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Bobba
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Are there any scaffolders / builders within the PW fraternity who can offer an opinion please?

Background

My next door neighbour (mid terrace of three houses) is going to upgrade an old loft conversion / occupiable space, completed by the previous owner, into one with dormer windows etc and, at the same time, re-roof the 1930's property.

He is about to discuss Party Wall Act in so far as it relates to our shared wall in the loft (We are on the left in the photo and already have a full loft conversion). He has yet to discuss scaffolding. The front of the house is no problem as scaffolding can be contained within his boundaries. The rear of the property is a different matter. There is a full width single story extension. You will see from the attached photos that erecting scaffolding will not be without it's problems and he may well ask to site same on our property and the property the other side of him. For a host of reasons we'd rather not. 

We are aware that this work is development and not 'necessary maintenance' and so does it does not fall within the ambit of the Access to Neighbouring Lands Act so we are not obliged to agree to his request.

Question for Scaffolders / Builders.

Given the full width extension is it possible for scaffolders to lay planks on the roof of his extension and erect scaffolding in that way thus avoiding scaffolding on our patio? Advice welcomed please. I will then be better placed to discuss matters with him.

Saffolding License

Should we reluctantly agree then we will need an agreement / licence. Are these prepared by Solicitors or Chartered Surveyors. Does anyone know of a template or format somewhere I could view? Also, as it is he would require access to our property then I take it that he funds my expenses.

Thanks

No 23 1 of 2.JPG

No 23 2 of 2.JPG

No 23 Extn.JPG

Edited by Bobba
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Why would you agree, the amount of damages e seen do when access has been granted is a joke. 

They can erect scaffolding over the extension and attach it to the house wall. 

Not your problem if it's a bigger job, they want to do the work.

Make sure you take date stamped pictures of your property and garden before the start work. Don't want damage to your garden or roof.

Drop Scaffman73 a pm, it's his trade.

Edited by figgy
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Just tell them no scaffold on your property or land, simples , they will come up with a solution its there job, it's not a problem to a good scaffolding firm. Your neighbour might have to pay extra Tis all, but that's not your problem

 

kjf

Edited by flynny
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The Father of a friend walked out to get in his car some time last year only to find some inconsiderate scaffolders had literally caged him in and would not release his car. Their reasoning was that their scaffolding was on shared ground. He was parked wholly within his numbered parking space and was without his car for 3 or 4 days. Hopefully the scaffolders employed by your neighbour will be some of the good ones.

Good luck.

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So looking at the photos. 

The scafolders can errect ontop of their roof .and avoid coming onto your property .

They way they do it. Is to remove the last couple of tile courses (at the bottom ) all the way round and drop their uprights onto the wall plate. Also if the ridge beam is man enough they can remove the ridge tiles and support there too. 

They may say .ooh thats a lot of work .

But its not (considering the size of their total build ) .

Also waterproofing will be their issue -not impossible .

It also looks like that lower extension is crossing the boundry line on the left had side ..on the right no so much,  to possibly be able to drop a pole to the floor on the right and still be on their own land .

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They would be able to put scaffold on his roof,no different as if bridging a ridge for chimney works.You will get mess on your patio and even the chance of objects falling,so I would insist on netting and just be aware when using your patio.

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1 hour ago, TIGHTCHOKE said:

The Father of a friend walked out to get in his car some time last year only to find some inconsiderate scaffolders had literally caged him in and would not release his car. Their reasoning was that their scaffolding was on shared ground. He was parked wholly within his numbered parking space and was without his car for 3 or 4 days. Hopefully the scaffolders employed by your neighbour will be some of the good ones.

Good luck.

That would have sent me stratospheric 

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I’m glad we get on with our neighbours. We have had their scaffolding on our side and they have had ours on theirs. 

It makes it easier cheaper and also you can protect the other side far easier.  We had plastic laid and the scaffolding netted and it made the job faster and wasn’t that much inconvenience.  

On another side we are doing a job for a very wealthy author in London at work.  She has dragged her neighbours party wall agreement out for years.  We are packing most of her possessions to keep them safe and she has cost them an absolute fortune in legal fees getting to this point. They aren’t speaking and current conversations seem to be via ourselves....

