How do I get the scaffolders to take the scaffolding down?
Posted by edgysphinx@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 77 comments
I live in a rental (Bristol) that needed some work done on the roof early December. All work has been completed about 5 weeks ago now and of course the scaffolding has not come down yet. There have been multiple arrangements between them and my landlord and them and myself but every time they did not show up and not bothered to even come up with an excuse most time.
Now the tricky part is, the builder who did the work on the roof is the one who arranged a scaffolder so not even my landlords know who this company is - I saw them putting it up ages ago but they were just in a white van without a company name. It is completely blocking my driveway and I cannot park on it, so I have to find street parking every day which is not that easy in this area.
My question is, how much and what can I do to get rid of it asap? It is a real inconvenience now, and I need it down. I read on some forums that people threaten companies to take them down or they will go through court but since I don't even know the name of the company and am not the owner of the property this would not be viable for me. I am also open to suggestions to having other people take it down and keep, no questions asked as I'm also really annoyed now.
Thanks!
Unable-Acanthaceae-5@reddit
Simple. Text/Email/Carrier pigeon the company the following.
'Great to meet your colleague Patrick earlier RE taking the scaffolding down after all this time. I know I said tomorrow was fine, but can it actually be taken down on Friday [Change day as appropriate] as that would be more convenient for me.
Thanks,
XXXXXXX'
You'll find they'll be round ASAP and it'll be out your way before you know it.
Subbeh@reddit
I'm not sure people are getting the gist of what you're proposing. 😂😂😂
BeatificBanana@reddit
I'm not. Could you explain like I'm an idiot?
ebonycurtains@reddit
They’re pretending that someone (Patrick) has come round and said he’s from the company, but the company will know that they’ve not sent Patrick round. So the company will assume that Patrick is going to steal the scaffolding. So the company will come and get it before Patrick can steal it. In reality there is no Patrick.
The flaw in this plan is that OP cannot contact the scaffolding company as they have stated multiple times in their post.
bacon_cake@reddit
There's also a reason they chose that name and it's a joke that's been done to death.
ebonycurtains@reddit
Can you elaborate?
Will1760@reddit
Irish name, Irish travellers. Part of the joke is there is a stereotype that they steal.
AraedTheSecond@reddit
Isn't necessarily accurate?
Fuckin really?!
Slothjitzu@reddit
Isn't it?
ToManyTabsOpen@reddit
It's a popular name in certain communities who have a reputation for working in grey areas of the law.
LegendEater@reddit
It's just a terrible idea in context. The only people OP can contact are in the same boat as them when it comes to knowledge of who the scaffolders are.
MisterrTickle@reddit
Also the scaffolding needs a weekly inspection to confirm that it's safe. So the local council/HSE will be interested. The scaffies are just using OPs house as free storage, until they get an other job the needs it.
Dissidant@reddit
And advertising.. I'd be surprised if they didn't leave their information up on it
OccidentalTouriste@reddit
I contacted HSE last summer when confronted with a similar issue and they told me it was nothing to do with them as long as it was dormant and not in use and instead to try and contact the local Council's building control.
Tao626@reddit
Does "kids keep playing on it" count as in use?
OccidentalTouriste@reddit
I tried that in my response to theirs. No joy with that either. I had thought about giving some kids a fiver each to climb it and then photograph them but before that came to pass my Involuntary bailee letter bore fruit.
MisterrTickle@reddit
I see you know your Torts (Interference With Goods) Act 1977 well.
OccidentalTouriste@reddit
I tried everything from CAB (useless), HSE (useless), Council (useless), Help the Aged (useless) before the Letter before Action gained some traction. Scaffolder responded to that but said he was going on holiday for six weeks. I wished him a pleasant trip and told him I'd keep the balance of the sale minus costs for him to collect on his return.
IWishIWasAHorseMan@reddit
Did you read the post?
FlorianTheLynx@reddit
Cool idea, if OP knew who the scaffolding company was.
PM-me-your-cuppa-tea@reddit
&
pelvviber@reddit
At the moment you are storing the scaffolding for the company. They will only come out and dismantle it when they need to put it up elsewhere. 🤷🏾♂️
CoffeeIgnoramus@reddit
Search the sub or the r/LegalAdviceUK. This has come up before. But basically (from memory, not direct fact) you have to give the scaffolders a warning that you need it to come down or you will get it removed (I guess through your builder by the sound of it) and then state a reasonable timeframe and then you can just get rid. Usually pushing them to come get it.
You are essentially just storage for their equipment according to some responses I read on the past posts.
redpanda0108@reddit
I think I read a post where someone essentially sold it on really cheaply because the builders had left it for months. Then the original company freaked out at them but they'd given them multiple warnings.
