Contract for scaffolding in my garden

[Shawn R]

Hi, I am looking for some advice about scaffolding.

I own and live in a Semi-detached house which is adjoining a house owned by the council. They have contacted me about putting scaffolding in my garden as they want to replace the roof on their council house.
I want a contract outlining the dates and duration of the scaffold and would like to charge them rent for land usage and stipulate a penalty clause if the scaffold is not taken down on time.

They are saying it is for maintenance, but the roof is fine and they are just trying to spend money they have been awarded.
The council is notorious for projects running over by months and months and I don't want a scaffold left in my garden.

I have asked for dates but they won't commit and only say the work will take 14 days not the lenght of time the scaffold will be in place. 14 days to replace a roof seems very optimistic too.

Any help on how I stand on this would be greatly appreciated.
Shawn

[des8]

Just refuse them permission to place the scaffolding on your land until they agree a contract stipulating duration, working hours, boarding to prevent debris raining down on your garden, penalties for any over run and price of the licence.

As they are replacing the neighbour's roof presumably this will involve some disturbance to your roof.
So will it involve any work on or interference with any Party Wall ?

It might be worth having a surveyor's report on the condition of your roof at the join before work commences.... even get the council to pay for it!

[Shawn R]

Thanks Des8, Scaffolding Licence was what I was after. A quick google and found their own pricing and terms. Good idea about the surveyor's report.