Is it right for home construction workers to use my outside water and electrical outlets?? Would you complain

Question

Home building etiquette. So there is a house being built across the street from me. These guys are consistently using my electrical and water outlets outside of my home during the day to do their stuff. Do I complain about this or is it etiquette to let them use the utilities at my expense??? They're fairly rude and messy too, so if you want to weight that with my question feel free!

Answer 1

Absolutely not! It's the builder's responsibility to bring in temporary power and bathroom facilities. I could *maybe* see someone using a hose faucet of a nextdoor property if it was near the curb, to get a drink. But if these guys are walking right up to your house and plugging into your outlets, I'm dumbfounded.

Walk over to the site and ask who's in charge, and tell him that you don't want his workers on your property for any reason. If he's not cooperative, or if you're uncomfortable confronting them, call the police to complain - they'll send a patrol car by to talk to the guys.

Finally, call your local building department and tell them that the jobsite across the street doesn't have their temporary utilities and toilet, and the workers are coming to your house and using your water and power. That should get the site red tagged, and work will stop until Builder resolves the issue.

Answer 2

The proper thing for these construction workers or the project supevisor to have done is to ask and offer payment for the utilities that were needed. Most of the time a construction loop for power and a tap at the water meter is hooked up for construction purposes.
Here in Central Texas, proper etiquette requires people trespassing onto private property and taking what don't belong to them to not be rude or messy.
Call the builder and tell him you want a beef hind quarter for your freezer or a basket of fruit or a few bucks or something.

Answer 3

Why would it be etiquette to let someone use your electricity budget to build a house across the street? Should they not have an electrical permit with electricity on the premises to do their building? Is not the running of an electrical cord across a street a safety hazard? The fact that they are rude is an additional clue that they are doing something illegal. Do you want to pay for the electricity to build the house across the street.? Contact your electrical company IMMEDIATELY for fraudulent use of your utilities.

Answer 4

Of course you complain. I would give them a bill for the electric and water they've used and if they don't pay take them to small claims court.In fact, I would call the cops so they take a report to prove your claim.
Then, I would turn off the breaker to the electric outlet and also the water. How crude can you get?! Not even asking is beyond rude, it's criminal!
Good grief! Don't let them get away with this! Get a backbone, square your shoulders and confront them.

Answer 5

No it is not legal for them to do so without permission. If you approve their using it, they should also offer to pay for the usage. Ask them to stop immediately and request that they reimburse you for any usage over your usual monthly electric and water bill. Flushing waterlines for a new home can become very costly, besides putting you over the standard amount so that the rates jump. Also, call the local police department, not 911, and ask what you can do. They should be able to give you some advice. Do you have a homeowners associated in your community? Call them for advice and to complain about the mess. You might also check with your utility department.

Answer 6

What they are doing is called stealing. Call the police and report them. This is theft. There are laws against this and they know it. Call the utility company and complain to them as well. If you pay your city for water services, call your local city hall and ask who to speak to about this, you are being robbed. You might be able to calculate a bill for water and electricity and bill the contractors. But call the police first, then get a copy of the police report and call the utility companies, they can help you get compensation back.

Answer 7

Absolutely NOT! If they were working on YOUR home, it is perfectly acceptable to expect that your utilities would be used. BUT, the builder is responsible to provide on-site electric and water to supply his tradespeople. It is not your responsibility to cover part of his construction costs and by all means, confront him and demand payment for the excess to your utility bills over what you either normally pay or by checking the bill to see what was used last year for the same time period! If he refuses to do anything about it, call and make a complaint to the Better Business Bureau and the State Contractor's Licensing Board. Then call the building department and the code enforcement department in your city to make a complaint. This IS theft, pure and simple! And, it is trespassing as they do not have your permission to even BE on your property! You are entitled to have them clean up any mess or repair any damage they have caused on your property. I would even call both utilities and notify them that the power and water are being used without your authorization!

Answer 8

Call their company and complain to the owner or boss;
They definitely should not use your utilities without your permission. It is going to cost you, considering all the electrical tools they use for x number of men.
Is there any way you can pull a fuse to the outside line they are using? Can you turn off the water in the basement so they can*t turn the water on outside?

Answer 9

Hell yes complain loudly,they are stealing from you . You can order them to stop. Turn off the breakers/ pull the fuse for the electrical outlets, and turn off the water for the outside faucet. I've had a contractor do that to me, that was my response. They are also trespassing tell them to get the hell off your land. When I worked for a construction, we always asked before we used someones power and water, and we also offered $100 for the use of it. We never had problems. If after all this it still continues, call the cops, thats what your tax dollar pays for.

Answer 10

I wouldnt care if they were related to SIster Theresa ... they are not supposed to use your utilities.

Simply ask them who the builder is and then call him and ask him where you should send the bill for their "theft" of your electric and water. Tell him that you want him to pay your monthly bill, since they are helping themselves.

Keep track of the days and hours that they use your stuff and if necessary you can file a claim in small claims court and get paid for it all. Be reasonable but firm. Also, if you are picking up or cleaning up the area for these slobs ... you should get paid for that as well.

If no one complains ... then it becomes acceptable. BULL!

Stand up for yourself.