Building inspector says garden wall is dangerous.

[VivaLeBeaver]

Step mum has just rung up and spoken to dh.

Me and her have recently inherited a house between us. Standard old, terraced house with brick garden walls.

A "building inspector" has somehow contacted my step mum and said he's visited the property our house backs onto and seen the dividing wall. He says its dangerous.....it does look a bit delapitated.

He says he's done some research and that wall is all our responsibility and we need to sort it.

Does this sound right that the back garden wall would only belong to one house??

possibly yes. I have a house with a rear brick boundary and it is my responsibility.

Would it be covered by insurance do you think?

i should find out who he is first...why is he looking at walls, and on whose authority??

I'd presume walls are like fences and belong to one person so it maybe your problem.

ANy recent sales on the house, to look at surveys? We bought an old cottage and got the fear for an old bowed and allegedly dangerous wall, but after some checking it had been like it for about 50 years so obviously ws not going any where.

well, I would certainly check the deeds to confirm

I've no idea where the deeds are. Will have to contact the land registry I think and get a copy.

There's quite a lot of info available online at Land Registry - just have to pay a small fee to access the deeds

Don't land registry searches show ownership of boundaries? £2 to do one on-line.

Snap, bonvivant.

Im going to see step mum this weekend. If she hasn't got deeds I'll do the online search.. Thanks.

Do that, but I'd also be wondering who this so-called inspector is. They don't normally wander around looking for dodgy walls, checking deeds and contacting owners. Tbh it sounds a bit scammy to me now I think about it.

Land Registry info won't always help as sometimes the deeds are silent as to who maintains boundaries. But presumably the inspector has researched so maybe yours or their deeds do specify.

We had similar in our last house. The wall was leaning dangerously, next door was rented out so we got in touch with the council who sent someone round (presumably a building inspector type). He contacted the neighbour, via the letting agents, to force action and we went halves on a new wall.

I guess you wouldn't have to necessarily replace like with like. Just make sure the wall is taken down. We were pleased to share the cost as we all felt the wall looked a lot better than a fence.

I wondered if it was a scam as well.

Don't know if the rear neighbours called him, or if its a builder they know who are trying to get us to pay 100% for something that's half theirs.

I can't afford a brick wall. I think it'll have to be replaced with a fence.

I too wonder if it was a scam by an itinerant builder or a deceitful neighbour.

it's possible someone was frightened it would fall on them, and called the council. Do try to find out who the "inspector" was though. You might get a clue off the council's website.

I would have thought more likely the Highways than the Building Control office though.