Is this wall a risk?

[JP_]

It's been getting worse for years, but seems to have accelerated recently. Or time is just passing faster.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

Yes, it's completely knackered and is a liability. You could be held responsible if it falls on someone or their car. Knock down and rebuild, you'd be making more work by trying to repair it.

I'm assuming it's retaining soil, and there's a lack of drainage. The groundwater has saturated the bricks, so they've burst apart when the water froze in the winter.

Ensure the new bricks have a decent frost rating and there's some drainage. It may need new foundations, depending on the adequacy of what's there when you look. It's a big job but there isn't a realistic alternative, assuming it's retaining soil so couldn't be replaced with a fence.

 

[JP_]

It's not my wall. How can it be reported so somebody takes action. I think the property its in front of is private apartments, converted from what was once a big old house.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

Try the council. They'd be the ones that would take enforcement action.

I'd start with building control, if it's not their issue they'll tell you who to talk to.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Speak to your local Building Control

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

Once the owner is informed, they're negligent if they don't fix it and it falls.

But they probably already know about it and just don't care.

 

[bernardgreen]

In most local councils pavements at the side of a road are the responibility of the Council Highways Department

Report a problem with a pavement

Report damaged pavements to the local council - broken or missing slabs, removing weeds

www.gov.uk

 

[JP_]

I don't think the pavement is the problem.

I've sent a message to building control. PITA, they make it very hard to be contacted.

 

[bernardgreen]

I don't think the pavement is the problem

Obstruction of the pavement by bricks that fall out of the wall will be the problem that the Highways Department should react to.

 

[^woody^]

Building control have no remit for garden walls.

The council's highways department may be able to get involved due to the potential impact on the public highway, but it may need something to happen first not just a "could do".

 

[RandomGrinch]

Building control have no remit for garden walls.

Our building control certainly deal with dangerous structures - I've reported garden walls before, with positive results.

 

[wessex101]

Building control have no remit for garden walls.

Yes they do if it is considered to be a dangerous structure. That wall looks exactly like the sort of thing they would be interested in. Edit - Grinchy beat me to it!

 

[^woody^]

My experience from consulting with various council departments is that building control"s powers under the Building Act don't stretch to garden walls or walls which are not part of a building, and they have refused to get involved for those reasons. I know of some officers who have got involved merely because they are deemed to have some expertise, but they didn't have powers to enforce anything, only try and persuade.

 

[kingandy2nd]

A good friend of mine was forced to have his rear garden wall rebuilt, which faced onto a path/road at the rear, as the council determined that it was structurally unsafe.

Not sure if it was building control or a different department that were responsible, but the council gave him the options to either rebuild it to a certain standard using a builder of his choice, or the council would charge x amount and get their contractors to do it for my friend.

 

[noseall]

Once the owner is informed,

By whom?