Neighbour dispute

[finallyhappyinlife]

In may 2024 we had our drive paved by a local businessman . We are very happy with the work he did for us however the white residue from the hardcore he used underneath the blocks has run onto our neighbours drive leaving a strip of lighter tarmac which shows up when her drive is dry . She is extremely unhappy as expected and I have made several attempts to get the workmen back to discuss this issue however he flatly refuses . I have been totally civil with neighbour agreeing that it’s unacceptable and I have tried many many times to get him to sort this issue . I have ended up falling out with the owner of the business as I believe he is totally out of order . He refuses to speak to my neighbour saying she is just jealous of us having the work done . This has caused us immense stress and she has stopped speaking to us . Earlier in the year her son said she was going to have a fence installed between us and was that ok ? I said that’s up to you as we cannot stop your mum doing anything on her own property and it was no business of ours . This fence has never materialised .
Now today I have received a recorded letter saying she has been advised to get 3 quotes for re tarmacing the whole drive . The quotes range from £8800 to £11000 as she is asking us to pay for this work .
She is asking us to respond within 14 days or she will take it to small claims court .
I feel she should be sending said letter to the workmen who did the work and ruined her drive . Am I wrong ? Why should we pay out £10000 approx for the workmen’s error . And advice would be much appreciated on our rights and the next steps for us to take .

Go away

Do you already know he isn’t insured? Is that why you are worrying so much?

Did you check he had insurance before he started work?

Its a driveway for parking cars not Villa Romana del Casale - she is 100% trying it on,

Honestly all those posters piping up about small claims court - I wonder how many of you have tried to take someone to court? I am currently going through a claim at the moment and the burden of proof is on the claimant - neighbour would need solid proof it was OPs contractor that caused the issue. She cannot just demand a new drive either it would be what the court decided was reasonable.

I also used the tarmac paint recently on a faded drive and it was amazing stuff - still looks good 6 months on.

My advice OP is do what @Dumbledore167 suggested and leave the insurers to sort it.

Then I’d say they are being CF to want a new drive.

The waterproof sealing layer of bitumen wears away over time, hence the drive fading from black to grey. At that point it is no longer protected from spills etc and you are advice to paint the surface with the stuff other PPs have mentioned.

Don’t worry I won’t … my insurance won’t cover it as no legal cover .

On his paperwork, invoice, quote, advert does it state his work is fully insured and guaranteed, is he on companies house which might show if he has public liability insurance.

You should have public liability cover on the home insurance. That's what you need to invoke here. Contact your home insurer.

ETA: this is not legal cover. It's separate.

You won't go to prison, you'll receive a CCJ. Which will be the cost of repair, plus fees. This will destroy your credit. If you refuse to pay it, you will face bailiffs entering your home and taking your belongings. Your employer might also be contacted and ordered to pay the court out of your wages. And every time the count has to get involved, your fees will go up.

You are liable for this, I don't understand how you can't see that? Imagine your neighbour has her house painted by a cowboy firm and they spill a load of paint all over your shiny new drive, would you think it was ok to be told it's nothing to do with your neighbour and if you want it sorted it's up to you to track down and fight with a load of dodgy tradesmen?! Crazy.

Chasing somebody for 12 months is not doing something. It is YOUR responsibility. Work out how to fix it via the right type of tradesperson and go from there. She has a right to recover from you - not necessarily in the sum she’s stating. You would then have a right to pursue the contractor.

I was about to say that. My friend used that and it looked great

theres some sprays and paints etc that would recolour it, whos to say if it was retarmacked etc that it would be as good etc, personally they are taking the biscuits

then they are taking the biscusit its like the oh i say fred we have a stain oh dear what will the neighbours think type of mind set etc

I’ve no idea tbh but as he’s acting so unprofessional I doubt it very much

No your neighbour will sue you the judge will order you to pay to rectify the potentially ongoing damage caused by your contractors.
You will then have a ccj against your name wrecking your credit report for the next 7 years and if you still refuse to pay bailiffs will be instructed (at your cost) who will start to remove your property like cars etc to sell to pay off your debt.
You don't seem to understand that this is a problem entirely of your own making and you don't get to shirk your responsibilities just because you dont feel responsible, you chose the contractors and they caused the problem so YOU have to pay to fix it then YOU then sue your contractors as she cant as they weren't hired by her

@finallyhappyinlife have you used google street view to see the before and after ? then you would know for sure what caused it

Your neighbours drive looks really awful - you need to put it right!

Then you need to check, it will state somewhere on his paperwork, website, companies house, have you got an invoice. You can take a photo and put it here without any of his personal details.

Snap … lawyer my arse

then part of law is disagreeing etc

Has she got pics of her driveway before your work was done? Could be it was like that anyway! Can she prove anything?. Name and shame the business in sm. ..
Don't offer anything more than it professionally cleaned.. As a gesture of goodwill not accepting liability..

The civil claim is brought against the company (or individual if he is a sole trader) and if litigation finds them responsible, they’d be forced to pay. Is it a limited company? If so, the only way they could avoid responsibility would be to liquidate the company.

google street view proves this as long as its not a new build area then it will have history

whats the area postcode or region op ? @finallyhappyinlife