Electric Cable running across Garden

[Paula]

Hello
Looking for a bit of advice.
I live in a flat and the upstairs neighbours had an unarmoured electric cable running from their house down the property wall and across my pathway. I asked them to look at it as live and unarmoured and they got someone in who has put armoured cabling in directly from their flat to their shed. The new cable now runs through the air across my garden and is a complete eye sore. Would the electrician fitting it have assumed they had saught my consent before installing this new cable and can iI ask them to remove it?

 

[Spoon]

Do you own the garden or is it a 'shared' garden?
If it is yours then they would have to ask you your permission to run the cable over your property.

 

[Squid]

Whats in the lease?

 

[Pete999]

Hello
Looking for a bit of advice.
I live in a flat and the upstairs neighbours had an unarmoured electric cable running from their house down the property wall and across my pathway. I asked them to look at it as live and unarmoured and they got someone in who has put armoured cabling in directly from their flat to their shed. The new cable now runs through the air across my garden and is a complete eye sore. Would the electrician fitting it have assumed they had saught my consent before installing this new cable and can iI ask them to remove it?

An armoured cable suspended, how long is the span from here it leaves the building to the Shed, has the " electrician"
Installed a support cable as well? for someone who is non electrical the support cable should be a Steele wire referred to as a Catenary wire, from where I am sitting it seems like a job from bill down the Pub. Yes he should have asked you if it was OK to traverse your Garden in my opinion.

 

[DPG]

Can you post a couple of photos?

 

[Pete999]

Can you post a couple of photos?

Good call Mate. Preferably of where it leaves the building and where it enters the Shed.

 

[Paula]

Do you own the garden or is it a 'shared' garden?
If it is yours then they would have to ask you your permission to run the cable over your property.

Do you own the garden or is it a 'shared' garden?
If it is yours then they would have to ask you your permission to run the cable over your property.

Its my own garden

 

[Paula]

Its about 7 meters in length from where it leaves the building to the shed. There was an old cable there before that ran across my path (un armoured) and pre-dated me moving in which I asked them to get looked at as a hazard dangling inches above my head, but now this has been put in without my consent.

 

[DPG]

They should have asked permission in my opinion. I also think it would be better with a vertical post at the shed end to raise that end a few feet.

Do you get on with the neighbours? Can you approach them?

 

[Spoon]

That doesn't look like 3.5 meters off the ground to me..


708.521.1.2 Overhead distribution circuits
All overhead conductors shall be insulated.
Poles and other supports for overhead wiring shall be located or protected so that they are unlikely to be damaged
by any foreseeable vehicle movement.
Overhead conductors shall be at a height above ground of not less than 6 m in all areas subject to vehicle movement
and 3.5 m in all other areas.

 

[Moaz]

Looks like someone who had no idea what they're doing did the job. It might aswell be a telephone line.

 

[Paula]

I've asked the neighbours to move it. They were understandably not very happy having spent money getting this new cable put in. No confirmation this will be done yet. I don't mind if it comes along and down the wall and is then dug under the path into their garden but I really can't have it where it is.

 

[Paula]

Its probably 2-2.5 M from the ground where it joins the shed

 

[Octopus]

Who is the free holder? And what does your lease asst about this sort of stuff?

Also goggle wayleave

 

[Squid]

Where is there shed in next doors garden or do they also have a garden adjacent to yours, that install is wrong and is on or in your property, I'd get them to move if as it could easily get damaged and may cause you issues.

 

[Midwest]

Putting the electrical questions to one side; your clearly not happy with it (who would be), I would get some legal advice, Citizen Advice Bureau would be a starting point.

I'm with SWD, curious to know the set up here; your ground floor flat, neighbour is 1st floor flat, and they have a shed in an adjacent property?

 

[sparksfly]

I agree with the above posts...it would have been better using either a post or dug underground (its gravel after all)..it looks like its been cut too short !! As for the electrician, he/she may have assumed all was agreed beforehand. If that was the case, the neighbour should cough up to have it rerouted via jcn box and join the extra cable length required.

 

[Midwest]

'Don't care how its done, you're not running a cable across, through or on my property to power up your shed'.

 

[Moaz]

'Don't care how its done, you're not running a cable across, through or on my property to power up your shed'.

Or I'll cut the SWA with plastic scissors!!

 

[Paula]

There are 3 flats and we are all freeholders of each property (old converted house). The lease doesn't detail - just says all responsible to maintain cables etc for our property. However it has been implemented across my private garden.

