Is this scaffolding OK in terms of neighbour border?

JP_ · 1 Sep 2015

Having loft conversion done. Scaffolding went up today. Neighbour got very, very angry via telephone message + text (he is on holiday). Says my scaffolders should not have gone on his drive. We had informed him that we were doing some work and that there would be scaffolding - he raised the concern of us blocking his drive, we assure that we would not.

Somebody is telling him that it is all over his drive. He is angry (and threatening!).

The poles are all right on the border of my land and his drive. The overhang has been cut. Obviously, the scaffolders did stand on his drive. His cars are right on the border as he needs the space to get his bins in and out. The job has been done with no other problems (other than the complaints!).

The wooden blocks do go over the drive a little, but no more than the hedge which has been overhanging for years.

The car at the back is currently off the road, and this is the first time I have ever seen his other car parked on the drive - it is normally at the front.

The last pole is on my side of the fence at the back, but does overhang by a bracket. The foam of one pole is touching his car. Scaffolders said that they did it as slim as they could.

Is this reasonable? I am hoping it is. He basically said he will be having "serious words" with me when he gets back, I am feeling pretty threatened right now. If it is unreasonably close to his drive I will see if the scaffolders can shift it an inch, but no doubt this will cost be a small packet in lost time and labour.

catlad · 1 Sep 2015

So are you telling me his passengers don't stand on your land when they get out of there car, It sounds like you and your neighbour don't get on legally I wouldn't think he has a case.

^woody^ · 1 Sep 2015

Jesus, that's tight on those cars

They could have done a three board scaffold.

Are you sure those poles are on your side of the boundary - isn't the boundary line the edge of that soil? If they are then OK, if not then he might have a point

JP_ · 1 Sep 2015

Funny, as we have never had a problem with them in the 12 years we have been neighbours, and now this. When we moved in they asked if we wouldn't mind keeping the border clear so that they could more easily get out of their car - we even put some leftover weed barrier and small slabs down to help keep it dry.

JP_ · 1 Sep 2015

Woody, I did wonder that. Not sure who owns that strip to be honest - maybe it is on the edge of their drive in some parts?

I have contacted his landlord and asked them to look (he said they would be contacting me anyway) and that I will ask my builder to move it if it really is a problem.

noseall · 1 Sep 2015

That is ridiculous. I'd be fuming if I were the neighbour.

Get the scaffold trimmed down to a three board fella before he gets back. Absolutely stupid.
We jump through hoops and do a merry dance in order to appease neighbours, when situations like this arise. It seems as though someone has not been entirely truthful here.

JP_ · 1 Sep 2015

I have suggested 3 boards to builder, said he needs four for safety. What do you think I am not being truthful about? I am honestly just trying to understand what is correct and fair. But I really don't want my neighbour upset either.

noseall · 1 Sep 2015

F**k me mate, where were you when they handed out tact?

What you have done there is beyond ridiculous even if you have a right to do it.

He will manage with three boards.

JP_ · 1 Sep 2015

Please remember that I came here because I am concerned about the situation, but wanted expert opinion (which I am getting). My builder told me the scaffold would not be on his drive, and I am here because it is close /sitting on border and I am after advice. I did not place it there myself and I was at work when it was put up.

Regarding boards, from the rear I can see what they meant by it only having 3 boards already - one board is under the roof so (I guess) not actually a board for walking on?

Sounds like the overall opinion is that it needs to be slimmer and off the drive border. Although, the way his cars are parked, his wing mirrors and bumpers are over the border - it we had a fence he could not park as close as he is. Not defending my scaffolder, just trying to describe the situation.

(the pole that is on the other side of the fence stops just below top of fence, not touching the ground - but obviously is overhanging there.

I am waiting for their landlord to look and advise. Builder says that if they have to move it, they will, but need to balance their safety with the requests of the neighbour.

Personally, I want it slimmer if it can be done!

JP_ · 1 Sep 2015

one thing I did not mention, is that they do have more space on the other side of their drive. Not clear in first photo.

noseall · 1 Sep 2015

What you should have done is waited until they moved the cars then put it right on the border and not t'uther way around.

JP_ · 1 Sep 2015

They moved the cars after we told them we were putting scaffolding up. They never normally park the silver car on the drive because the find it hard to park and get out. The other car is off the road at the moment (no tax) - when we first spoke the them, they said they would move it further back for us. They were totally friendly about it all to start with, but I think a party wall letter (not from our surveyor) panicked them. Also, they have more space to the front of their drive where it gets wider and their (small) front garden is on the other side - its not a lot of extra space but would be easier for them to park there. But I have a feeling they just want a dispute now, so will wait for their next move.....

catlad · 1 Sep 2015

When you talk to the landlord about the scaffolding if he decides he wants to be fussy and wants you to move it tell him ok if you have to move it then you will put up a fence so you no longer have these disputes and then lets see him get out of his car, I'm guessing from those photo's you don't use that strip of land much but your neighbour makes use of it all the time, if thats the case then you need to point out who's land it is and who will be worse of if a fence goes up.

JP_ · 1 Sep 2015

I had thought about that! All we do is cut the shrubs back now and then. They use it to be able to use both sides of their cars. We really are nice people and have been accommodating - I think I mentioned above that I once put down weed barrier and some stones so allow them to have a dry step by the car.

I have certainly thought about extending my fence along there today! No idea what my rights are though. For now, I just want this cleared up, if that is possible without removing scaffolding and cancelling the build, or finding another builder if mine refuses to work on 3 planks, with one beneath the roof overhang.

^woody^ · 1 Sep 2015

A scaffold can be cantilevered to get the four or five boards at the top and the poles further in at the base.

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Is this scaffolding OK in terms of neighbour border?

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