work there and remove any tiles.

OP - you need to clearly state they do not have permission to touch your half of the tiles and any damage will need to be made good and returned to original condition at their cost.

This needs a photo, can't picture this at all.

I would also make it very clear that “making good” does not equal rendering or replacing. It means repairing the original feature, which as others have pointed out adds value and character to your house. I’d be fuming if they damaged the tiles so really wouldn’t want them even attempting to cut them, risking cracking or chipping them. They need to work around them, rendering up to the tile or in some way blocking off that area to preserve them for you.

I agree: a photo would really help! But if I had thirties tiles that I liked, no way would I let builders render over them.

Start taking loads of pictures, so you have proof of exactly what it looked like before it was touched.

Film yourself telling them whatever your decision is.
Tell them you will absolutely take them to small claims court if they damage your property.

Besides that I do not know what you can do.

Why can't they render around then on their side? So their house is rendered but retains the original feature for both houses?

Please don't tell me it's grey render.....

It's already been said, but anything on your side is yours, regardless of how 'odd' it may look if the tiles are left. That's not for your neighbours to decide. It would be like me painting my front door and then telling my neighbours they need to paint theirs as it no longer matches.

Oooo, definitely tell them asap that they cannot do anything that might damage your 1/2 of the tiles. Once they've tried to saw them in 1/2 or whatever it will be too late to do anything. Are they decorative?

Wonder if this falls under party wall. Id be cross too. No way should a builder touch your property

Contact planning at the local council and explain, but do it quickly.
They cannot make yours look the same, so they may not be able to touch any of them.
If you want to keep the tiles, it may mean upsetting the neighbours - but the alternative is that the front of your house will look peculiar.

You need to act on this asap.

Can you be home to stop this happening?

It amazes me how some people have the cheek to find a 'solution' to a problem that you don't have. You like the tiles, they stay put in my opinion. I know you don't want conflict but they are the ones creating it by expecting you to change your house because they want to change theirs. I live in a 1930's house its something I would have thought about when buying the property. I would be interested to know how long they have lived their vs you living there (not that it makes any difference).

I think it might as they’re removing something which will damage your property.
OP I would make it clear that you are not in agreement with this and will require a party wall agreement before works are carried out.

@JusteanBiscuits That's going to look so utterly shite.
Why can't they leave the tiles as they are? 1930's tiles are going to look infinitely better than shitty render that stains very quickly and grows mould.