The flat upstairs has a garden behind mine reached by a walkway at the side of the building so this is the most direct route to run a cable, however it could be run from the side of the house and along their private path into their garden.

Big thanks for everyone for their advice )

 

[Moaz]

Or you could just improvise and use it as a clothes hanger line. Haha

 

[Paula]

haha i might string some bunting across it

 

[Pete999]

Looks like there is some sort of catenary wire, but kie the others not 3.5m obove ground, if you don't mind them burying the cable then suggest that to them.

 

[Midwest]

There are 3 flats and we are all freeholders of each property (old converted house). The lease doesn't detail - just says all responsible to maintain cables etc for our property. However it has been implemented across my private garden.

The flat upstairs has a garden behind mine reached by a walkway at the side of the building so this is the most direct route to run a cable, however it could be run from the side of the house and along their private path into their garden.

Big thanks for everyone for their advice )

Do think you need to seek legal advice, we can only offer advice on the installation. From experience, one question, you might get asked is who granted permission for the original installation. Any access required by yourself or neighbours to carry out maintenance on respective properties has to be declared in conveyancing and/or title deeds.

 

[Octopus]

Did they consult you before it was installed?

 

[Pete999]

Ask your neighbour for a copy of the Electrical Installation Certificate, EIC, that will make his bum go sixpence, shilling, half a crown, cus pound to a pinch of the brown stuff he aint got one and as it crosses your land?????? it could cause you harm if it fell down and injured someone, then the brown stuff would be doing aerobatics.

 

[littlespark]

Steel catenary wire onto a wooden shed? Not very secure. Never mind the electricity, permissions and lack of height.
One day the fixing of the cat wire will come free of the wood.
What have they got in there anyway? Just a light I bet.
The neighbours will be ignorant of any regulations, and its just polite to ask permission first.
Sounds like the 'electrician' is ignorant of the regs too.

 

[Wilko]

If they've their own path to the shed that's what they should've used for underground cable first time round I'd have thought (?).

 

[Pete999]

o

Its about 7 meters in length from where it leaves the building to the shed. There was an old cable there before that ran across my path (un armoured) and pre-dated me moving in which I asked them to get looked at as a hazard dangling inches above my head, but now this has been put in without my consent.

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Your neighbour sounds like a bit of a dork, me I would stick it to him big time, make him sweat, what an idiot to think he could get away with doing that, take him to task Paula, good job I aint in the vicinity, old as I am.

 

[Paula]

So I gave them access to the garden for someone to come and have a look at the issue, but they went ahead the same day and had the work done without consulting me as to what they were going to do.

Quick Q: Does anyone know if outside electric work like this needs to be notified and tested by a qualified person?

Its a good point about the fact that there was already a cable there before I or the people upstairs moved in. It had been there 7 years and I though nothing much of it apart until someone pointed out to me that if it's live it needs to be insulated. surely if someone previously had granted access across my property it should be detailed in updated deeds?

I will also for a copy of the electrical installation Certificate. Just waiting to see what they reply with first.

It's just a cable going into the shed for a light.

 

[Pete999]

So I gave them access to the garden for someone to come and have a look at the issue, but they went ahead the same day and had the work done without consulting me as to what they were going to do.

Quick Q: Does anyone know if outside electric work like this needs to be notified and tested by a qualified person?

Its a good point about the fact that there was already a cable there before I or the people upstairs moved in. It had been there 7 years and I though nothing much of it apart until someone pointed out to me that if it's live it needs to be insulated. surely if someone previously had granted access across my property it should be detailed in updated deeds?

I will also for a copy of the electrical installation Certificate. Just waiting to see what they reply with first.

It's just a cable going into the shed for a light.

Paula, of course it needs to be tested and certified, not to up on the building control bit, others may know, but deffo tested and certified via an EIC.

 

[telectrix]

could always get a set of jump leads and tap in for free leccy..

 

[Pete999]

So I gave them access to the garden for someone to come and have a look at the issue, but they went ahead the same day and had the work done without consulting me as to what they were going to do.

Quick Q: Does anyone know if outside electric work like this needs to be notified and tested by a qualified person?

Its a good point about the fact that there was already a cable there before I or the people upstairs moved in. It had been there 7 years and I though nothing much of it apart until someone pointed out to me that if it's live it needs to be insulated. surely if someone previously had granted access across my property it should be detailed in updated deeds?