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It might help if we knew why you don't want the scaffold on your land.

There will be some relatively simple solutions to spanning the extension but the preferred option for any scaffolder would be to have standards on either side of the single storey extension.

What are the reasons for not wanting to allow that?

 

Edd

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16 minutes ago, eddoakley said:

It might help if we knew why you don't want the scaffold on your land.

There will be some relatively simple solutions to spanning the extension but the preferred option for any scaffolder would be to have standards on either side of the single storey extension.

What are the reasons for not wanting to allow that?

 

Edd

This ^^^^^^

disputes with party walls cost a fortune and only make money for solicitors 

is it worth the hassle 

or would you be better off long term being good neighbours and living in harmony

Just my thoughts

of  

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34 minutes ago, Old farrier said:

This ^^^^^^

disputes with party walls cost a fortune and only make money for solicitors 

is it worth the hassle 

or would you be better off long term being good neighbours and living in harmony

Just my thoughts

of  

Agreed 100%.  My neighbour and I have both had building done ......... and in both cases we have discussed the work plan beforehand, agreed access/blocking access etc. as needed in a friendly manner - and saved ourselves money on the build - and avoided any lawyers making any money.

If you can do it - much the best way.  I appreciate it may not always be possible - but if you can do it amicably, it can save a load of troubles and costs.

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6 hours ago, eddoakley said:

It might help if we knew why you don't want the scaffold on your land.

There will be some relatively simple solutions to spanning the extension but the preferred option for any scaffolder would be to have standards on either side of the single storey extension.

What are the reasons for not wanting to allow that?

 

Edd

We are not anti-neighbour. To us it is a practical problem. We have a square bay with french windows which open on to a stone patio. Next to the extension wall we have two extremely large pots which were placed in situ before being filled and planted with Camelias. We do believe that two burley chaps could not shift these without first emptying them. Between these pots are two elevated 3ft stone troughs which again were placed in situ before filling and planting. In front and lower down are another pair of identical troughs. Not only would moving them be problematical but we have nowhere else to put them and we do not want them on our lawn for 12-14 weeks. We do not want any scaffolding placed further away from the wall of the extension as this would restrict access to the french windows and our use of our patio. (particularly as summer may be comming......!!!)

The neighbour on the other side is not without her problems. Her bay window doors open on to a new decking patio recently installed at great expense. She doesn't want damage and saying any damage will be rectified is not an answer to avoiding damage  by not having the scaffolding on her land.

So what we are looking for is a scaffolding solution which suits the differing needs of all three properties.

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7 minutes ago, Bobba said:

We are not anti-neighbour. To us it is a practical problem. We have a square bay with french windows which open on to a stone patio. Next to the extension wall we have two extremely large pots which were placed in situ before being filled and planted with Camelias. We do believe that two burley chaps could not shift these without first emptying them. Between these pots are two elevated 3ft stone troughs which again were placed in situ before filling and planting. In front and lower down are another pair of identical troughs. Not only would moving them be problematical but we have nowhere else to put them and we do not want them on our lawn for 12-14 weeks. We do not want any scaffolding placed further away from the wall of the extension as this would restrict access to the french windows and our use of our patio. (particularly as summer may be comming......!!!)

The neighbour on the other side is not without her problems. Her bay window doors open on to a new decking patio recently installed at great expense. She doesn't want damage and saying any damage will be rectified is not an answer to avoiding damage  by not having the scaffolding on her land.

So what we are looking for is a scaffolding solution which suits the differing needs of all three properties.

That’s not unreasonable, but you might be surprised at what options are available if you let the scaffolders look at what could be done within the constraints you have described on your own property.

Ultimately if it’s just not practical for them to use your ground then it is a non starter, but a bit of willing to consider potential options will at least let your neighbours know that you’re a good sort.  Of course if that is what you are doing and they already know that then all good.

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22 hours ago, TIGHTCHOKE said:

The Father of a friend walked out to get in his car some time last year only to find some inconsiderate scaffolders had literally caged him in and would not release his car. Their reasoning was that their scaffolding was on shared ground. He was parked wholly within his numbered parking space and was without his car for 3 or 4 days. Hopefully the scaffolders employed by your neighbour will be some of the good ones.

Good luck.

I’d have cut it out. 

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