Scaffolding construction on neighboring property

Hello everyone,

our new prefabricated semi-detached house was erected a few weeks ago and at least partially the construction is progressing further. In our case, we have attached a new (larger) semi-detached house to an existing very old semi-detached house. Our semi-detached house has already been demolished and is now being replaced by the new one. Unfortunately, there were complications during the construction of the basement, so the neighbors have commissioned an expert who is watching us very closely.
Now it is the case that for the roof termination, the connection to the existing building, and also the plastering work, scaffolding must be erected on the neighbors’ side and also on their roof. Initially, this was verbally not a problem for the neighbors, but now the expert has intervened again and wants planning documents, structural safety certificates, a detailed description of the execution of the roof connection, etc. etc.
We have of course passed this on to our prefabricated house company, but we fear that it will take a while until the expert is satisfied, or that such planning documents probably do not exist at all.

What is the situation here? Of course, we want to resolve the whole thing peacefully, but we are slowly wondering whether the full responsibility for the roof termination lies with us, or whether the neighbors should actually be involved in the planning/costs as well? Do the neighbors have the "right" to all the documents, etc.?

Many thanks for your support!

You want to access the neighbors' property? You are tearing down an old semi-detached house? Then you have full responsibility to provide all necessary documents to your neighbors. You want something from your neighbors, and they expect legal certainty in return.

What kind of question is that? You want to use his property. I would also protect myself in that case. Especially if there have already been problems with previous things. The costs are on you and you are also liable if you damage something… even tire tracks on the lawn, etc… He does not have the right to documents. But he also does not have to let you onto his property. So you want/have to deliver the documents.

But he does not have to let you onto his property.

Haven't you heard of the hammering and ladder right?

Yes, but that is always a gray area. And he is still liable. Can't the work be done with a crane or an outrigger? Then the right would be gone. Connection to other property has nothing to do with it either. Here I would also like to know how it is done... In addition, the neighbor could also demand a security deposit...

Well, the situation is not bad for you after all. The neighbor hires a neutral expert who supervises the construction work. It doesn’t get much better than this to ensure that the work is carried out correctly. For you, this provides security and for the neighbor anyway. And if your neighbor also pays the expert, then it is a win-win situation for you. It wouldn’t help you either if defects or damages occur to the neighbor’s house after the construction is completed. I probably would have done it the same way. Especially connections between roofs and walls in semi-detached houses are always points of contention and also come with risks that something might go wrong. So there have already been older semi-detached houses that collapsed because a layman demolition of one half was carried out. Or the gable wall completely collapsed. So I’ve seen some really extreme cases there.