Neighbours wants to put scaffolding on our property

[TubeScreamer]

Our neighbours are doing a lot of work on their house. As part of this they would like to put scaffolding on our property. This is apparently necessary to access their roof. They will also use it to paint the side of their house at the same time.

Ahead of meeting with them to discuss it, what should we be asking of them to protect ourselves and our property? We would like something in writing and evidence of insurance? Is it the scaffolder’s insurance or the builders’ insurance that is relevant, or both?

This is a big project on a 3 storey listed building, and our property is also listed. We won’t say no to it, but the whole thing is going to be a real nuisance for us for some time. The scaffolding will remove our parking, create lots of noise and dust, and the work takes place outside of dh’s office window.

I am keen to learn from other people’s experiences, particularly bad ones!

Neighbours are fine but we are not close and relationship with their builders are already poor. Work has been going on for months and they have shown such a lack of respect for us so far, and caused a lot of damage in our garden. The neighbours themselves are not living in the property at the moment.

They just put the scaffolding on the other side of the building - it’s the roof they want to get at - assuming it’s not attached on the other side.

I assume they need to get to both sides of the roof, plus guttering, fascia and soffit.
Plus the wall under.

As it’s a listed building it’s considered unwise to walk on the roof. Always access via scaffold.

Maybe OP could confirm re wall under.

What a beautiful diagram

Do they need a party wall agreement. If they should have offered you a surveyor. They pay, you choose. He sorts out a Party Wall agreement and takes pre condition photo. Also negotiates a crane oversailing and scaffolding overhang agreement. Our block of flats got £50,000 for this.

Have I got this right. Their property extends to above your outbuilding?

Does this mean the scaffold would have to go over your outbuildings into your parking area?

How would you access your outbuildings?

How wide are your outbuildings?

Would they need to be accessing from the car parking area go over your outbuildings to get to their property?

Definitely say no.

yes the scaffolding would have to go over the outbuildings and under no circumstances would they be allowed to walk on the roof or attach anything to it. It is covered with old slate tiles that cannot be easily replaced and are a big feature of our house and the listing.

The outbuilding is made up of 3 separate sheds/rooms, approx 3 metres deep. Haven’t measured. They are in regular use so we would need access. They’re used to store bikes, diy stuff, wood and coal.

So scaffolding would be where one car is parked, and I feel we wouldn’t want to park out other car right next to scaffolding and a an area where work is taking place, even if they have netting on the scaffolding. Plus the logistics of getting in and out of the drive when builders are working there.

I agree with this if you really do want to say yes, but would add:

5 - Written start and end dates when you’re agreeing the scaffolding can be added and when it needs to be removed by
6 - Amount you’re charging goes up if the scaffolding isn’t removed by due date
7 - Builders to also sign agreement
8 - Any damage made to your property caused by the use of the scaffolding, or work being done, to be repaired back to the standard it was before (You should take lots of pictures before scaffolding is added)
9 - agreement on times and days when the builders can access the scaffolding on your side
10 - builders to do a full clean up after removal

I've scaffolding up at my own home at present, no neighbourhood issues as it's a very rural location with lots of access.However, I've lost all access to my back yard and never would have imagined how wide the scaffolding would be.The builders have been repairing the roof, fascia and soffit so the debris on the gravel and garden below it is really extensive.The old paint, hardboard type material, leaf debris is everywhere and the gravel makes it hard to clean.
Cats have taken up residence on the scaffolding and are accessing the roof from it.I never would have dreamt that cats would play and roll about on a steep roof but that's what they do most mornings.Tbe scaffolding was put up at the very beginning to allow access for joiners to remove the old materials, strip back the roof etc.It's now been left to allow the guttering/ fascia people to complete the job and they're held up due to the storm damage work.
Think it out carefully and I hope your insurers have issues.

I would say no. They/ their builders haven't respected your property so far so what makes you/them think its going to start now.

It will seriously inconvenience you for absolutely no benefits.

@TubeScreamer so your outbuildings abut the neighbours house wall? Then the neighbours wall rises above the outbuildings.
I would guess that they will ask to remove some slates and put the uprights through the outbuilding roof.
A photo would help with the understanding.
Again, ask for a £5k retainer against overrun and damage. It will keen their mind.

This is so helpful. Thank you to everyone who has posted. I’m quite humbled, and never expected such a great response. This has been my most successful thread in 19 years of being here!

I’m going to write down all the key points ahead of meeting with the neighbours (and the horrible builders) next week

And not a chance we will say yes to removing any of our roof slates!

Not quite sure how to word this but I'd want in writing that any contraventions to YOUR listed status or any damage or anything else related to the works resulting in legal issues regarding your listed status are totally the responsibility of the neighbour both financially and legally. If the shit does hit the fan, you don't want any comeback from them to the effect that you agreed to xyz so they thought it would be fine. I don't own anything that is listed but have been peripherally involved as part of my job planning adaptations for people with disabilities who live in listed buildings.

Definitely not. Why would you remove them. If I were you I’d get a ladder and take photos of the roof and wall under that belong to you. If there’s damage you’ll need to prove it.
Tbh I’m concerned they haven’t done a condition survey and agreed it with you in writing. That’s perfectly standard practice.

Remember you deal with the neighbours, problems with the builders are your neighbours problem to deal with. You complain to them first and foremost and always put it in writing.

Safety Regs wouldn’t allow it there’d be no guard rail to stop them falling off the other side needs to be protected both sides

Do you have legal cover as part of your buildings insurance. Phone them and ask for their advice. When our neighbours started knocking their terrace house apart without planning permission or a party wall agreement our insurance company were brilliant.

Agree
however technically they could have guard rails and workmen could be harnessed in to absail down or / and walk on the roof. In this situation that’s not possible as the roof belongs to OPand not the builders client but more importantly OPs house is listed so walking on the roof is never ever advised.
So up and over scaffolding is the only solution

Ps
I should have said

Take photos internally of the outhouse ( plus your building adjacent ) too OP. (dated )
If they’re there jackhammering something or using vibrating machinery nearby it could course all sorts of damage. You don’t want to notice afterwards that you’ve got cracks and plaster coming off or your rainwater goods have become dislodged.

We're currently dealing with a house renovation next door. The new owners aren't living there yet but they have certainly made their presence felt and we and the house on the other side of them have had to have words with them about work being done outside of normal hours and turning up late at night to hammer on the walls. The joys of a terraced property!

I'm dreading the day scaffolding goes up outside (I cannot see them doing this much to the inside without doing that too) as I know there is pretty much nothing I can do about it what with the very nature of a terraced house. So in your case, where you can say no, I would. Or at least get something in place money wise for the inconvenience and so they don't leave it up for ages. Particularly as you've already had issues with the builders involved.

Which reminds me of this MN thread
🤢🥴

Fucking hell 😯

@Stirabout Oh bloody hell! That would be just my luck! 😂😂

It concerns me that the builders haven't tried to keep you onside.

Even though they must have anticipated this request would be made.

To me it says, they don't care, they're not very clever, you can't trust them.