Quick question about neighbour providing access for party wall surveyor

[Scam]

(This is regarding us converting our loft with a dormer on a terraced house)

The landlord next door has advised that his loft is sealed shut with screws and according to emails that our party wall surveyor has passed on, was asking about whether or not we'd reimburse him for potential costs for redecorating (!) once the surveyor has gone up there to document the party wall area. Our surveyor already replied and said he would not be interested in gaining access himself e.g. he wouldn't be turning up with a tradesperson, and if he is not granted access then he simply cannot document anything from that side on his survey and it wont be noted on his survey.

We have a call with the landlord in an hour, I suspect this is what he wants to talk about.

Bearing in mind we want to keep him onside and not go off and seek the services of another surveyor.. what would you be saying to him? Jog on? Either he gives our surveyor access in an appropriate way, or the surveyor simply doesn't look at it right?

Thoughts?

 

[Deleted User 298457]

Why would the surveyor need loft access?

Why are you talking to the Landlord? It is the entire reason you hire a PWS, so you don't have to be involved.

 

[Quartz]

It should only be a hatch so no big deal. If it costs you £100, so what?

 

[Mercenary Keyboard Warrior]

He doesnt want you going up there
Its where the last party wall surveyor is (was) kept

 

[Scam]

It should only be a hatch so no big deal. If it costs you £100, so what?

Why should I pay for it? If he wants to document and protect his property then surely getting off his arse and giving the surveyor access is kinda necessary? He needs to provide reasonable access. The surveyor already said if he can’t get access then it just won’t be documented. Therefore if he thinks we’ve caused damage he won’t be able to prove it. The surveyor going round and documenting the state of his loft is for his benefit, not ours.

I’m not entirely sure why unscrewing screws the get into a loft hatch would cause any damage anyway, it’s a bit much to suggest we’d need to pay for redecoration straight off the bat, no?

 

[Semple]

Why should I pay for it? If he wants to document and protect his property then surely getting off his arse and giving the surveyor access is kinda necessary? He needs to provide reasonable access. The surveyor already said if he can’t get access then it just won’t be documented. Therefore if he thinks we’ve caused damage he won’t be able to prove it. The surveyor going round and documenting the state of his loft is for his benefit, not ours.

I’m not entirely sure why unscrewing screws the get into a loft hatch would cause any damage anyway, it’s a bit much to suggest we’d need to pay for redecoration straight off the bat, no?

Is the PWS part of the call?

I guess ultimately you need to reiterate that the PWS doing a survey is for his benefit not yours. If anything appears damaged after you've had your construction works done then he won't have the proof that it was your construction works that caused the damage. He might not like the way you put that, but i guess at the end of the day that's his choice to make.

 

[Scam]

Is the PWS part of the call?

He had spoken to the landlord previously but seen as the landlord wanted to charge us for opening up his loft, he suggested we speak directly.

Anyway, just got off. That was slightly tense. A few niceties to begin with, as expected he couldn't resist telling us that his family owned the row of 6-7 houses on the road (including ours) for generations. (We didn't buy our house from them, there was another owner inbetween). We played along, saying how we were interested in the history etc. But he came across exactly as expected, high and mighty, complained the surveyor had written to his parents address (duh, it's their address on the land registry what do you expect ) and pulling up minor quibbles in the surveyors paperwork. He also wanted to make sure the steel wouldn't cause any damage (well duh)..

In the end we felt like he was basically threatening that unless we pay for the tradesman to come and sort out the loft hatch, he'd go and get himself another surveyor which would obviously cost us way more. (He never said that, but he kept saying how he knows the process). So we said to send over the quotes, we'd take a look, confirm back to him and then he can confirm back that he's happy to go ahead with our surveyor. I did put him on the spot and ask him to essentially confirm that ("if we sort out access for our surveyor is your intention to go ahead and use him as well") so yeah. God landlords are such tools aren't they. Hopefully that's all we hear from him.

 

[bJN]

The PWS is to provide a benefit to him. If he doesn't want said party going up there then it's nothing to you, just make him aware that you won't entertain any future claims for damages as he can't prove it. You're trying to protect his interest, not do him over.

 

[Scam]

The PWS is to provide a benefit to him. If he doesn't want said party going up there then it's nothing to you, just make him aware that you won't entertain any future claims for damages as he can't prove it. You're trying to protect his interest, not do him over.

But if you were in his position wouldn't you just choose another surveyor who could then bill into his rates the cost of getting into the loft + probably another £1500 for usual cost. That is the worry.

 

[Deleted User 298457]

The PWS is to provide a benefit to him. If he doesn't want said party going up there then it's nothing to you, just make him aware that you won't entertain any future claims for damages as he can't prove it. You're trying to protect his interest, not do him over.

The innocent neighbor should bear absolutely no costs whatsoever. This is jack all to do with them.

 

[Semple]

The innocent neighbor should bear absolutely no costs whatsoever. This is jack all to do with them.

Whilst I don't disagree, how do you then protect that neighbour from costs if they won't allow a PWS to assess the condition.

