Must I Give Access To Neighbours Contractors Installing Satellite Dish.

[bronzesmith]

I have received a letter telling me I must give access to a Sky engineer cooming to fit a new dish on my neighbour's house. The neighbour has installed a large extension since the original system was installed and the contractor will not access the roof from the front, nor will he pay for scaffolding to bridge the extension. Instead they have informed me that I am legally obliged to give them access via my property so they can do the job. This is not a repair, it is an upgrade that the neighbour has requested. Do I have to allow them access?

[tamborine]

This is a new fitting so youre not obliged to give access

[kylesmum]

I think you're being a tad unreasonable here. There's worse things happen at sea than access to have a Satellite Dish fitted, for all the time it'll take.

Be neighbourly, everyone needs good neighbours :)

[douglas9401]

Had you not hung up the phone on the contractor you could have asked them exactly why they think you must give them access.
Why not call them back and this time breathe deeply?

[albaqwerty]

if they had been reasonable neighbours in the first place and simply aanswer would have been yes, no problem.
It's the way it's been handled from the neighbours which is irritating.

[tamborine]

Not unreasonable when its a response to threats

[kylesmum]

There's always two sides to every dispute , just remember life is way too short and if that was all some people had to deal with they would be delighted....

[Mamyalynne]

I am with kylesmum here, although it sounds like there is history and when things become entrenched it is almost like a battle line has been drawn.

I prefer to coexist in happy harmony with my neighbours and would have said yes, but I doubt you will as you may now see it as backing down - sad really.

[ummmm]

But what if their satellite dish is broken?

[bronzesmith]

I have followed the links provided by 'Barmaid', and they have given me some very useful information regarding reasons for access, accordingly I will close this question and say a big thank you to everyone who took the time and trouble to offer advise.
Many thanks.
bronzesmith

[Mamyalynne]

Be happy, that is the main thing.

[tamborine]

let us know your decision …

[bronzesmith]

Thanks to everyone who offered advice, the problem appears to have gone away for now. I refused to give access to the contractor other than at a time which was convenient to me, they declined to accept this and informed my neighbour that if he still wanted to go ahead with the upgrade he would be liable for any extra cost such as scaffolding or a cherry picker. He has declined to pay for this and as such the contractor has told him his job cannot be done by them.
If he had simply knocked on my door and discussed this in a neighbourly manner I would have had no problem allowing the work to be done , but I draw the line at being threatened with solicitor's letters and being told what I can and cannot do on my own property. Perhaps in future he will take the easy route and try talking but I will not hold my breath waiting.
Thanks again, bronzesmith

[Hypognosis]

Good result! Thanks for letting us know.