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Property/DIY

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Original poster

Damage to my property - what do I do?

14 replies

Sipperskipper · 21/08/2021 20:52

Last summer we had a wooden outbuilding made at the end of our garden. It is made of oak, with a flat roof - low enough to not need planning permission. Shorty after, the neighbours behind us had a swimming pool & I think a pool room built, at the end of their garden, sort of backing onto our building. Over recent months we have noticed the roof and back wall is mouldy and bowing - no leak anywhere. We have just realised they actually have some sort of heater / boiler pumping out steam directly at our building, about 1 foot away, 24/7.

I want to speak to them about it - but I'm unsure what to say - we are not friendly with them at all, but I don't want to cause any bad feeling.

Any advice?

OP posts:

Catmummyof2 · 21/08/2021 21:11

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Rollercoaster1920 · 21/08/2021 21:27

Talk to your buildings insurance if you have legal cover.

TheSpottedZebra · 21/08/2021 21:28

Did they need planning for their build?

KILNAMATRA · 21/08/2021 21:41

Show it to them? Ask them to put an extension pipe on it to lead steam away? Tell them you like living next door and would like an amicable arrangement?

Saz12 · 21/08/2021 22:36

You’ve both built on/very close to boundary? Doesn’t sound like either you or them have prioritised neighbourliness in this.

I’d be inclined to go round, arrange a time to discuss it over a bottle wine, and sort out how to arrange a vent for them / drainage for you.

Original poster

Sipperskipper · 22/08/2021 06:13

They already had buildings/ outbuildings there before we built- they have since changed it.

Unfortunately I doubt the bottle of wine scenario. We are (honestly) decent, considerate neighbours but they are notoriously unreasonable. When we first moved here he complained someone visiting us had parked outside his house. They even bought the house next door and kept it empty to avoid having anyone next to them!

OP posts:

Bargebill19 · 22/08/2021 06:29

Speak to your insurance company? Perhaps it’s possible they may act on your behalf.

Scarydinosaurs · 22/08/2021 06:31

Did they have planning permission for their build?

HollyGrail · 22/08/2021 06:39

Offer to get someone to do the work. Could it be from their boiler to heat the water because if it is it should be above a certain height I suppose because of fumes. We used to have an outlet at head height but got a new oil boiler and chimney had to be above roof height.

Original poster

Sipperskipper · 22/08/2021 06:48

Just to answer a couple of questions - no they didn't get planning permission for theirs- it is taller than ours with a pitched roof - would technically need planning but they altered the outbuilding which was already there, so not sure if they would still need it.

I'm sure its from the boiler heating the water - I've attached a photo - this is the steam / fumes coming out. Our building is no more than a foot away. Ours is like a sort of gazebo / garden room thing - its pretty open but the back is closed.

OP posts:

walksen · 22/08/2021 07:01

That does look like a boiler flue. Building regulations stipulate they are supposed to be 600mm away from the boundary if pointing directly at it and 300 mm if parallel to it. Not sure what the best action would be though because you could report to building control at the local council but I'm not sure what enforcement action could be taken. You could ask them to divert the flue otherwise you'd have no choice but to raise it as it is damaging your building. Flue kits etc are not very expensive compared to the costs of the pool or running that heater....

Do you have legal cover under your home insurance?

It is usually possible to but kits to raise the flue or to redirect it

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 22/08/2021 07:15

If you feel that they are really not approachable could you dismantle your building and move it away from the boundary by half a metre?

I don't think it is ideal having a wooden structure so close to a boundary in any case as you may need access behind it for repairs/ maintenance.

If you were able to do this you could fix an aluminum plate to your building or fence to deflect the heat from their boiler.

I know it's not fair but there are some miserable gits about who you just have to work round rather than with.

TheSloaneRanger · 22/08/2021 08:23

I wouldn't bother going round after what you've said. I would put something up my side to redirect it

johnd2 · 22/08/2021 08:50

Agree it's against the regs for flues although I'm not sure how seriously the HSE or building control would take it. You could always try.
Same goes for insurance, they might take action on it. And a solicitor would help, but it would be costly.
But i definitely agree the simplest solution is to get a square piece of metal and fix to your building with an air gap, so that any steam hits that and the water dripping off it hits the ground.

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