Boundary issues

[Nextdoorheadaches]

Hi all looking for some advice.

NDN have overdeveloped their house and left too small a gap for side access (imo). Our garage forms part of the boundary (side wall). NDN have laid a narrow drive in side access (used to be just mud). They have laid concrete up to our garage wall - no gap. We are hoping to do work on our house soon (which they know). Are there any foreseeable problems here... btw they didn’t ask, don’t know if they needed to...

Have they breached your damp proof course - is there concrete above it. If it is that could cause serious problems with water penetration into your house.

I would inform them that you need access to inspect / maintain your wall and agree a date to go and look at it. Check what they have done. The damp proof course needs to be 150mm (2 courses of bricks) above ground level to function properly. So if they have raised their ground level above that (assuming it was correct before the works), and touching your wall, tell them it needs to be rectified, i.e. removed. Also pay attention to the water drainage - ensure that it drains away from your garage wall, spray a hose to check it actually drains rather than pooling deeper and deeper if there is no sign of a drain!

Check if you have legal cover with your home insurance just in case. But for now keep it friendly but firm.

If the concrete is at the correct height, and draining away from your wall then no issues.

Good luck,