OccidentalTouriste@reddit
You have to go down the involuntary bailee route and give them a reasonable deadline to remove it after which you can dispose of it but have to retain any money you made from selling it on minus any costs incurred in doing so.
edgysphinx@reddit (OP)
How long would that take?
OccidentalTouriste@reddit
I gave them two weeks notice via letter stating I was giving them notice of my intent to have the scaffolding taken down and sold if they didn't take it down by the given date. They started calling me once they received the letter spouting nonsense that he was going on holiday for the next six weeks and would deal with the issue on his return. I wished him a happy holiday but told him the deadline stood. I ignored his texts and calls for the next three or four days before he agreed to come and get it the following Monday which he did. The whole process took about four weeks from me first asking them to collect it. I tried Citizens Advice, HSE, Council and Help the Aged I was acting for an elderly relative) all of whom were less than useless. Searching around the Net and Reddit led me to the concept of Involuntary Bailee and a letter before Action.
edgysphinx@reddit (OP)
Is there like an official letter template you need to send or anything that sounds formal-ish that clearly states your rights?
OccidentalTouriste@reddit
I found something online by Googling 'scaffolding involuntary bailee'.
Laxly@reddit
Doesn't help now, but don't pay the invoice until scaffolding is removed. If you're having scaffolding there quotes usually say "installation and removal of scaffolding", well if it's not removed the work isn't completed so no monies due yet.
CoffeeIgnoramus@reddit
I believe (again, this is from memory, not factual info or advice) that it's because the homeowner is essentially treating it as abandoned, but that can only be the case if they have tried every reasonable way to get the owners to remove it first.
SarkyMs@reddit
But they don’t know who the scaffolder is
mij8907@reddit
Then they tell the builder who they have the contract with
edgysphinx@reddit (OP)
I have recently obtained builder's number, who is now ignoring my texts and leaving me on read. He is also ignoring my landlord's calls and texts
mij8907@reddit
Then you can start following the process necessary to remove the scaffolding from the property
Search on Google for being an involuntary bailie you need to give reasonable notice to the builder that you plan to remove and dispose of the scaffolding companies property and if you sell it you need to give the money to them less anything you deduct for reasonable costs
edgysphinx@reddit (OP)
Can I be involuntary bailee or is that my landlords?
mij8907@reddit
It would make it easier to go through your landlord as they had the agreement for the work to be done
If your landlord doesn’t want to help you could try posting that question in the legal advice sub, I don’t know exactly how it works and wouldn’t want to tell you the wrong thing
colin_staples@reddit
Who their Landlord has the contract with
OP needs to keep badgering the landlord.
CoffeeIgnoramus@reddit
I understand, but the builder does which is why I suggested to do it through the builder :)
SarkyMs@reddit
I think you made a typo you said contact the scaffolders.
TheDawiWhisperer@reddit
They're using your house to store the scaffolding until it's needed elsewhere.
They'll turn up and collect it when they have another use for it
ozz9955@reddit
Can you get the builders number? Ring them up, get the number of the scaffolder, and then arrange it direct with them.
edgysphinx@reddit (OP)
Would be great if the builder was answering his calls and texts. He is obviously protecting them in this case must be his mates, it's all looking dodgy tbf
No-Jicama-6523@reddit
Sounds like you need to ask the builder who did the scaffolding before following through with the other ideas.
edgysphinx@reddit (OP)
I've been sending texts all day, he is just leaving me on read. He is doing the same to my landlords, not picking up to their calls
thepopmonkey@reddit
All scaffholding should display the name of the company that errected it including their telephone number.
edgysphinx@reddit (OP)
There is no information on scaffolding at all. Just a note saying last safety inspection 5th Jan which is a sunday lol - was home all day, no one came and did any inspection. They must have written that in advance
ThereAndFapAgain2@reddit
Personally, I'd go through the builder one last time, and if they don't come, I'd just take the shit down myself lol.
Probably not what most people would do, but taking down scaffolding is an easy job even on your own.
dwair@reddit
Get yourself a scaffold spanner from screwfix for a few quid if it's only to 2 stories. Start at the top and take it down yourself. It's not at all hard. Pile it up on the pavement and it will be gone quite quickly.
feetflatontheground@reddit
I would tell them that if it's not gone by a certain date that it would become mine, and that I intend to sell it.
They're using your place as storage. They want to move it from there to the next job, but there is no next job yet.
R2-Scotia@reddit
I can see you no longer need this scaffolding, so I found a buyer for it. Cheers.
