My Neighbour Is Threatning Me For Expanses Becouse Sky Installed Dish Few Inches On His Wall.

[rebel1681]

I moved to New house in early September 2012. 10 day after my move the sky engineer came to install Sky dish. I was still busy in the moving that i did not personally administer the installation. The engineer never had or obtained my permission to install the dish on your property. Even after it was installed i never noticed the distance of the installed dish on the wall between my house and his neither did HE.

It was end of March, 2013 six months after the installation when he spoke to me for the first time regarding this issue. On first look it seemed in the middle of the houses However when i looked carefully it did seem a few inches more towards his house. HE asked me to contact sky and ask them to move the dish, and fill the holes. As a responsible neighbour i called sky and within an hour arranged such. I gave it my priority as i want good relations with my neighbours. This was communicated to him (That the relocation of the dish has been arranged for 25th March between 0900Hrs to 1300Hrs) which he appreciated. The Sky engineer came on 25th around 1000hrs and he did move the dish. Also he did fill the holes with some material which I am not aware what it is called. He mentioned that these are the standard fillers which the engineers use and they protect the wall from any sort of damage or water ingress. I knocked on neighbour door when the engineer came so that he himself can administer the process but he was not at his house. He sent me a letter saying that he can see dish has been removed and in future we should not attach anything to his wall.

On 12th may, almost 50 days after the dish was moved he contacted me again claiming that the dish has caused considerable damage to his property as the four small holes may allow water ingress and he threatended that in 14 days i need to act on it else he will involve a solicitor, employ a surveyor and a builder to properly rectify the damage and claim all costs from me. Although he knew that in past we have helped him on time without wasting a single day which he appreciated as well, he sent us this letter in which he have threatened us. The letter was read by my pregnant wife and went into so much stress because of a very minute issue where we did whatever he asked us to do and on time. I have forwarded his letter by special delivery to sky and asked ky to contact him directly and sent him copy of the special delivery report as well. But want know that legally is he right?

[VHG]

He sounds like the sort of neighbour you DONT want to live next door to.

What a sad individual he sounds.

I dont know the legal situation but I cant believe he has any right to claim expenses off you if the wall has been repaired.

[rebel1681]

Thanks VHG. Sky put in something in it which am not sure what was it but they said it will stop any bulding damage or water ingress. However i accept the fact that there is cosmetic damage. as the whole marks and the filling of those small holes can be seen. So want to know if thi will be legally sky's rsponsibility or mine

[bookbinder]

As Sky were acting as your agent, you would be held to be liable for any damage that might result from drilling and filling the holes. This is all too trivial for words, but I can understand that the neighbour's attitude has caused you and your wife much distress. Do not try to tackle this alone. See a solicitor without fail. I believe that the first half of hour of a solicitor's time is free, so he should be able to give you suitable advice in half and hour.

[lcg]

i reckon he is trying it on - tell him to naff off. i very much doubt he has any 'considerable' water damage in that time and is trying to make a fast buck off you. the cost of him trying to sue you should put him off! anyway.....please check if you are covered by your house insurance for legal work - people often forget they pay for this service.

[rebel1681]

Thanks bookbinder and Lcg. I am still confused as i have a solicitor friend who is not always reliable but he said dont worry about him if he goes to a solicitor, solicitor will definetly advise him to settle on his own with me as the costs of it will be too high for them and there are more chances for them to lose as there is a third party involved and such stuff are very complicated and he said as far as he knows sky wil be the liable party. Lcg he is not yet claiming for any water or anything he is saying it may result in further damage. at the moment the damage he is talking bout is cosmetic damage

[factor-fiction]

If there are holes in his wall then I assume that the dish was attached to his wall. I also assume then that when you said "on your property" you meant "on his property". I'm not sure why Sky would have done that. Refer the letter to Sky if that's the case. Alternatively you could try your house insurance- they may then try to claim from Sky

[rebel1681]

Thanks Yes it is his wall. Actually all split level maissonetes are in same line and it is difficult to see when myside ends and his side starts that can be the reason why sky couldnt notice. .

[cassa333]

It seems you have an arse for a neighbour :(

Ask SKY what it is they filled the holes with and let him know. Reasure him that because of the filler there won't be any water damage either now or later and get something to cover the marks with. Such as a bit of brick dust to match the original.

Then let him fret and waste his money on solisiters and survyers. If they are worth their salt they will tell him he is on a hiding to nothing.

[Twenty20]

Just tell Sky to sort it out directly with him. They drilled the holes, not you. Let Sky and your neighbour discuss it. Even if they can't 'fix' it, they have insurance to cover them when things go wrong and they'll give him compensation, but it's for them to discuss with the neighbour, not you.