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Original poster

Loft conversion possible cause damage in Neighbours loft

17 replies

jwpetal · 24/07/2022 18:30

I am just figuring out what I need to think about or do. We had a loft conversion done in 2014. We did a party wall agreement with out neighbours. We now have new neighbours, who are doing a loft conversion. They just came by and said that their are some bricks knocked out of their wall in the loft and said it is from our building work. Our previous neighbour never mentioned any issue and we were on great terms. Has anyone had this happen and what are our next steps?

OP posts:

QuebecBagnet · 24/07/2022 18:33

You tell them your building work was eight years ago and the bricks were fine then and it’s north to do with you.

Maybeebebe · 24/07/2022 18:42

QuebecBagnet · 24/07/2022 18:33

You tell them your building work was eight years ago and the bricks were fine then and it’s north to do with you.

Agreed

heldinadream · 24/07/2022 19:06

They sound like trouble. Who moves into a house and immediately finds something that happened years ago and blames it on the neighbours? I'd be very wary of them OP and certainly don't give them any truck with the idea that they can start blaming you for random things.

EscapeRoomToTheSun · 24/07/2022 19:07

They bought the house in that condition? They can jog on. 8 years!

IncompleteSenten · 24/07/2022 19:07

Agree with pp.
8 years ago, neighbours perfectly happy, not your responsibility.

Don't entertain it for a second

Seeline · 24/07/2022 19:08

If you had a PWA wasn't there a survey undertaken after the work was done to check all was ok?

LondonNQT · 24/07/2022 20:58

What @Seeline said - any issues should have been picked up by the party wall surveyor/s eight years ago.

If they can prove that your works caused the damage, which will be difficult after all this time, then you will be liable to fix it I believe.

Original poster

jwpetal · 24/07/2022 21:10

Thank you everyone. The PWA was with my neighbours, but done between us not with a surveyor using an official document. They never came to tell us that there was a problem. We were on good terms including watching pets while they travelled. It appears that there was a structure built in the loft so they did not see it. My feeling was that they bought the house and that is it. Thank you for your thoughts. I was thinking that they bought the house and that is it. The beam is in the party wall but does not go all the way through. The new neighbours have tried it on a few times with other projects.

OP posts:

QuebecBagnet · 24/07/2022 23:09

Even if your beam did cause it then your ex neighbours were ok with it. It will be cosmetic I imagine not structural…….maybe their surveyor should have picked it up when they had a house buyers survey done….they can take it up with them.

My old house had massive holes between us and next doors lofts, think we could have climbed through!

Original poster

jwpetal · 25/07/2022 01:16

That is very reassuring. thank you

OP posts:

MGMidget · 25/07/2022 11:55

If it was covered up by a structure then it is possible the removal of the structure dislodged some bricks. However, if they have been disturbed in the position where the beams/spreader plates were inserted on your side then an expert may consider in a report that it was caused by your work but hidden until uncovered by removal of the structure covering it.

However, if it is just a few loose bricks and there is nothing else wrong I dont think this should cost much to put right. Given there may be a 50 per cent chance that your workmen caused it you could propose something to them as a goodwill gesture (without accepting liability) of paying half the cost of re-mortaring the bricks (and replacing them if they have cracked). It shouldnt be that expensive and as the wall is shared it may be the neighbourly thing to do in the circumstances. Also if you both get entrenched in your positions and start getting expert reports or their appointed party wall surveyor is asked to look at it and decide who covers the cost of that repair you could end up with a dispute with costs mounting which could be decided against you.

Alajoe · 01/02/2024 12:28

I live here in a loft and its ceilings are cracking up pretty bad and nails are falling out of the ceiling! I have children and I’m afraid we will end up hurt but nowhere to go! I have reached out to my building manager, city inspector and now I’m filing a complaint. Can someone please give me advice on what I should do?

TraitorsGate · 01/02/2024 12:33

Alajoe · 01/02/2024 12:28

If you start your own thread you may get more answers, there is a property section..

Onceuponaheartache · 01/02/2024 12:34

QuebecBagnet · 24/07/2022 18:33

You tell them your building work was eight years ago and the bricks were fine then and it’s north to do with you.

This

cupcakesarelife · 01/02/2024 12:35

I disagree with some of the comments above. If a loft conversion you did only 8 years ago (not that long ago) has actually caused a problem for the neighbour, despite new neighbours, you could be held responsible and forced to fix it. I'm not saying this is your case, but people shouldn't just assume a change of neighbours means anything. The property is still the same. It also sounds like your party wall agreement is not legitimate. Did you have building regs in to check the standard of work? Your new neighbours could still take this further if there is a costly problem, regardless.

Deathbyathousandcats · 01/02/2024 12:39

New neighbours should have had a proper survey done then.

EmpressaurusOfTheScathingTinsel · 01/02/2024 12:51

Zombie thread. The OP posted in 2022 so they’ve probably sorted it by now.

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