A
Anonymous
Guest
I was wondering if anyone can give me some advice (practical and maybe legal) on how to handle my reclusive neighbour.
Both flats are on the lower ground floor of 3-storey late-Victorian properties and I have problems with damp in our party wall. I am getting circles of damp coming through the wall at a height of about 4 feet from the ground (though the previous owners had slapped vinyl paint and other disguising measures everywhere, leaving it difficult to assess the full extent of the problem).
I have already done the obvious and checked with my upstairs neighbour - there's no obvious source coming from there. The source could be a leak from next door. I believe the water supply pipes to the flats next door do run along the 'suspect' wall.
I have been next door a couple of times, but my neighbour never answers, even when I know he's in. I left a polite and friendly note explaining the situation along with my contact details, but he has never responded. Another neighbour tells me that damp works - I think an injected chemical dpc - were carried out by a previous owner on the property (his, not mine) around 8 years ago, but I know no details.
The only thing I can say is that I don't believe any damp works have been successful as even standing by the front door of his flat the smell of damp is immediately noticeable. His flat is generally woefully neglected and he doesn't appear to have the means and/or interest to maintain the property well.
I have booked an independent survey for dampness in early-November so am looking forward to my wall being drilled to pieces in the investigation! However, the surveyor has told me that obviously it would be incredibly useful for him to be able to see the condition of the wall from my neighbour's side.
My main concern is that the survey will be inconclusive if this access can't be gained, wasting me a considerable amount of money. Obviously, my neighbour is completely within his rights to let his property run-down if he so wishes, but if all other possibilities are ruled out and the cause of this damp is coming from next door, what are my options in the face of an un-cooperative neighbour?
Many thanks.
Both flats are on the lower ground floor of 3-storey late-Victorian properties and I have problems with damp in our party wall. I am getting circles of damp coming through the wall at a height of about 4 feet from the ground (though the previous owners had slapped vinyl paint and other disguising measures everywhere, leaving it difficult to assess the full extent of the problem).
I have already done the obvious and checked with my upstairs neighbour - there's no obvious source coming from there. The source could be a leak from next door. I believe the water supply pipes to the flats next door do run along the 'suspect' wall.
I have been next door a couple of times, but my neighbour never answers, even when I know he's in. I left a polite and friendly note explaining the situation along with my contact details, but he has never responded. Another neighbour tells me that damp works - I think an injected chemical dpc - were carried out by a previous owner on the property (his, not mine) around 8 years ago, but I know no details.
The only thing I can say is that I don't believe any damp works have been successful as even standing by the front door of his flat the smell of damp is immediately noticeable. His flat is generally woefully neglected and he doesn't appear to have the means and/or interest to maintain the property well.
I have booked an independent survey for dampness in early-November so am looking forward to my wall being drilled to pieces in the investigation! However, the surveyor has told me that obviously it would be incredibly useful for him to be able to see the condition of the wall from my neighbour's side.
My main concern is that the survey will be inconclusive if this access can't be gained, wasting me a considerable amount of money. Obviously, my neighbour is completely within his rights to let his property run-down if he so wishes, but if all other possibilities are ruled out and the cause of this damp is coming from next door, what are my options in the face of an un-cooperative neighbour?
Many thanks.