I will also for a copy of the electrical installation Certificate. Just waiting to see what they reply with first.

It's just a cable going into the shed for a light.

Paula, of course it needs to be tested and certified, not to up on the building control bit, others may know, but deffo tested and certified via an EIC.

 

[Octopus]

The height is irrelevant.

The fact it's been installed without your agreement is the issue here.

No decent competent spark would do that across another person's property .

 

[littlespark]

They would have been cheaper buying a rechargeable work light. No cables, no worries.

No decent competent spark would do that across another person's property .

The spark might not have asked who the piece of land belonged to and assumed it was his clients (having an existing cable there)... and the client wouldn't have mentioned it.
And nobody here thinks this spark is decent or competent

 

[Pete999]

could always get a set of jump leads and tap in for free leccy..

Now Tel, you know tapping into a SWA in mid air would not comply with BS 7671 now would it, so sttop making silly sugestions Paula may get the wrong idea of the help being offered. Free lecky my ---.

 

[telectrix]

Now Tel, you know tapping into a SWA in mid air would not comply with BS 7671 now would it, so sttop making silly sugestions Paula may get the wrong idea of the help being offered. Free lecky my ---.

spoilsport.

 

[Midwest]

So I gave them access to the garden for someone to come and have a look at the issue, but they went ahead the same day and had the work done without consulting me as to what they were going to do.

Its a good point about the fact that there was already a cable there before I or the people upstairs moved in. It had been there 7 years and I though nothing much of it apart until someone pointed out to me that if it's live it needs to be insulated. surely if someone previously had granted access across my property it should be detailed in updated deeds?

Perhaps your neighbours thought they were doing the right thing by improving (questionable) things?

Only if the previous owners answered their solicitors questions honestly.

Can't remember, have you told your neighbours of your dissatisfaction?

 

[Paula]

Perhaps your neighbours thought they were doing the right thing by improving (questionable) things?

Only if the previous owners answered their solicitors questions honestly.

Can't remember, have you told your neighbours of your dissatisfaction?

Yes, I think they genuinely thought they were improving things. They know I am not happy about it and I have asked them to re-site it and also offered for it to be run across and down the walls and under my path. they said they would think about it but TBH its their cable and shouldn't be anywhere near my property

 

[Pete999]

Did they consult you before it was installed?

I get the feeling that the neighbour is a bit of an A hole, he would have done just what he liked because he lived on the ground floor, a bully in my eyes, a bully by means of location I hate them. Come to that all forms of bullies, scum the lot of them, I was bullied at School until I sorted it my self, painful at first, but worth the effort.

 

[telectrix]

I get the feeling that the neighbour is a bit of an A hole, he would have done just what he liked because he lived on the ground floor, a bully in my eyes, a bully by means of location I hate them. Come to that all forms of bullies, scum the lot of them, I was bullied at School until I sorted it my self, painful at first, but worth the effort.

early days at secondary school, age 11,. there was one "hard case" bully in the class. a crap in his lunch box soon sorted him.

 

[Midwest]

Its all coming out now, it appears this is that time when we all need to unladen ourselves, with those pent up emotions we've been harbouring all these years. Get it off your chest, you'll feel liberated and ready to feel at ease with oneself. https://www.google.co.uk/imgres?img...IrbAhXlDMAKHRpUApsQMwhjKBowGg&iact=mrc&uact=8

 

[Midwest]

early days at secondary school, age 11,. there was one "hard case" bully in the class. a crap in his lunch box soon sorted him.

What were you doing in his underpants

 

[Pete999]

FI was on a job in Canada, one of the blokes on the team was a complete Ahole, a bully of the first order.
Picked on one of the younger Lads one evening whilst looking for somewhere to eat, found a Chinese, sat down, ordered the food and a few beers, he started again, pickng on this Lad, the red mist came up and I thumped him, left the resturant left some cash with my Mate and Fox Trot Oscared, heared no more about it, no more bullying, sorted, end of. He won't speak to me anymore, but "am I bothered" to coin a phrase from some TV show?

 

[Paula]

I get the feeling that the neighbour is a bit of an A hole, he would have done just what he liked because he lived on the ground floor, a bully in my eyes, a bully by means of location I hate them. Come to that all forms of bullies, scum the lot of them, I was bullied at School until I sorted it my self, painful at first, but worth the effort.

