My Builder is digging out for my extension and dumping tons of earth on my back lawn Neighbours are complaining.

[DIWHY]

Yes my Builder is dumping tons of earth from my extension dig and raising my back lawn making it several feet above my neighbours gardens, they are complaining that it affects their garden privacy and drainage and it should be skipped, one says that his fence is not a retaining wall so shift it.
My Builder says its saving money and its fine to change the levels on my own property. Who is right ?

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Well the fence won't be a retaining wall so no you can't go piling soil up against it, will you now be overlooking your neighbours with raised areas? That's not very neighbourly. Saving money for who, you or your builder? Did he quote to take it away?

 

[Notch7]

Yes my Builder is dumping tons of earth from my extension dig and raising my back lawn making it several feet above my neighbours gardens, they are complaining that it affects their garden privacy and drainage and it should be skipped, one says that his fence is not a retaining wall so shift it.
My Builder says its saving money and its fine to change the levels on my own property. Who is right ?

most of that earth will be subsoil

why do you want subsoil on your lawn?


Surely the cost of redoing the garden is more than the cost of grab lorries

 

[Old Salt]

Good job you dont live next to me, I would be organising a protest, banners and blocking the road to the builders equipment.

The fence wont hold the soil back and any damage will be on you to make good. The builder is cutting corners and do you really want all that sub soil on top!

 

[Murdochcat]

Are you sure he’s a proper builder?

 

[^woody^]

My Builder says its saving money

*saving him money

Corrected that for you.

Did you ask for a 6 foot high garden as part of the package, or was it just a special offer?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

My Builder says its saving money and its fine to change the levels on my own property. Who is right ?

Some soil, temporarily, is unavoidable, but this sounds as if it is much more than 'some'. Are you sure he his a proper builder, not a cowboy - where did you get him from?

 

[DIWHY]

Thanks guys, just to answer most or all
1) The raised garden level is permanent as in a new lawn.
2) The saving could be his but he says his price was based on this due to limited access for moving off the property
3) I've told him to bank the soil away from the fence so no contact.
But is dumping my spoil onto other parts of my garden legit ? he says yes but I think one of my neighbours is going to the council.

 

[^woody^]

Raising ground levels is a planning issue and could require planning permission if a complaint is made.

 

[DIWHY]

Many thanks to all and all the best for Xmas

 

[johnny2007]

If he's doing this at excavation stage, imagine what he will do when building...
I've shifted soil through houses many times because there was no access.
Planning the job is the first step towards a good finished job.
Using proper floor covering, temporarily lining door frames with plywood, remove doors and being a bit careful can help barrel all of the soil in a skip outside.
That's the proper way.
I would keep an eye on everything he does, this is just the beginning.
Good luck.
BTW, don't pay him any upfront money and don't use anything rather than his own/company account for payment.

 

[stevie888]

Unless his quote specifically says arisings to remain on site I would view it as a cowboy chancing his arm.

Hand portable conveyors are another option for moving muck through a house. One assumes he has a plan for the concrete, bricks etc to go the other way?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

But is dumping my spoil onto other parts of my garden legit ? he says yes but I think one of my neighbours is going to the council.

Not unless you specifically agreed to it, beforehand. Obviously, you didn't.

 

[ETAF]

3) I've told him to bank the soil away from the fence so no contact.

that will probably need to be held back by some sort of structure , maybe even a small wall - otherwise rainfall etc will just cause additional issues to neighours, and movement of the earth over the fence anyway and under and across his lawn