Neighbor needs backyard access

http://cdn.brownstoner.com/4e1497561d200-.jpg

Our neighbor mentioned to us a couple of days ago that they would need access to our backyard to repoint their wall. I did not think much of it and agreed to the request and ask her to let me know which days they will need access when the day comes.

After thinking about it further I’m a bit worried that they will cause a mess and also destroy my planting area. The reason for this is because when we bought the house a couple of years ago, they just finished their renovation on the exact same wall and left a mess (paint all over our floors, a lot of debris). During that time we just got the house so we did not say anything.

I guess I just want to know my rights. I don’t have any issue with them working on the wall and I’m not the type of person that likes confrontation, especially with my neighbor but I don’t want to deal with the clean-up. If their contractor cause a mess again while they are working, can I kick them out? or they legally have right to work on it since it is their wall even though its on my property line? Anyone dealt with similar situations? Thanks in advance.

namahs

in Quality of Life 13 years and 10 months ago

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snowman2 | 13 years and 9 months ago

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They have the right to do required maintenance of their property.  They also have the obligation to protect your property and return it to the condition it was before they started. Document current condition in detail and make it part of the written agreement.  This is their obligation; they are obligatiodoing you a favor.  Have a  written agreement signed by you and neighbor, including the length of time that they will be working – date range and time of day; you can specify requirements and limitations if you want.  Neighbor is responsible for anything done by their contractor. Ditto what others said re  the contractor’s insurance.

shahnandersen

in Quality of Life 13 years and 9 months ago

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I posted a reply yesterday, but somehow it didn’t go through.  Since then others have said most of what I had, except for two things.  1)You do not want the workers traipsing through your house, nor do you want pipe scaffolding in your yard even at hours that the contractor is not working.  So make sure that they use a hanging scaffold that they access via the roof of your neighbor’s property.
2) Put in writing that they will clean up at the end of each workday.

slopegirl | 13 years and 9 months ago

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I think in previous discussions here neighbors have a legal right to access… so probably best to manage the process by asserting your expectations from the get go. If you watch them like a hawk and make expectations clear at outset, that usually goes a long way. We’ve had two backyards and two wall fixes, one 5 years ago we’re still finding cement chunks in our potted plants from, and the one last year (by Transcend) was immaculate.

landlord | 13 years and 10 months ago

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As other said,
1) take pics of the “before”
2) politely voice your concerns to everybody involved BEFORE they start working.
3) Get the contractor cell number and call him up right away if anything gets damaged.
Good luck.

stevecym | 13 years and 10 months ago

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Ask them for a copy of their insurance certificate listing you as additional insured.  Even if you do not think there is anything that can go wrong, I would ask for this because it is your right and because you want to let them know that, while you are willing to be fare, you also want them to be responsible.  If they balk, tell them that the last time you asked for a cert. it took the contractor 15 minutes to have that cert emailed to you from their broker.

Steve

dobalerts | 13 years and 10 months ago

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Legally the neighbor has the right to come in so best is to work it out as some previous posters said, speak to the contractor and he should agree to clean up, take some photos just in case you need it later.

From the picture your plants don???t look like its going to make it but you can ask him to be careful.

A good neighbor is priceless  🙂

Good Luck

daveinbedstuy | 13 years and 10 months ago

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Take photos.  Get them agree in writing to replace anything damaged.  Don’t assume that the contractors will have half a brain about what they are doing.  In particular, you might want to be there to make sure they don’t get paint all over your paved area, because they likely will, as you said they did previously.  MAKE IT CLEAR, IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS THAT THEY ARE NOT TO GET PAINT ALL OVE AND NOT TO DAMAGE YOUR PROPERTY.

bowl-of-dicks | 13 years and 10 months ago

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Your plants will get trashed. Make an itemized list, and get it in writing that your neighbors will replace ALL plants, including soil, at their expense.

wiley | 13 years and 10 months ago

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This shouldn’t be that problematic but there are some things you should do. Re-pointing is messy, they will probably pressure wash, your plants will be disturbed a bit. I would ask to meet with the contractor and homeowner together to discuss what precautions will be taken, put them in writing – also get a copy of the contractors insurance, you could insist that you be added onto the rider but some might say that is extreme. You should do your best to be there when the work is done, in my experience people don’t care unless you are there to keep a watchful eye. Also, if the bricks are being re-pointed you will lose the paint job on that wall, are they going to re-paint?. Also get the clean up procedure in writing, as there will be mortar and sand on the ground, not that hard to clean up but an inconvenience.

jamesbedstuy | 13 years and 10 months ago

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Well you should allow her contractor to come and do the work b/c it is on your side does not mean she has not right. If you allow her contractor to come and do the work, it will make your property better. Just tell her to be careful with the plants.