Developer wants access/use of my property while building

They are tearing down the house next door to put up condos. The developer would like to be able to use my adjacent alley and part of my back yard (My back yard is quite big) to use during construction. I will definitely feel the squeeze as the ground floor apartment in my 3-family house will become v renacant during construction, which will affect the ease and price of renting it out.

My question: what should I charge, what is fair, for access to my property during construction?

Thanks!

webby1000

in General Discussion 8 years and 1 month ago

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workisfun | 8 years and 1 month ago

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If you do allow it, no matter what the terms, photo-document EVERYTHING, EVERYDAY. You will not regret that.

Lurker | 8 years and 1 month ago

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It’s nice they asked, but I’d love to hear a story from someone where this worked out well. Unless you’re paid a king’s ransom I don’t see the upside, other than you’ll be paid for the discomfort you’re probably going to experience anyway. Giving them access to your property is a giant ball of worms, and unless they are saints, one can easily envision no end of circumstances where you will be entangled trying to get them to make good on the deal, fighting of things that weren’t covered or seem subjective or hazy. I would never do this.

workisfun | 8 years and 1 month ago

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Ditto the above. We stipulated in our contract that they must pay our legal fees in the case we needed to challenge them on a breach of contract, which we are currently doing. Slippery slope is right. We granted them a licence term, and charged a per diem rate for every day thereafter. Time is of the essence.

wiley | 8 years and 1 month ago

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You need an attorney and have them negotiate these issues with the developer. You need to be vigilant and protect your interests. This is not something you should try and do on your own. Many issues are going to pop up throughout the construction .

resident2 | 8 years and 1 month ago

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I would say NO. This is a slippery slope to hell.
As you point out it will impact even more on your ability to rent your apartments, having a construction site next door is one thing but inviting them inside your boundary opens a huge can or worms.
It is the kind of thing you need a lawyer to write up the agreement and as the Courts in this State do not work, anything a lawyer writes up is going to cost you an arm & a leg to enforce.
I notice you make no mention of them offering a large monetary compensation for your troubles, time etc. Any reputable developer would.

daveinbedstuy | 8 years and 1 month ago

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“my adjacent alley” to me means the OP’s property. And no, they will not build over the line “into that space.”

If the alley is not his then thay are allowed to extend into it to the extent that zoning allows it.

mozeeatupu | 8 years and 1 month ago

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Its his adjacent alley to his backyard. They will build into that space. Be vigilant every step of the way

daveinbedstuy | 8 years and 1 month ago

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> @mozeeatupu
> You can be assured that your alley will lose several inches width after the next door building goes up.
Not his property though.

workisfun | 8 years and 1 month ago

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MAke your agreement air tight, with penalties. Also consider requirements for cleaning during and after construction. Insurance, too, that requires them, not you, to pay rhe deductible. Also, they should be held financially responsible even if the insurance company disclaims, which they always try to do. If a worker is being negligent, which leads to an accident…ell, you get the idea. We went through something similar and even after our contract was signed, the neighbor is still fighting he terms. It’s a mess. Also, you should insist the developer pay your legal fees.

webby1000 | 8 years and 1 month ago

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Thank you for the replies!

mozeeatupu | 8 years and 1 month ago

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You can be assured that your alley will lose several inches width after the next door building goes up.

slopefarm | 8 years and 1 month ago

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You want to wrap this up in an overall package that protects and insures you from liability for any damage to your property and injuries that occur on your property. The package of protections you need is pretty standard (and you can search the archives here) but worth getting a lawyer who negotiates these agreements all the time so that you get what you need. You would also presumable get advice as to what is a reasonable price for the incursion. You cannot unreasonably withhold access, but this sounds like a greater incursion.

EJR | 8 years and 1 month ago

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The SCA is building a school in the lot behind my house and needed access to my yard. I agreed to $250/month, but am now mad that I did not negotiate for me. It was fine during the winter months, but now that the weather is getting nicer, I’d like to have the yard space back. Also make sure you sign a formal written agreement which sets forth the exact terms of access and makes clear that the permission to use does not grant any longer-term property rights such as an easement.