How can I get scaffolding removed from my property?

It depends on whose scaffold it is and where it stands. If it's left over from your own project, contact the scaffolding firm directly — the scaffold belongs to them, not the builder, and quotes normally include dismantling, so ask for a removal date in writing.

If a neighbour's scaffold is standing on or overhanging your land without your agreement, start with a friendly conversation — it's often a simple oversight and gets resolved quickly. A scaffolder has no automatic right to place or oversail scaffolding on private land: a council scaffold licence only covers the public highway, so anything on your side of the boundary needs your permission. If a polite request doesn't work, follow up in writing with a dated letter or email asking for removal or a proper access agreement. For an ongoing dispute, take professional advice from a solicitor or surveyor before escalating — boundary and access issues are civil matters, and a negotiated agreement is usually cheaper and faster than a legal fight.

If the scaffold is on the pavement or road outside your home, check it's licensed: councils issue scaffold licences through their highways department, and you can report an unlicensed or dangerous scaffold to them. Our guide to scaffold licences explains who needs one and when.