GhostHoward
VIP Member
We live in large terraces, with a passageway between us and our neighbours. Theare currently doing up their garden and back of house (painting the back; new fence; garden studio; new patio, etc.)
They were really good when we had our house renovated a few years ago. Signed the party wall act without question and never complained. It took a whole year, so not insignificant, and we didn’t live there during.
We say hello in passing but don’t really chat like we might with other neighbours. When they were having the studio built they did ask if they could show me what they were doing as they needed to temporarily remove my fence. I had no complaints other than to just be careful when cutting an overhanging branch of a large shrub/small tree as it was given my my (newly deceased) grandma. Strictly speaking the studio would need planning permission (it’s size and that it has a bathroom in it) but we’re not petty and it has no impact on us so why would we care. (Only mentioning this as I feel it shows an openness on our side).
When they had the back of the house painted I was just about to take my youngest to the park. I saw someone using our outdoor tap (it’s at the back of our utility by the bin store, but in the alleyway, not in our enclosed back garden). I was a bit taken aback and asked what they were doing? It was a young guy, who worked for the painting company. He was apologetic and said that he didn’t think we’d mind but he was sorry. Said no one was at home to get water from them and their outdoor tap was broken. (although neighbour came out at that point, so clearly was). I’d left my daughter by the road so had to rush off, but because they hadn’t asked I was more annoyed than I would be. We’d absolutely have agreed if they’d asked.
That was about a month ago. Last weekend and weekend before that they started having the patio done (really gorgeous York stone if anyone cares ). No problem our end. They put up with our building site so crack on and we’ll just keep our doors shut.
Last week I noticed a load of splattering up the back of the house under the outdoor tap. I had suspicions so bought a tap lock (as I meant to do when we moved back in after the Reno but never got around to doing). Lo and behold yesterday their builder comes over and asks if they could use our tap (neighbour was home) as neighbours is broken. We agree but ask them if they’ve used it for the rest of the patio work. They admit they have. We explain that we’d always have said yes (limited use though as we’re on a water meter) but we weren’t impressed that they just used it and didn’t ask. They knew we were in on both days they used it.
As a thank you the builder took away an old wardrobe we’d not taken to the tip, and levelled the area next to the bins with leftover sand.
There were absolutely no hard feelings and we left it all positive.
But am I wrong to think that using your neighbours tap without asking is in the cheeky fucker category.
I don’t know if the neighbours told them it’d probably be ok or if the painters and then separately, the builders thought it’d be ok but in all of this the neighbours haven’t apologised once.
Tap lock has gone back on and they can ask next weekend (it’d be a shame if we went out that morning )
They were really good when we had our house renovated a few years ago. Signed the party wall act without question and never complained. It took a whole year, so not insignificant, and we didn’t live there during.
We say hello in passing but don’t really chat like we might with other neighbours. When they were having the studio built they did ask if they could show me what they were doing as they needed to temporarily remove my fence. I had no complaints other than to just be careful when cutting an overhanging branch of a large shrub/small tree as it was given my my (newly deceased) grandma. Strictly speaking the studio would need planning permission (it’s size and that it has a bathroom in it) but we’re not petty and it has no impact on us so why would we care. (Only mentioning this as I feel it shows an openness on our side).
When they had the back of the house painted I was just about to take my youngest to the park. I saw someone using our outdoor tap (it’s at the back of our utility by the bin store, but in the alleyway, not in our enclosed back garden). I was a bit taken aback and asked what they were doing? It was a young guy, who worked for the painting company. He was apologetic and said that he didn’t think we’d mind but he was sorry. Said no one was at home to get water from them and their outdoor tap was broken. (although neighbour came out at that point, so clearly was). I’d left my daughter by the road so had to rush off, but because they hadn’t asked I was more annoyed than I would be. We’d absolutely have agreed if they’d asked.
That was about a month ago. Last weekend and weekend before that they started having the patio done (really gorgeous York stone if anyone cares ). No problem our end. They put up with our building site so crack on and we’ll just keep our doors shut.
Last week I noticed a load of splattering up the back of the house under the outdoor tap. I had suspicions so bought a tap lock (as I meant to do when we moved back in after the Reno but never got around to doing). Lo and behold yesterday their builder comes over and asks if they could use our tap (neighbour was home) as neighbours is broken. We agree but ask them if they’ve used it for the rest of the patio work. They admit they have. We explain that we’d always have said yes (limited use though as we’re on a water meter) but we weren’t impressed that they just used it and didn’t ask. They knew we were in on both days they used it.
As a thank you the builder took away an old wardrobe we’d not taken to the tip, and levelled the area next to the bins with leftover sand.
There were absolutely no hard feelings and we left it all positive.
But am I wrong to think that using your neighbours tap without asking is in the cheeky fucker category.
I don’t know if the neighbours told them it’d probably be ok or if the painters and then separately, the builders thought it’d be ok but in all of this the neighbours haven’t apologised once.
Tap lock has gone back on and they can ask next weekend (it’d be a shame if we went out that morning )