Solar problem

[lynx]

I'm hoping someone can help point me in the right direction. Our neighbours asked for a party wall agreement when they were having their extension. We agreed. They have built right up the boundary between our properties. We are semi detached so I didn't see a problem as we were already joined. Now we are having an extension to create a third bedroom. Work started on the 11th September this year. Our neighbours have installed solar panels on the 17/18 sept this year on the roof right next to where our roof needs to go and these are preventing our builder accessing the party wall to install our roof. Neighbours have refused us access to the party wall to fit our roof. They say the panels can not be removed. Our works have now stalled. Our neighbours eaves and guttering are over the boundary as are the solar panels. Can anyone here please give me some advice. We are having work done down stairs that can't be completed until the roof is on so we are now living in a shell without our kitchen and dining room with my 6yr old son and 8yr old daughter who need their own rooms. 

[ProDave]

Can you post some pictures so the issue makes sense?

[saveasteading]

1 hour ago, lynx said:

Our neighbours eaves and guttering are over the boundary 

That is wrong and needs sorting. Was there a surveyor involved in the PWA?

It's their job to resolve this.

It will likely  be unpleasant but you are not the culprit. Let the preofessional deal with it, and i trust the fees will go to the neighbour too.

[SteamyTea]

Generally PV modules cannot overhang a roof, they usually have to be set back 200mm from an edge.

 

Check your house insurance, sometimes it covers legal disputes with neighbours.

[lynx]

The red brick wall is the party wall and the boundary runs from the middle of the chimney. The gray blocks are our new bedroom wall. 

[ProDave]

This situation should not be a "surprise" now.  Clearly it has been like that since the neighbour built their extension.  WHY was the issue not raised then?

 

And given the roof and panels overhang, your PW surveyor surely has negotiated a solution?

 

What do your plans show as how the roof of the 2 extensions are proposed to join?  I am guessing you are proposing some form of valley gutter with the valley on the party line, which WILL involve moving or removing the bottom row of panels.

 

Time for you or your PW surveyor to get tough on the trespass of the offending parts of the roof and panels.

[Redbeard]

11 hours ago, lynx said:

Our neighbours asked for a party wall agreement when they were having their extension. We agreed.

 

You don't go on to say that *you* have a party wall agreement for your works. Have you?

 

Whatever the current situation you need PW advice. I don't know how it complicates matters if you have to invoke the PW Act after you have started but for reasons stated by others above you need to, I think.

[scottishjohn]

seems to me this is a problem you brought on your self by not keeping them to the boundary in the fist place 

good luck 

 

[Russell griffiths]

8 minutes ago, scottishjohn said:

seems to me this is a problem you brought on your self by not keeping them to the boundary in the fist place 

good luck 

 

Yep.