They are a nice couple and I believe they thought they were doing the right thing. They did however, tell me I was exaggerating when I explained it was an 'eyesore' which I found laughable as that's easy to say when it's not in your garden but I have to look at it when I'm in my garden.
Good to get some validation here that a) it is ugly and b)they cant just run cables across my land willy-nilly

 

[pirate]

Oh, I love good neighbour dispute!
Actually, they are just the worst sort of nightmare.
If you are a freeholder, surely there isn't a lease too?
Certainly not in Scotland.
If you own the ground, ie it's not communal, then no-one can put cables over it (except the statutory undertakings) without your consent. If it had been there for 10 or maybe 20 years, prescription might apply, so a wayleave established by usage which would not always show up in the title deeds. If you bought the property when the original cable was there, you may have a problem objecting now.ie objecting to there being a cable at all...however, if the new cable is substantially different from the old one, then you may have a case.
So, on electrical safety grounds, type of cable, height above ground, method of fixing/installation, you probably have grounds for asking for it to be removed or replaced in a better manner.
On legal grounds, if you own the property, the maxim ad caelo usque ad centrum would apply, and no-one has the right to obstruct your airspace.
Frankly, tell your neighbour to get a proper installation done, run it down the wall, bury it properly under the path, all at no expense to you, and if he wants a formal wayleave tell him to get his solicitor to draw it up and register it all at his expense.

 

[Midwest]

Oh, I love good neighbour dispute!
Actually, they are just the worst sort of nightmare.
If you are a freeholder, surely there isn't a lease too?
Certainly not in Scotland.
If you own the ground, ie it's not communal, then no-one can put cables over it (except the statutory undertakings) without your consent. If it had been there for 10 or maybe 20 years, prescription might apply, so a wayleave established by usage which would not always show up in the title deeds. If you bought the property when the original cable was there, you may have a problem objecting now.ie objecting to there being a cable at all...however, if the new cable is substantially different from the old one, then you may have a case.
So, on electrical safety grounds, type of cable, height above ground, method of fixing/installation, you probably have grounds for asking for it to be removed or replaced in a better manner.
On legal grounds, if you own the property, the maxim ad caelo usque ad centrum would apply, and no-one has the right to obstruct your airspace.
Frankly, tell your neighbour to get a proper installation done, run it down the wall, bury it properly under the path, all at no expense to you, and if he wants a formal wayleave tell him to get his solicitor to draw it up and register it all at his expense.

Thats already been covered; get back to your San Miguel or paella or whatever you're larging up this evening on the Spanish plains.

 

[pirate]

So I see, but it takes me so long to type anything that Christmas has come and gone before I have my Easter cards stamped!
Anyway, no hassle with reaffirming what others have said, is there...?
And it's Blanc Pescador just now, and shortly I will be at the local restaurant having a massive steak and a bottle of Rioja...and just for further info, I have made a seafood paella today and filmed it, so it will be on a youtube channel near you soon!

 

[Paula]

Oh, I love good neighbour dispute!
Actually, they are just the worst sort of nightmare.
If you are a freeholder, surely there isn't a lease too?
Certainly not in Scotland.
If you own the ground, ie it's not communal, then no-one can put cables over it (except the statutory undertakings) without your consent. If it had been there for 10 or maybe 20 years, prescription might apply, so a wayleave established by usage which would not always show up in the title deeds. If you bought the property when the original cable was there, you may have a problem objecting now.ie objecting to there being a cable at all...however, if the new cable is substantially different from the old one, then you may have a case.
So, on electrical safety grounds, type of cable, height above ground, method of fixing/installation, you probably have grounds for asking for it to be removed or replaced in a better manner.
On legal grounds, if you own the property, the maxim ad caelo usque ad centrum would apply, and no-one has the right to obstruct your airspace.
Frankly, tell your neighbour to get a proper installation done, run it down the wall, bury it properly under the path, all at no expense to you, and if he wants a formal wayleave tell him to get his solicitor to draw it up and register it all at his expense.

Oh they are the best arent they? Neighbour issues :-S
Thanks, this info is really helpful
The previous cable had been there for 7 years (unknown how long beyond that) but less noticeable as grey and ran along the wall for the main part. The new cable is thick, black and runs from their flat to their shed directly across my garden and air space.
I explained to them I am happy for them to run along and down my walls and under my path (to meet them halfway) and the wayleave would be good in this instance for future, but they already spent £280 on this shoddy job so are reluctant to spend more.

 

[pirate]

£280???
Crikey!