Godefroy, a resident of Enghien, was displeased to see scaffolding being installed on his new roof in early March. He claims that he was not informed by the municipality regarding the start of the work. While the authorities have recognized shortcomings in communication, those responsible for the project believe that it is legal. On March 7th, a contractor notified Godefroy’s partner that the work would begin the next day, and that their vehicle might not be parked in front of their house anymore. However, when Godefroy returned on March 8th, he discovered that scaffolding had been erected on his roof without his authorization. He immediately contacted the police, and on March 9th, he expressed his disappointment to the contractor and a representative of the municipality. Godefroy refused to allow workers to access his roof until an inventory was taken, as he had renovated his roof completely in December 2022. He claims that the situation shows a lack of respect and communication on the part of the authorities. The project is concerned with repairing the roof of a municipal building that houses ten dwellings adjacent to Godefroy’s. The renovation of the roof began in March 2023, despite the fact that the issue was first addressed in 2021. Godefroy contacted the municipality two years ago regarding their gutter, which was causing a lot of water to fall on his roof. They promised to repair it in the summer of 2022. However, the work ultimately began in March 2023. Godefroy regrets the lack of communication and hopes that no damage will be done to his home. He believes that the installation was not legal because it required prior agreement and inventory. Mayor Olivier Saint-Amand admits that things were not done in the right order and has contacted Godefroy to apologize. However, the municipal housing department claims that the company working on the roof had a responsibility to warn citizens affected by the work, and that they were willing to make an inventory of the damages with Godefroy if he wanted.
Godefroy, a resident of Enghien, had the “unpleasant surprise” to see scaffolding being installed in early March on his new roof. Owner of a house located rue du Château, he says he was not informed by the municipality of the start of the work.
Are we allowed to put scaffolding on the roof of a neighboring house? If the authorities recognize shortcomings in terms of communication, this site is legal according to those responsible for the file.
On Tuesday, March 7, a contractor came to tell Godefroy’s companion that the work was going to start the next day, and that their vehicle might no longer be parked in front of their home. “The next day, roofing work on the adjoining building, which belongs to the municipality, began”indicates the Enghiennois.
When he returned home on March 8, he noticed “with surprise“that scaffolding has been placed on its roof. “It is new, and I was not asked for my authorization. I immediately contacted the police services who promised to contact me once more. On March 9 in the morning, I waited for the arrival of the entrepreneur to tell him of my disappointment, a representative of the municipality was present”, he says.
I cannot allow this to be done without my consent.
“While I understand that access to the repair of the roof goes through a passage through my home, I cannot accept that this be done without warning me, without my consent, without a timetable for the duration of the work and without an inventory. beforehand. Therefore, without an inventory, I refused to allow workers access to my roof (completely renovated in December 2022). They did not remove anything and continued the work. The authorities are definitely showing us the ‘example…”
The file concerning this work was approached for the first time in 2021. It concerns a repair of the roof of a municipal building housing ten dwellings. A building adjoining that of Godefroy.
“Two years ago, I called the municipality because their gutter was not working, and was destroyed in several places. I had the immensity of the rain falling on my roof. I have a small roof and I don’t have the drainage system to absorb all this amount of water. They replied that they would do what was necessary. They told me that they would do the roof a year later , during the summer of 2022.”
The renovation of the roof therefore finally began in March 2023. “At first, I was not made aware of the works. They did not give me the estimate of the end of the works. I had no contact with them. What worries me, is that I had my own roof replaced and so I contacted the contractor and the municipality who told me that it was legal to do so. I took my information and had to make a statement of the places, before and following the works in order to see if there was damage following their passage. I obtained that they send me an expert. This independent expert who arrived 8 days following the beginning of the works.”
If this project will be able to continue, Godefroy bitterly regrets this lack of communication on the part of the authorities. He hopes that no damage will be found on his home.
“It was all done very late. I don’t think it’s very respectful. I understand that they need to have access to the roof, but the least you can do is ask. My neighbors are in the same case, since we are three houses to undergo the same thing. The way is not correct for a municipality which is supposed to show us the example. There is a lack of respect and communication. This worries us in relation to the way things are handled. The installation is not legal in my opinion, because it required prior agreement and an inventory. When I see this huge deployment of equipment, I am afraid for my house and nobody He is there to give me an explanation or to reassure me. Resigned, we wait and we hope that the work will be completed as soon as possible and that there will not be too much damage.”
For his part, Mayor Olivier Saint-Amand recognizes that “things weren’t done in the right order. The municipal services have contacted the person concerned to apologize. We are able to provide a reasoned solution.”
The municipality’s housing department actually responded to Godefroy by email to explain and reassure him.
“We obviously understand your concerns regarding the work undertaken this week around (and in) your property. We can, however, assure you that no action has been taken by the City once morest the legality. However, we must admit that it would have been more courteous for a city official to meet with you to inform you of the operating mode and the progress of the site.The multiple date changes of the various stakeholders have forced us to adapt our procedure, sometimes to detriment of a certain courtesy”justifies the communal service.
Legally, the company carrying out the roofing work has a duty to “warn the citizens affected by the performance of its missions. This is what was done by the manager of the company who confirmed it to you this morning, during our meeting. The company is a company specializing in the work She is perfectly familiar with the procedures relating to this type of work and we place our full trust in her. also confirms by this writing that the company bears full responsibility for any damage that may be caused to your home and that they proposed to make an inventory with you if such was your wish”, concluded the Housing service.
In conclusion, the lack of communication between the municipality and its residents has caused some trouble and inconvenience for Godefroy, a resident of Enghien. The installation of scaffolding on his roof without his authorization has left him feeling frustrated and concerned regarding potential damages to his property. While the municipality has apologized for not communicating properly, the work is still legal and being carried out by a specialized company. Overall, this serves as a reminder of the importance of communication and respect between authorities and residents, especially when it comes to property maintenance and renovations.