MisterrTickle@reddit
Under the Torts (Interference With Goods) Act 1977, OP would have to give 14-28 days notice. And you don't want to piss off scaffolders, they tend to be the biggest and strongest of all of the builders and tend to have a long criminal record.
just_jason89@reddit
And they're normally taking drugs that not even the police know about yet and performance enhancers designed for horses.
YouCantThinkStraight@reddit
it's funny because this isn't actually far off the truth. damn i miss being a scaff
1minormishapfrmchaos@reddit
Tell them you’ll give them a few days/week then it’s going on MarketPlace free to collect.
ElusiveDoodle@reddit
Ask your landlord for a rent reduction while you are living with the inconvenience of the scaffolding.
That should get things moving.
justbiteme2k@reddit
Exactly this. You've rented a property with parking, the landlord isn't providing you with the parking you're paying for. Find one of those "rent your driveway" websites, screenshot the nearest driveway and costs and explain this is the reduction your looking for.
In essence, make this the landlords problem, he instructed the builders, they'll know the scaffolders.
HardAtWorkISwear@reddit
You'll get a lot of comments telling you to trick them by making out someone came to arrange to take it away. Don't do this. They've heard it before, and almost certainly won't fall for it.
The simple fact of the matter is that your property is being used as storage until they need it again. We had a similar issue and got it (eventually) sorted by having to be a bit of a Karen with our landlord.
The landlord arranged to have work done on the roof, and hired a builder who subcontracted the scaffolding, much like your own situation. I forget how long it took before we'd had enough, but it felt like a long time.
We ended up sending near daily emails to the landlord asking for updates and complaining, who then put pressure on the builder in an effort to get a quiet life, who then put pressure on the scaffolders to keep a good business relationship with the landlord.
I will say though, this annoys the scaffolders so they don't take much care of your property when they're removing the stuff. We had broken plant pots and damaged drain pipe brackets thanks to them. We fixed these things ourselves as we'd heard scaffolders can be nutters so decided it wasn't worth it since we'd just got rid.
cloud1445@reddit
You can write them a letter saying if they don't come and take it you will consider it your property and put it in storage. This is what a lawyer friend did and they came and took it sharpish.
They'll keep it at yours as long as they can as it's essentially free storage, so don't worry about playing hardball with them.
colin_staples@reddit
How is OP going to write a letter?
cloud1445@reddit
To the builder via the landlord.
thefooleryoftom@reddit
Write who a letter?
cloud1445@reddit
The builders. They must've known it would get them onto trouble with the scaffolders.
thefooleryoftom@reddit
He doesn’t know who the builders or scaffolders are, though, which I think is the issue.
cloud1445@reddit
I think the issue is he can track a link through the landlords to the builders, but not the scaffolders no?
thefooleryoftom@reddit
From what he says, he doesn’t have any information, but he’s not clear. But yeah, tracking them back through the various entities involved would seem to be the way to go.
colin_staples@reddit
There are several points here:
So:
Also, go and ask on r/LegalAdviceUK
ProduceAdvanced7391@reddit
Scaffolders do what they want when they want. At some point they will need it for another job nearby. Don't forget they don't get paid for taking it down
Spiritual_Skirt1760@reddit
Common issue with scaffolding...its not removed until required for new job....saves storage.
IhaveaDoberman@reddit
Pay for a scaffolding job at another location and hope that they use that lot. And not aome they're storing by leaving it up at another building.
Cause that's why they leave it, free storage.
Boldboy72@reddit
They're using your place to store it until they need it. I'd tell the council who'd probably have it removed. Failing that, I'd get a mate to help me take it down and store it carefully (it's not your property so don't lose it or damage it).
Or, claim it to be abandoned and threaten to sell it for scrap. They'll collect it real quick after that.
Basso_69@reddit
They're just using the property as free storage. Write them once and say that as of [48 hours] storage fees will apply of £100/day+VAT. Failure to reply or remove their property will be deemed acceptance by acquiescance.
Attach an invoice dated the start date (48 hrs away) for 5 days storage payable to...
It will be gone by 10am next day.
mij8907@reddit
Check out the concept of being an involuntary bailie, there are steps you need to take before you can legally arrange the removal and disposal of the scaffolding
Ruadhan2300@reddit
If nobody knows who the scaffolders were and the builder is unreachable, then in your (or your landlord's) shoes I'd reach out to a local scaffolder and ask if they can come and take it away.
Might even be the same scaffolding company, but if you're a builder and don't arrange to have the scaffolding removed.. that's kinda on you if people take steps to resolve it.
If someone complains, give them the builder's number :P
ApesApesApes@reddit
Just call up a few local firms, either you will get lucky and find the one that put it up or some other rival firm will come and take it away because 'Hey! free scaffold!'.
DrMangosteen2@reddit
You need to make it your landlords problem. Bug then about it till they get it sorted
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