Must I Give Access To Neighbours Contractors Installing Satellite Dish.

[bronzesmith]

I have received a letter telling me I must give access to a Sky engineer cooming to fit a new dish on my neighbour's house. The neighbour has installed a large extension since the original system was installed and the contractor will not access the roof from the front, nor will he pay for scaffolding to bridge the extension. Instead they have informed me that I am legally obliged to give them access via my property so they can do the job. This is not a repair, it is an upgrade that the neighbour has requested. Do I have to allow them access?

[boxtops]

I don't think there's any "must" about it, but it would be neighbourly - what would you do if that wall of his needed repair?

[gingejbee]

...and, don't forget, you still have to live next to them....why make things awkward?

[albaqwerty]

Who was the letter from?
Why didn't your neighbour ask you personally?

Are you on good terms with your neighbour?

[carolegif]

We have to allow our next door neighbours access in order to paint the side of their garage.

[Hypognosis]

If I were in your shoes, I would be curious as to why a letter uses a -mildly threatening- phrase, like "legally obliged" (do tell us if that's just your interpretation of their words) whereas it doesn't take a lot of additional effort to just quote the name and paragraph of the law they are referring to.

In other words, with a poorly worded letter that I was somewhat skeptical about, I'd be ringing them up to ask for further details, just out of curiosity and 'on principle', if you get my drift.

Ultimately, I would not obstruct the work, as I might want to use the same legal position in my favour, perhaps with the same neighbour being on the receiving end instead.

[bronzesmith]

I understand your answers but for information purposes, my neighbour has continually done this sort of thing since they moved in because "we are entitled". They do not believe in asking, they send letters (followed by solicitors letters if you do not reply,), informing you of what they intend to do and what you MUST do to accomodate their plans. I accept that urgent repairs and maintenance such as pointing and painting do require some access but is the upgrading of their t.v. a necessity and why do I have to be inconvenienced for their benefit?

[albaqwerty]

oh lawdy, neighbours like that would drive me mad.

Have they got access to the rear of their property from their front? ie, through a garage?
A satellite dish can be installed at low level in their front garden btw

[Hypognosis]

Useful extra detail. I was under the mistaken impression that the letter was from Sky. If this is stuff just made up by the neighbour then it's borderline harassment.

If they're getting solicitors to send letters at you then doesn't that mean they're spending serious money on giving you a hard time? Or they're trying to get you to spend money on solicitors to defend your own position?

Again, I'm very curious as to what law this is they are referring to. I'm not a lawyer, just a flabberghasted bystander...

[Barmaid]

Not my area, but I *think* it is covered by the Access to Neighbouring Land act. Some info here: http://www.problemneighbours.co.uk/rights-under-access-to-neighbouring-land-act.html

Legislation here:- http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1992/23/contents

[Tilly2]

What harm will it do?

[kylesmum]

Were you aware when you bought your property that your neighbours were entitled to reasonable access?
Have they any other way of accessing the rear of their property?

I ask only because I live in an end terraced house and I have 3 neighbours who have reasonable access. One uses it every day to put his bike in the shed, rather than trailing it through his house, also on bin days.When the window cleaners come they come through my garden same with any gardeners.

I have no problem with that at all, in my opinion it's reasonable.I wouldn't find it reasonable if they chose to use their back door instead of their front door and any visitors traipsed through my garden on a whim but it hasn't happened.I think the crucial word here is being 'reasonable'.

[tamborine]

If you give access further access will be necessary to maintain it, everytime wind blows it out of line.

Say no !

[boxtops]

It sounds perhaps as if they've had problems with previous neighbours (either here or in previous properties) and feel that the legal route is the only way to do it. What a waste of hot air and money - when my neighbour needed scaffold posts to go on my land, she just asked me. No problem.

[albaqwerty]

just out of curiosity, have/has their extensions restricted their own access to the rear of their property?

[bronzesmith]

The letter is from the firm employed to carry out the upgrade, I have spoken to them on the phone and was told the following,
"We have the right to access your property in order to carry out the work requested by your neighbour. The work has to be done this way as running cables from the front would need either scaffolding, which neither we nor your neighbour are prepared to pay for, or running cables through his loft space and our engineers will not do that. Accordingly we have decided the best course would be to carry out the work via access to your property." They then informed me of the date they would carry out the work at which point I hung up. I have had no say in this and am extremely annoyed at both my neighbour's and the contractor's high handed atitude, which is why I posted my query to see if in fact I am legally obliged to do as they say.

[kylesmum]

In your title deeds does it state that your neighbours have reasonable access to their property via yours?

[tamborine]

warn fitters they will cause 'disturbance of peace' & you will call police. They will be tresspassing.

[bronzesmith]

My deeds state, reasonable access for necessary maintenance of structures and emergency repairs to the property. Neither of which in my opinion includes the fitting of a satellite dish.

[albaqwerty]

If your property is mortgaged (or not, immaterial) just tell them that your mortgage lender will not permit it as they do not consider it 'essential maintenance'.