retaining wall is failing and blocking my access to my driveway.

[kmomof6]

What is the name of your state? RI

There's a concrete retaining wall between my neighbor's house and mine which is cracked and broken and is blocking my access to my driveway. My neighbor said he was going to fix it, even sent me a letter to that effect with a "permission" letter for me to sign granting him access to my property to do the repairs. Then he moved. So now there are new owners, and my driveway is still inaccessible.

I'm not sure what I should do? Go over and introduce myself to the new neighbors with a plate of cookies and a demand that they fix the wall? Does the previous owner bear any responsibility here? This is really something that shouldn't be put off any longer. First, there's no overnight street parking in my city, so I'm risking parking tickets every night. Second, if the wall fails altogether, my house could be damaged (as could theirs, I imagine.)

I'd hate to start a new neighbor relationship on bad footing, but I'm afraid that the wall won't survive another winter.

Thanks in advance for any input.

 

[xylene]

I would skip the cookies.

Inform the neighbor of the collapse straigt away and demand correction.

You are risking your property by not wanting to be too agressive?

 

[Sunbreeze67]

You could call the City Office/Zoning telling the retaining wall is in danger to both, your family and property. They mostly likely take care of this, after your call or making a trip to the Zoning Office brining a picute of the retaining wall, if you choose.

 

[HomeGuru]

What is the name of your state? RI

There's a concrete retaining wall between my neighbor's house and mine which is cracked and broken and is blocking my access to my driveway. My neighbor said he was going to fix it, even sent me a letter to that effect with a "permission" letter for me to sign granting him access to my property to do the repairs. Then he moved. So now there are new owners, and my driveway is still inaccessible.

I'm not sure what I should do? Go over and introduce myself to the new neighbors with a plate of cookies and a demand that they fix the wall? Does the previous owner bear any responsibility here? This is really something that shouldn't be put off any longer. First, there's no overnight street parking in my city, so I'm risking parking tickets every night. Second, if the wall fails altogether, my house could be damaged (as could theirs, I imagine.)

I'd hate to start a new neighbor relationship on bad footing, but I'm afraid that the wall won't survive another winter.

Thanks in advance for any input.

**A: how hard would it be to move the portion of the wall blocking your driveway.

 

[kmomof6]

**A: how hard would it be to move the portion of the wall blocking your driveway.

That would be removing the entire wall. My driveway is bordered by my house on one side, and the wall on the other. The wall is approximately 5 1/2 feet tall at the sidewalk. My driveway slopes upwards toward my back yard. The wall remains level so that it meets the ground in front of my garage. Near the sidewalk there is a crack running all the way up the wall from my driveway to the top of the wall. From that point on, the wall leans in towards my house, with more cracks farther back running the entire length of the wall. If the wall comes down, his yard will effectively fall into my driveway.

 

[kmomof6]

I would skip the cookies.

Inform the neighbor of the collapse straigt away and demand correction.

You are risking your property by not wanting to be too agressive?

Oh come on....I thought the cookies would be a nice touch.

 

[kmomof6]

You could call the City Office/Zoning telling the retaining wall is in danger to both, your family and property. They mostly likely take care of this, after your call or making a trip to the Zoning Office brining a picute of the retaining wall, if you choose.

Thanks for the tip. I sent an e-mail. Silly me, I didn't even think of involving the city, but the website clearly states that retaining walls over 4 feet tall fall under the perview of the Zoning office. We'll see how it turns out. It'll be nice not to have to fight anyone myself. I'm kind of small and timid.

 

[HomeGuru]

Thanks for the tip. I sent an e-mail. Silly me, I didn't even think of involving the city, but the website clearly states that retaining walls over 4 feet tall fall under the perview of the Zoning office. We'll see how it turns out. It'll be nice not to have to fight anyone myself. I'm kind of small and timid.

**A: the wall probably is not permitted.

 

[kmiyahira]

Who fix the retainage wall

We just bought house. The wall is 2 feet tall. Half is on each side of the property line. There is 3 feet tall fence on the top the wall. Our side is on the high hill area. The rocks from the wall are falling out my neighbord side. Who have to fix the wall?

 

[HomeGuru]

We just bought house. The wall is 2 feet tall. Half is on each side of the property line. There is 3 feet tall fence on the top the wall. Our side is on the high hill area. The rocks from the wall are falling out my neighbord side. Who have to fix the wall?

**A: please start your own thread.