If he's away and not often home, ask yourself how often he's likely to go up into his loft space, is he aware of the absence of a firewall, and would he or anyone else notice if one suddenly appeared in his absence.
In article <qbp2kh$3bi$ snipped-for-privacy@dont-email.me, Darren Chapman snipped-for-privacy@raven.kent.ac.uk> scribeth thus
When we did the one i referred to we didn't bother asking the neighbours it could all and was all done from our side. It was a bit tight to get it all in there but a couple of young fit men did it.
In answer to the previous enquiry I don't recall them putting anything specialist in they just used mortar to seal it.
I do remember a more industrial building that we split in half last year using sheets of plasterboard and IIRC a light steel pressed sort of joist type frame and they did use a gun applied mastic sealant on that one..
Neighbours normally don't agree to your works, if they do they have to pay their share and for their solicitor.
NT
IME
(a) neighbours often do agree to Party Wall Act works - with or without a surveyor; (b) if they agree they don't /have/ to pay anything if they don't want to - even if they may gain some benefit from the work; and (c) PWA 'surveyors'[1] are usually chartered surveyors, structural engineers, architects or others with construction qualifications (and insurance to match). Some lawyers specialise in PWA work but I've yet to come across one who dons a hard hat and boots.
[1] the Act requires no qualification: a surveyor is just " any person not being a party to the matter appointed or selected under section 10 to determine disputes in accordance with the procedures set out in this Act."Of course it may be they may do things differently where you are.
Have you written to him - by post? Would be careless of him to have no way to receive things such as a summons for speeding while away.
One buggeration is that it's always a good idea as a part of any work on a party wall to get photos of the neighbour's property before starting so you have a record of pre-existing cracks etc.
Bugger, I forgot
(d) if PWA surveyors are appointed the person who wants the work done must pay for them all - which in worst case is 3 (own, neighbour's and a third surveyor who decides iof the first 2 can't agree). The neighbours pay nothing.
Not expecting him to pay tbh. I need to sort this (and having seen it, I want to!) but I also don't really want to piss off my new neighbour if I can help it, hence why I'd like to get his go ahead is possible.
Cheers,
Darren
No, not yet. I don't own the house yet - just got the mortgage offer and the survey sorted, and this has raised this issue.
I know he is away most of the time as I'm currently the tennant in the place - my landlord is selling up. He has agreed a decent price and has agreed not to put the place on the market and give me notice, but he isn't willing to pay any more (I'm happy with this, getting it for a decent price anyway).
Yes, I've considered just doing it. When I thought it was a small area missing I was up for that, and would probably do it myself. Now it's clear that it's more than that I think I'll need to get someone in. I can do a bit in the loft, but that level of building work in a hot loft isn't going to work with my asthma :-(
Will he ever notice if I just do it? No idea. Would he care? Probably not. I'm putting all my cash into this (wasn't planning on buying just yet, but couldn't pass up the chance!) so I'd rather not end up in a drawn out legal battle. Also, would quite like to get on with him the few days a year he is around!
Cheers,
Darren
yeah, that's tempting, and would be a lot easier given his unknown whereabouts!
Feels wrong though, and possibly risky :-(
Ok, that's good to know. cheers,
Darren
Putting in a larger loft hatch isn't abig job. Even easier if you use one of the pre-made ones.
That'd probably be what I'd look at. You don't need any structural strength, just something to stop fire spreading easily. Single skin would probably be all you need too, but I don't know what the regulations actually require.
SteveW
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