by legalconsultant » Thu Mar 06, 2014 11:25 pm
I am a self-employed construction lawyer and mum based BTC, and have previously advertised my services on NVN (search "legal consultant"). As a starter for 10, I suggest you do the following:
1. get your builder to prepare a report which states his view of the causes of the damage to your house and what work needs to be done to rectify it, together with a statement of what work needs to be done to your neighbour's house to stop any reoccurence of damage to your house plus the costs of the work to each house
2. make notes of the conversations you have already had with your neighbour, with dates, to start a record
3. go and speak to your neighbour again, explain the seriousness of the problem and give him / her a copy of your builder's report and tell him your builder is ready and willing to help him fix the problem (get your builder to agree to this beforehand!). Then make a note.
4. speak to your insurance company and let them know what is happening - if your neighbour refuses to fix the problem within a sensible time given the risk of further damage (your builder can advise), you may need/ wish to get the works done to your house (not to your neighbour's obviously) to prevent further damage, and claim on insurance for reimbursement or to get your damage fixed - dep on the timing. The ins co will want to know if they can claim the costs from someone eise who is causing the damage i.e. the neighbour - based on your builder's report.
Hope that helps. Good luck.
I am a self-employed construction lawyer and mum based BTC, and have previously advertised my services on NVN (search "legal consultant"). As a starter for 10, I suggest you do the following:
1. get your builder to prepare a report which states his view of the causes of the damage to your house and what work needs to be done to rectify it, together with a statement of what work needs to be done to your neighbour's house to stop any reoccurence of damage to your house plus the costs of the work to each house
2. make notes of the conversations you have already had with your neighbour, with dates, to start a record
3. go and speak to your neighbour again, explain the seriousness of the problem and give him / her a copy of your builder's report and tell him your builder is ready and willing to help him fix the problem (get your builder to agree to this beforehand!). Then make a note.
4. speak to your insurance company and let them know what is happening - if your neighbour refuses to fix the problem within a sensible time given the risk of further damage (your builder can advise), you may need/ wish to get the works done to your house (not to your neighbour's obviously) to prevent further damage, and claim on insurance for reimbursement or to get your damage fixed - dep on the timing. The ins co will want to know if they can claim the costs from someone eise who is causing the damage i.e. the neighbour - based on your builder's report.
Hope that helps. Good luck.
