To deny neighbour access to render extension?

[Amberlynnswashcloth]

Semi detached neighbours are building extension within millimeters of the shared fence allowing no access from their own property for maintenance. Predictibly, they now want access to my garden to render the outside and to do this they would need to remove the fence and everything near the fence like my seating area, storage box, potted plants etc. I don't want to agree to this. There's the inconvenience of not being able to use our garden, DCs wont be able to play outside and I'd have to keep the dog in. My main issue is that the layout of the houses means the wall is literally right outside my kitchen/livingroom window which feels really close and intrusive and when people are working on it they are literally looking right at me sitting in my house. I don't want workman coming any closer into our space - we are trying to enjoy the nice weather and it's been quite disruptive as it is.

Anyone had experience with this? Its really stressing me out as I don't like to be deliberately obstructive but I strongly don't want to agree to this and feel it's not my problem to solve. I accept that refusal might mean forever looking at an ugly wall but I plan to grow something climbing to mask it.

They are waiting for an answer.

AIBU to say 'no'?

Edited to add that they don't want access right now - just at some point.

Say it can't be done till after summer.
Take photos of everything before it starts.
Get a contract written and signed by you them and the builder via a solicitor that they pay for.

Our friends did this to be petty and now they look at an unrebdered block wall which is hideous.

I think it small minded to not agree. It’s nice to be nice.

@RandomMess makes a good point about the type of render going on (if you do allow access) @Amberlynnswashcloth We had something called I think a ‘through’ render applied to our previous house. It was very expensive but never needed painting and required only minimal to no cleaning. You don’t want the neighbours repeatedly wanting access to paint or clean the wall. Good luck with it all.

Are they generally decent trustworthy people? Do you trust them to employ competent workers? If yes then let them have access but stipulate when you want it doing ie week or weekend.

If they are not trust worthy then say yes but only on the proviso that they give you an £xxx holding deposit in case the workers damage anything on your side. Again stipulate acceptable days for the work to be undertaken.

It's not a big job and not worth falling out over. But you are within your rights to set conditions.

Entirely agree, The pettiness of some people is extraordinary. Yes, you would prefer them not to have the extension but they obviously have permission granted. The world would be an even sadder if people stamped their feet about every little perceived injustice. Get over yourself.

Correct and even if this was true for the extension it's too late as it's already built. PWA does not have retrospective effect. Also not applicable for non construction work such as rendering/decorating in its own right as PWA is for protecting structural features and ground stability.

A licence for access is what you need.

Considering there is no punishment for lack of party wall agreement loads of people ops neighbours and mine just charge ahead no fucks given.

It just grow a clematis up some trellis to hide an ugly wall or plant a relatively small tree.

I would hate this but this seems more about the wall being closer than you would like rather than anything else.
Seating, pot plants, unless cemented to the ground, can soon be moved as can a fence. Surely your kid can manage for a few hours without playing in the garden?
I would be at home when it is being done to keep a close eye on things.
Take photos before and after so you have proof if anything is damaged.
If you say no it would be regarded as petty and may will damage relations with your neighbours. You don't have to be besties or even talk to them normally but a fall out might be bad long term.

Honestly if my neighbour did that to me don’t think I’d ever speak to them again
And leave it as an eyesore for them to look at

nothing wrong with photographing and laying down your expectations
id refuse of fence post to come out as there’s no need and insist floor covered and they tidy up
as long as post not disturbed fence should be fine

also you never know when you might need something of them
it’s deeply unpleasant living next door to a neighbour your at war with

Stop being petty.

People are just thick or entitled aren't they? It's just common sense not to build an extension in a way or size that you can't fix it from your own side if anything goes wrong. Even if the current neighbour is ok with it, there's no guarantee that future ones will be.

My main issue is that the layout of the houses means the wall is literally right outside my kitchen/livingroom window which feels really close and intrusive and when people are working on it they are literally looking right at me sitting in my house

They showed you no consideration when it comes to planning it, so don't feel obliged to show them consideration or do what they want now. They haven't helped matters by designing it as it is when they don't seem to have much a of a good or close relationship with you.

She's not being petty. I'd normally be relaxed & accommodating about this sort of thing, but they've shown no regard for her in the way they've built that extension and how close it is, and now they actually expect to inconvenience her in building or repairing it!!

There are some really up their own arses replies on here.🙄

This. I wouldn't attempt something like this without trying to get the neighbour on board first.

In what way? I'd be more concerned about the space, there won't be any airflow, are there windows above the wall.

If they are having a new extension built, they should have planned for how it would be maintained. Not just putting on render now, but painting it in future for example. It is not up to you to inconvenience your own property by taking down fence, workmen coming into your space, or anything else, so they should have built it with their maintenance needs in mind, accessible from their own side of the boundary. Did they need planning permission for the extension? If so, this should have been considered in the plans. Maybe they built beyond the footprint they were given permission for? If they did have pp check that they have kept to it accurately.
I can't believe all posters on here OP urging you to agree to their unreasonable request. I would not do it.

Get a camera up asap covering this area.
Do not trust them to be honest and decent.

They chose to build with no space to access for maintenance, that is on them.

Sensible people leave enough space for this very reason.

I think the only consideration is do you trust your neighbours enough to want to help them out?
If you think they will keep to any ( perfectly reasonable) agreement about timescales and reinstatement then it might be neighbourly to let them go ahead.
If you don’t then say no. I disagree with people who suggest that they may be able to obtain a court order allowing access. This is a new extension. It does not require ‘maintenance’. What they need to do is part of the initial build, and something they should have organised as part of this.
If you also chose to build nearly up to your boundary you would have to find a way of doing so without accessing their property. It can’t be impossible for them to do the same. You are under no obligation to help just because it makes things easier for them.
You are getting all of the disruption and they are getting the benefit, so only let the work go ahead is you wish to be helpful.

Absolutely this, similar situation our side - neighbours asked if they could remove trees and wall that made up our boundary, promised they would put back to how it was… 18 months later there was still no boundary between us and we had the hassle of stopping our dog getting out. I paid for a boundary fence even though we didn’t own that side and our son built their wall up to 6ft as they’d laid drainage pipes on our side of the boundary that prevented a fence going all the way along. They said they would ask the renderer to do both side of the wall but went back on that so now it’s up to us to sort out the mess. Whatever you do - get it in writing.

Sorry OP. In my earlier post had not seen that they are using permitted development. But there are height and other restrictions on permitted development if close to a boundary. Can you check out that they are complying strictly. It seems completely unreasonable of them to have built as they have, requiring access from yours, which they cannot expect as a matter of course.

As they didn’t discuss this ‘problem’ with OP beforehand, they obviously knew they were taking things too far. Give as good as you are getting, I would.

Ask for a written confirmation of a new fence and seating area. Your choice, and see they’ve purchased and it’s been delivered and written agreement it will be installed in an agreed timeframe.

hard no from me

They don't care about blocking your lights, why should you be inconvenienced even further? These entitled CF are nightmare neighbours!

I might avoid any argument by allowing them "access" on your property, but a firm no in writing for moving, damaging, replacing and touching any of what is already there.
If they needed to move half your belongings, they should have thought about it and ask BEFORE starting the work.

I also agree with the camera
and I would take date stamped photo to show how things are, in which condition so they can't pretend it wasn't them

Let them render it. Otherwise you will be left with a unfinished breeze block wall in your garden. Surely you are cutting off your nose to spite your face?