my neighbour builder damaged my backyard door badly and entered to my property without my permission, what should I do?

[Karensiu]

my neighbour builder damaged my backyard door badly and entered to my property without my permission frequently, what should I do? The builders damaged my backyard door, is this classfied as criminal case? I called police when the incident happened, however, police told me they won't take any actions to agaisnt the builders as this is not classfied as criminal. what should i do now? who should takes this responsibility and compensate my lost in the backyard door?

[Karensiu]

Hi Tony, thanks for your useful information. I sent letter to the neighbour and asked he about the information of the builder at two weeks ago but till to today, the neighbour still doesn't reply to me. And the incident of damaged my back yard door was just happened on yesterday. I never met the neighbour in person as he is living in somewhere else hence I can only write to he and I will tell he this incident happened.

[in a mo]

Best bet get the builder to fit a new Back Door job done forget how it happened it is not worth the energy..GOOD LUCK

[Karensiu]

They climbed over the wall and unlock the shutter from inside and kicked the door for outside to open it that caused the door completely cracked.

[TheShakeperian]

Correction to my last answer.
If the builders broke into your house by breaking a door or a lock this is a much more serious criminal offence , it will be classed as breaking and entering.
I think the police probably are confused about exactly what happened , as we were. The police probably think that the builders got in through an open door , which would be Trespass , a civil offence.
If the builders got in by damaging a door or a lock that IS a criminal offence and you need to tell the police that.
I realise English is not your first language and that is causing communication problems. Is their anyone who can act as an interpreter ?
I think that if you go to the Police and tell them you need to report a criminal offence , Breaking and entering, but you can not speak English very well they have to get an interpreter to help you, this will not cost you anything it is up to the police to make certain they are getting the full story and to get an interpreter if nessesary.

[Karensiu]

Hi Theshakeperian, thanks for your advice, so I can go to police station to recall the incidence number and ask then to correct the case as Breaking and entering right?

[TheShakeperian]

Yes Just as I though.
If you report this as a criminal offence, you MUST be allowed to do it in your own language and it is up to the Police to supply an interpreter.
http://www.cps.gov.uk...o_k/interpreters/#a05
This IS a criminal offence so get down to the police and say
'' I need to report a case of breaking and entering , but I do not speak English and I need an interpreter''
It is then their duty to get one to attend the police station and help you make a statement. You need to tell them what your native language is so they get the correct interpreter.

[paddywak]

An old girl I used to know had a similar problem. She lived next to these people for years with no problem until they converted their attached garage into a granny apartment, to which my friend had no complaints. The problem arose when the neighbors got a coal delivery which had never been a problem before as they just carried it through the garage. The first Alice knew was when she came in one day to find her garden fence broken down, and flower beds trampled by the coal-men who said the neighbor had told them to take it down Alice's drive and across her garden . It ended up with the police and solicitors being involved, compensation and costs being paid, the coal being carried through the house and two neighbors who never spoke again

[tonywiltshire]

The County Court will expect you to have taken all possible action to recover your loss before taking action. Write to them when you know the repair costs but head your letter “notice before action” give them 14 days to correct the situation and workout that date and state that on that date you will take action in the County Court to recover your loss, comment on all previous attempts you have made to resolve this matter.
Keep a copy of this letter and submit this as evidence with your claim

[Karensiu]

Yes, thank you so much. I know what should I do now. I also got a question, what if when the case is clarified as criminal case then do the police will take any action to against or arrest the builders?

[redcrx]

"If the builders broke into your house by breaking a door or a lock this is a much more serious criminal offence , it will be classed as breaking and entering."

Shakeperian, replace the word "door" with "garden gate". This seems to be bgeing blown out of proportion as replies seem to be under impression that Karens house was broken into.

Karensiu, get a cost for repairing damage and send a letter to the builder requesting the payment. If they fail to repair or pay for repair then go to the CAB and ask about how to take it to small claims court.

[TheShakeperian]

Sorry, now still not 100% certain if the poster does not mean 'back door' as in door to the backyard from the house, or door into a garden. However it is clear that unauthorised entry to the questioners property was made and that a door was damaged in the process. This is at least in my opinion 'criminal damage' as it goes above plain trespass due to the damage element. If the door was open it would be just trespass but the door was locked and damaged to get entry.

[redcrx]

"They climbed over the wall and unlock the shutter from inside and kicked the door for outside to open it that caused the door completely cracked." garden gate. They opened it from inside before breaking it.

[Karensiu]

hi redcrx, so is that mean this case could only be classified as civil case not criminal? is that what you mean?

[redcrx]

youve already been told that the police wont take it any further, your only option is to persue it through the courts yourself. As said, give the builder a chance to rectify it first and take them through small claims if they refuse to pay for damage they caused.

[cathfromsaron]

take photos, get estimates, find out the builder's name and address and contact your house insurers!

and buy a padlock, until they ask for permission!

[dzug2]

It's always possible that the neighbour (and hence his builder) has the RIGHT of access to the property for maintenance, etc. If that's the case then 'permission' is not needed.

Even so it shouldn't involve forcible entry unless access has been denied.

[joko]

it wouldnt surprise me if your neighbours said ' ohh its fine just open the door, she wont mind'...so they assumed you have given your permission. howver thats irrelevant. do as the others say

[WAZZARD]

I think 'smptrds' (or similar) has got the most comprehensive & best advice. Follow that, to the 'letter'. I couldn't advise better.

[tonywiltshire]

In my view the Police will classify this as civil and will take no action, but post the outcome.