What professional do I need?

[wendybird77]

We've seen a house this weekend that we like, but the back garden seems to be falling into the (commercial) neighbours parking lot. My appraisal is that there are few trees (one huge) that need removing, ground cleared and a retaining wall put in on the neighbour's side (then new fencing for us which isn't falling over!). I've no idea who to talk to - builder, gardener, structural engineer? Obviously we'd need to know how much it'll cost to put right before we consider putting an offer in! Any ideas greatly appreciated!

Look up garden services on the web and check out what didn't companies provide. If they do hard landscaping, fencing and tree surgery they should be able to do it all. We've got some jobs like this to get done and a lot of garden companies can do it all - I think they often subcontract to get the building done. and they should be happy to come and look at it and do a quite for free.

Aargh different not didn't, blimming iPad

Thank you - that is exactly what I needed!

you would normally need a structural engineer to design a retaining wall then get a builder/landscape person to build it.

what is not clear is whether you or the neighbour are responsible for the wall?

this may not be straightforward to fix if works access is required from the neighbour's car park. then there is the issue of temporary works - ie the bit which holds up the land after the old wall is removed and while the new wall is built.

how high is the wall? if it is more than 1-1.5m tall it is going to cost £££££££

There is no wall at present, just a slope covered with ivy / trees / weeds. I have read before that a retaining wall is the responsibility of the person who's garden it is retaining. The work will have to be done from the neighbours side and, in fact, a couple of trees removed from their side. I am optimistically presuming that this won't be a problem as it won't affect the garage next door in anyway and will make the garden much lighter. Obviously we would speak to the manager of the site before we purchased, and get a sense of how co-operative they are likely to be. The fence has been poorly maintained and when we went to have a look from the other side a fence panel has fallen back and is now overgrown with ivy. The current owners (I presume) have just put up bamboo screening to cover it up. A panel on the side of the garden is falling in as the posts are no longer secure in the ground. I expect it will be expensive to put right, which is why I want to get accurate costs before we make our offer!

Depends very much on the difference in level but I would go for a reputable builder who could if necesary engage an engineer for advice / design.

Also bear in mind:

Party Wall Act

and

Tree Preservation Order

Speak to the neighbours first before you assume they won't mind the trees being taken down. And when you say big tree how big do you mean? Removing a tree can be very expensive. We have one tree in our garden that we would love to have removed but due to its size and proximity to the house the cheapest quote we have had is £1700. And that's without removing the wood at the end of it.

Oh goodness yes, will definitely speak to the neighbours first. It is a large garage and this is an unused corner of the plot, so I do assume they won't care (as who would). I also assume they will not be contributing to any costs or upkeep of the boundary! We did have a giant tree in our last house as well - such a pain. The tree is tall rather than wide and I think it will have to come out to get the wall in, but that is why I need to get someone who knows about these things in. I do know a good builder, so perhaps will try him first and see what he says (he'd be my preference for the work anyway as I trust him). Thanks for all your replies!

how great is the height difference?

how long do you think it has been like that?

It has been like that for a very long time (no idea, but years and years). The house is victorian and the garage has been there for quite a long time. The fallen fence out the back has been overgrown with ivy, so that's been a while as well. But I assume erosion is a problem as that fence fell and one on the other corner is falling in (and that I'd guess to be 10 years or so old). I have small children and work with small children, so a secure garden is not optional!

As to height difference, maybe 1.5 meters or so? Not huge, but significant.