Damage To My Property From Next Door
Damage To My Property From Next Door
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Discussion

bad company

Original Poster:

21,919 posts

295 months

Friday 21st August 2020
quotequote all
Hope some can help with this.

I live next to a pub. Last week it was raining hard and a damp patch appeared inside our dining room. The problem was caused by a broken gutter on the pub. The publican has agreed to get the gutter fixed though he said he’d ‘get the window cleaner to fix it when he’s next round’. I need to speak with him again to point out the urgency as the rain is damaging my property.

In the absence of any action from the publican should I get the gutter fixed and send the bill to him and should I include the cost of repaying my wall and interior decorations?

anonymous-user

83 months

Friday 21st August 2020
quotequote all
Wouldn't you just get your house insurance involved? The Pub Landlord is just kicking the can down the road.

bad company

Original Poster:

21,919 posts

295 months

Friday 21st August 2020
quotequote all
gottans said:
Wouldn't you just get your house insurance involved? The Pub Landlord is just kicking the can down the road.
Yes I could do that but then I’d have made a claim which means increases in my premium.

Alucidnation

16,810 posts

199 months

Friday 21st August 2020
quotequote all
How close is the pub/gutter to your wall?

bad company

Original Poster:

21,919 posts

295 months

Friday 21st August 2020
quotequote all
Alucidnation said:
How close is the pub/gutter to your wall?
About 3 inches.

Alucidnation

16,810 posts

199 months

Friday 21st August 2020
quotequote all
bad company said:
Alucidnation said:
How close is the pub/gutter to your wall?
About 3 inches.
Wow!

Sounds like you may have a bit of a battle on your hands, so good luck!

bad company

Original Poster:

21,919 posts

295 months

Friday 21st August 2020
quotequote all
Alucidnation said:
Wow!

Sounds like you may have a bit of a battle on your hands, so good luck!
Why do you say it’s a battle. Isn’t the pub liable as they failed to maintain their property?

Alucidnation

16,810 posts

199 months

Friday 21st August 2020
quotequote all
bad company said:
Alucidnation said:
Wow!

Sounds like you may have a bit of a battle on your hands, so good luck!
Why do you say it’s a battle. Isn’t the pub liable as they failed to maintain their property?
It could go either way really.

We have recently had some horrendous weather and so yes, if it hasnt been maintained regularly then it is bound to fail at some point.

Also, unless you live in a cob cottage, your outside wall getting wet should not transfer to the inside skin, unless the cavity has been breached somehow.


dhutch

17,757 posts

226 months

Friday 21st August 2020
quotequote all
Plenty of buildings between a cob cottage and having a cavity, which only become the normal in the 1940-50s.

Pub landlord doesn't have an issue, you do. Not sure what your options are but hopefully can sort it.

bad company

Original Poster:

21,919 posts

295 months

Friday 21st August 2020
quotequote all
I don’t know what a ‘cob cottage’ is. I live in a c500 year old listed, timber framed building.

DoubleD

22,154 posts

137 months

Friday 21st August 2020
quotequote all
Google cob wall

boyse7en

8,178 posts

194 months

Saturday 22nd August 2020
quotequote all
bad company said:
I don’t know what a ‘cob cottage’ is. I live in a c500 year old listed, timber framed building.
What fills in the gaps between the timber frame? Quite likely to be cob

anonymous-user

83 months

Saturday 22nd August 2020
quotequote all
bad company said:
gottans said:
Wouldn't you just get your house insurance involved? The Pub Landlord is just kicking the can down the road.
Yes I could do that but then I’d have made a claim which means increases in my premium.
I would still proceed through your insurance, your problem is proving the Pub Landlord was negligent unless he is going to roll over on this which I doubt.

Sucking up an excess and possible premium rise would for me be the easier option to resolve the issue but YMMV. The Landlord can drag this out and your situation will just keep getting worse and worse, when you finally get the insurance involved they will ask why you didn't get in touch earlier as the damage is much more serious now than it would have been.

dhutch

17,757 posts

226 months

Saturday 22nd August 2020
quotequote all
Does it matter, if the issue is next doors gutter soaking the walls?

I mean if they are mud infill on a timber frame, the likelihood of permanent damage is likely to be far greater than if a solid brick wall.

Don't know what if any leverage you have, if the landlord owner the place or you can speak to the brewery? Likely got plenty on with covid. But it sadly might come to the point where for £200, assuming plastic, your best option is just to offer to get someone to repair their guttering! Tossers.

Daniel

bad company

Original Poster:

21,919 posts

295 months

Saturday 22nd August 2020
quotequote all
gottans said:
I would still proceed through your insurance, your problem is proving the Pub Landlord was negligent unless he is going to roll over on this which I doubt.

Sucking up an excess and possible premium rise would for me be the easier option to resolve the issue but YMMV. The Landlord can drag this out and your situation will just keep getting worse and worse, when you finally get the insurance involved they will ask why you didn't get in touch earlier as the damage is much more serious now than it would have been.
The pub’s owned by a large group https://www.hawthornleisure.com/ . Right now I just want them to fix the gutter to prevent further damage. How long should I give them to fix it, what’s a reasonable time? Then I’m ok with fixing the damp wall myself.

I took this photo from my loft window which looks down on the gutter:-


Alucidnation

16,810 posts

199 months

Saturday 22nd August 2020
quotequote all
Surely you can reach that from there and clip it back in yourself?

Jamescrs

6,381 posts

94 months

Saturday 22nd August 2020
quotequote all
I'd suggesting getting your insurance involved in sorting it, I made a claim on mine 2-3 years ago following a burglary which resulted in emergency repairs to door locks and door and a payout for stolen property and my insurance went up by about £10 come renewal and I've stayed with the same insurer since and makes negligible difference.


bad company

Original Poster:

21,919 posts

295 months

Saturday 22nd August 2020
quotequote all
Jamescrs said:
I'd suggesting getting your insurance involved in sorting it, I made a claim on mine 2-3 years ago following a burglary which resulted in emergency repairs to door locks and door and a payout for stolen property and my insurance went up by about £10 come renewal and I've stayed with the same insurer since and makes negligible difference.
Yes maybe I should make a claim. Trouble is I made a claim in 2017 when a car skidded into the front of my house and didn’t stop. I managed to trace the driver myself (see below) so my insurance company weren’t out of pocket.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

dhutch

17,757 posts

226 months

Saturday 22nd August 2020
quotequote all
Also not a bad call, I did a claim for a few hundred quid for a decent row of ridge tiles when storm Doris too a shine to them. Would never have considered a claim if it where a car, infact on of the times landed in the car and I paid for the repair out of my pocket. But for the house it just paid for it, and no discernable impact at renewal.


Daniel

rfisher

5,063 posts

312 months

Sunday 23rd August 2020
quotequote all
Alucidnation said:
Surely you can reach that from there and clip it back in yourself?
Good grief man - that's a job for a professional with all the correct HSE ticks in his CPE booklet formally appraised and documented with HR.

Think of the children.

Etc.