My sister has a long-standing problem with her neighbour in a semi-detatched cottage. The neighbour is renovating their half of the building and has dug down to one brick above soil level to improve headroom in the room. The footing is 6 bricks deep onto undisturbed soil, built in the 19th century.
The party wall is now heaving and distorting her house, so much so that the front door doesn’t open and the window on the front elevation is badly distorted. The flints facing the wall are dropping off.
My sister would like to know if anyone could recommend a good property lawyer because it’s got beyond negotiation. (Neighbours have ignored the last two visits recommendations from building control). She also needs a good structural engineer.
Previous problems have involved the shared water supply being turned off one weekend and then a flood because the plumber was ignored.
This is in the Ely area

that sounds like a pretty bad situation to be in 🙁

Maybe talk to the council buildings officer about anyone local they’ve dealt with?

Surprised the council aren’t taking enforcement action themselves, tbh.

Edit also contact her insurance comapny – she may be askign them to sort it out and they’ll want someone to sue for the costs.

Sorry I can’t help with any local recommendations but have a look into the Party wall act

not my area legally or geographically but i know this is actionable. She needs to contact her building insurers asap they have a right to be informed and may well fund legal action . not notifying her insurers may affect her cover.

This might not be much help but you can look for property law specialist solicitors through the Law Society website: http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/choosingandusing/findasolicitor.law

get on the blower to insurers ASAP

Just had a similar situation…

I own a flat. Freeholder of the building dug out the foundations to put a new property in the basement. My flat has cracks in every lounge wall. Here’s what I learnt:

1. I spent £300 getting a structural survey done which confirmed the cracks were a result of the works. Worth doing for piece of mind.

2. I spent £500 on legal letters that he ignored. However he has since said he will “put right” all works. There is no timeframe for him to do this. Waste of time.

3. He should have issued a party wall notice before commencing the works. this would have given us chance to appeal. He didn’t. This is a legal requirement although council have since told me more and more people don’t bother. Read up on party wall notice.

4. I could have taken him to court to get his works stopped as he’d failed to issue this notice but it would have cost £3k approx to take it to court. I had the money but it was allocated for my wedding so I didn’t because…

5. You only get monies refunded if they are found liable and they go over £5k.

Current situation is we still have cracks. He said he will fix them but has no timeframe to do it. The report I had done suggests plaster needs knocking off but unless I go legal he can just fill the cracks. Whole things a mess really.

I contacted insurers but once they knew the report said no serious structural issues, just slippage they weren’t interested.

My next step I think btw is citizens advice

She’s phoning the insurance today. I’ll send her the link to this thread.

Sandwich – mail me. My sister’s a property litigator.

The whole thing for me Sandwich is a complete pain in the arse. I’ve done nothing but I’m £800 down and have no means of pressuring to get my flat fixed. Joke really. If I can be of any help – chat on the phone etc just drop me a message.

It’ll likely be beyond CAB, contact insurers and go to a lawyers if nec.

I’m sure someone on here know’s a builder who’s girlfriend is a property lawyer?

I’m sure someone on here know’s a builder who’s girlfriend is a property lawyer?

hahaha! Yeah, someone send her a text or three hundred.

Sisters husband is a builder!!
OMITN you’ll have mail in a minute