Frankly I find it a little strange they've screwed shut access to the loft. What happens if the roof springs a leak?

Are you sure your neighbour doesn't have a grow farm up there....

 

[Deleted User 298457]

Whilst I don't disagree, how do you then protect that neighbour from costs if they won't allow a PWS to assess the condition.

Frankly I find it a little strange they've screwed shut access to the loft. What happens if the roof springs a leak?

Are you sure your neighbour doesn't have a grow farm up there....

Well precisely, but there is where the PWS has lost his backbone, or the landlord has an agenda (in that he wants to hire his own PWS). Unfortunately Scam will have to play ball and cover the decorating costs, or let the landlord hire his own PWS. OR call his bluff on the latter.

 

[Scam]

Whilst I don't disagree, how do you then protect that neighbour from costs if they won't allow a PWS to assess the condition.

Frankly I find it a little strange they've screwed shut access to the loft. What happens if the roof springs a leak?

Are you sure your neighbour doesn't have a grow farm up there....

To your first point, he will just appoint his own PWS. Which would cost us far more.

As for screwing the loft shut, yeah it's very odd. But landlords gonna landlord. It was probably cheaper than installing a hatch with ladders at the time...

 

[a1ex2001]

Well precisely, but there is where the PWS has lost his backbone, or the landlord has an agenda (in that he wants to hire his own PWS). Unfortunately Scam will have to play ball and cover the decorating costs, or let the landlord hire his own PWS. OR call his bluff on the latter.

It’s not a scam why should the neighbour pay for a lift hatch for an inspection he wouldn’t need if someone wasn’t doing a lift conversion? He shouldn’t be out of pocket any reasonable costs and I can see how that would legitimately include cutting a loft hatch.

 

[Deleted User 298457]

It’s not a scam why should the neighbour pay for a lift hatch for an inspection he wouldn’t need if someone wasn’t doing a lift conversion? He shouldn’t be out of pocket any reasonable costs and I can see how that would legitimately include cutting a loft hatch.

He doesn't, but if landlord then decided to play games it can cost Scam considerably more. Landlord is entitled to ask for a separate independent PWS for fun.

Edit: misread your post
Edit2: his name is Scam I wasn't saying Scam

 

[a1ex2001]

He doesn't, but if landlord then decided to play games it can cost Scam considerably more. Landlord is entitled to ask for a separate independent PWS for fun.

Edit: misread your post
Edit2: his name is Scam I wasn't saying Scam

Lol I hadn’t spotted that was the OP’s name!

 

[Semple]

To your first point, he will just appoint his own PWS. Which would cost us far more.

But that wouldn't get around the "no damages to loft hatch bit". So unless the landlord charges you for his own PWS but then has to pay out of his own pocket to make good any damages whilst doing the inspection.

I'm pretty certain if his own PWS creates damage during the survey he can't pass those costs on to you.

It sounds like he's being overly awkward about it.

 

[200sols]

He doesnt want you going up there
Its where the last party wall surveyor is (was) kept

Can we all just step back and appreciate this post.

 

[mickyflinn]

Ask the surveyor or whoever is accessing the loft to take before and after pics/Video.

 

[Scam]

It’s not a scam why should the neighbour pay for a lift hatch for an inspection he wouldn’t need if someone wasn’t doing a lift conversion? He shouldn’t be out of pocket any reasonable costs and I can see how that would legitimately include cutting a loft hatch.

Well firstly, I've now seen a picture of the hatch. It is a hatch, it's just screwed on. So we're going to pay for some tradesman to come round, unscrew the screws, let the PWS do his job, then screw the screws back on. I can't imagine any "redecorating" will be needed and calling it that is just ludicrous.

But that wouldn't get around the "no damages to loft hatch bit". So unless the landlord charges you for his own PWS but then has to pay out of his own pocket to make good any damages whilst doing the inspection.

I'm pretty certain if his own PWS creates damage during the survey he can't pass those costs on to you.

It sounds like he's being overly awkward about it.

Most PWS only ask for "reasonable" access. If it's not accessible then it doesn't get noted on the survey. Our surveyor told the landlord that. And if there's any damage relating to the work, the landlord won't have much to stand on because nothing was documented. However you and I know that what is more likely is that the landlord will just say that he will take on his own PWS, for whom we have to pay. Yes, there won't be a line about the loft hatch, but (a) the cost of an additional PWS will be far more and (b) the PWS could probably just add 2-3hrs work or whatever the landlord asks him to, to make us indirectly pay for it. There's nothing we could do about that.

But yes, you're correct. Of course he's being awkward. More than that, he's being an entitled landlord ****

Ask the surveyor or whoever is accessing the loft to take before and after pics/Video.

We're perfectly friendly with the tenant and have been round for drinks etc. The landlord can't stop us being present if invited by the tenant, so I will 100% be there with my arms folded, noting times, confirming line items we're being charged for etc. and I will definitely take pictures (as long as the tenant is cool with that, I'm sure he will be).

It's just a nonsense. Must not get annoyed because as others said it'll hopefully only be a couple £hundred but honestly it's just throwing away money because some moron landlord is involved...