Neighbours Rotten Wooden Windows

[robputt796]

Hi All,

Looking for a bit of advice, we live next to a chap who is errrr, not the most social can we say, he has uPVC windows around most of his house with associated lintels, but his back door and kitchen window are wooden and are heavily rotten, I didn't think too much about it until I read the other day that wooden windows and door frames are often structural. I took a quick look at the wall above this rotting window and sure enough there is a nice crack forming the full width of the door and window with cracks creeping out from the edges of this main crack towards my property. My main concern here is that if this continues it may extend the cracking further towards my property, or cause movement in the party wall hence affecting my property (this door is only about a foot away from the party wall). Am I right in the assumption I should be concerned about the condition of his back window or am I just being a nosy ****er who needs to pipe down? If I am right to be concerned who should I contact? Building control, environmental health? I don't feel I can talk to the neighbour directly the bloke is basically totally socially inept, if I try and say good morning to him outside he runs either to his car or back into his house. If it was the neighbour the other side I am sure I could discuss with them, however having said that with that neighbour we'd never get into the position of having the conversation as their house is very well maintained and spotless.

Let me know your thoughts.

Best Regards,

Rob

 

[Notch7]

I think some photos are needed really -even from further back would be helpful.

Knowing the wall construction would be helpful.

There are lots of permutations of lintels / window / wall constructions

 

[robputt796]

Ok, next time his car isn't outside I'll take a couple of photos of the offending window & door. The house is a 1920s terrace, honestly I don't know much about the construction of them I am a complete noob when it comes to buildings so I couldn't suggest the wall construction. I know there is a cavity in the wall and its brick construction with a render over the top. How the party wall etc... is tied in I have no clue.

 

[Yeahaa]

Wall ties corroding cause cracks

 

[robputt796]

Ok, here is the photo, sorry it took so long to get to you, I had to wait until he was out, its an over the fence job, sorry its not particularly good quality / clear. As you can see the top piece of wood is fairly rotten, the soil stack is leaking causing more rot to the upright and the window and door is generally in a state of disrepair. My question is, is this structurally ok, you can see from the photo a crack is appearing above this area. My only concern here is that this may affect my house in some way, you can see from the photo its fairly close to the party wall. The visual aspect I can put up with, I don't plan on selling any time soon and a 6 foot fence will easily stop my having to look at the damn thing. But I am more concerned the wooden frame on this arrangement is somehow structural and if it rots anymore that cracking will get worse / affect my property also.

 

[Ian H]

I don't feel I can talk to the neighbour directly the bloke is basically totally socially inept, if I try and say good morning to him outside he runs either to his car or back into his house.

I think I know the guy. He posts on here in the General Discussion and Electrical sections

How about dropping a letter through? Say you have some damp in that corner and a specialist has suggested his rotten window and leaking pipe as a probable cause.

 

[foxhole]

Looks ok apart from the s-h-i-t-e down the frame, he is obviously full of it.

 

[bobasd]

the damage an cracks around your neighbour's frame are no threat to your house.
the leakin soil pipe might be seen as a public health hazard or somethin by the authorities?

obviously i dont now butodds are that your neighbour is ill an maybe has been for some time?

 

[robputt796]

"the damage an cracks around your neighbour's frame are no threat to your house.", ok in that case thats awesome, I will just ignore it and stop being such of a nosy bastard.