To expect the neighbours to warn us about their building work?

[eviekingston]

In my world, it would be basic good manners to inform the neighbours if you were planning large scale building work on a terraced house. But apparently not. A week of drilling which is so loud my DS (4) is actually quite scared of it, and now more on a Sunday. The neighbours themselves have fucked off somewhere of course. Rude. Obviously they need to do the work, and it's going to be noisy, of course I don't object to that. But a friendly word in advance not unreasonable i think? Gah.

[WaitingForMe]

Yes it's good manners and I told our adjoining neighbours when we had work done but would it really have made much difference? It would still be annoying.

A 4yr old afraid of drilling needs reassuring but not pandering to. It's a daft thing to be upset by and this needs to be conveyed in a supportive way.

[Mia4]

It is good manners yes, a basic courtesy, of course you can't stop them doing it unless it's during unsocialable hours and they are taking the piss but if it's going to be often (instead of once in a while) then common courtesy should prevail. Not everyone thinks that way however. But since you know how courteous they are, you don't need to worry when it comes to you having to make noise.

I agree with waitingforme though, the drilling sound can be teeth grinding and make you jump but don't let your son fixate on it. Maybe explain to him what's going on and that it won't hurt him, get him some ear muffs temporarily if it's a sore ear thing?

[PessaryPam]

Revenge, when they get back you can work on them. Keep that in mind, it will make you feel better, .

[BlatantLies]

I would speak to the builders and inform Environmental Health if they continue to work out of normal hours

[eviekingston]

I'm not sure that my son's fears are 'daft', the drilling on the party wall (they are re-wiring the house) is REALLY loud, a bit like a car suddenly revving right next to you. Obviously he knows that it's not going to hurt him and he isn't completely freaked out, but you can tell from his face when he's playing and it starts up that he's a bit worried. But that's fine, we can deal with that. And neighbour noise must be endured from time to time. It's the not telling us I'm annoyed about, it just feels very inconsiderate, and I get very annoyed by unnecessary rudeness...
Yes pessary I'm plotting already...

[marjproops]

Oh for flip sake Im sick and tired of people not having an ounce of brain and courtesy to warn/inform people of building works...and btw look up on your council website cos Im pretty sure there shouldnt be diy noise on a sunday at all.

does neighbour on other side of them have anything to say? maybe have a word with them and see if you can do something between you.

yes, noise is noise and home improvs must be done at SOME time, but wish people would realise theyre not in a place in the middle of a field and that there are people/children/elderly around.

Cant stand it, and Ive ALWAYS told neighbours if Im doing any work thats going to create a bit of noise, even so, within normal hours.


and if theyve got workmen in the workmen should be within normal hours too.

[NorthernLurker]

If they're drilling in to the party wall then the party wall act may come in to play. Why not look in to it and chuck the book at them if possible,

[crashdoll]

We told our neighbours when we had work done but I'm not sure what difference that would have made. We stuck to sociable hours and definitley not on a Sunday and sent posh chocolates to everyone around us. I appreciate it's annoying (as ours is now having major works done) but it's what happens when you have neighbours.

[marjproops]

I'm dreading this.next door house for sale and as it belonged to an old man its prob going to be very old fashioned decorated and so new people will want to update it. fair enough.

but DC with her severe autism, the SLIGHTEST noise sets her off and if anyone new doesnt tell us about works ill do my nut in i really will.

and you can only go out for so long during day.

and i home ed too and nowhere to take her.

and btw looked up party wall act and they SHOULD be telling you and compromising on hours etc. but do they give a fig?

and for 1 person that knows and reads the law these thickos (thick heads, thin walls) either can't read or refuse to acknowledge and ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS get away with it, no matter what you do.

[sarahtigh]

building work by companies should not start before 8am any day, and probably not on sundays, however DIY and getting your mates in are not covered by same rules but environmental health will have guidelines about noise duration etc

drilling is part of it and you need to engage son a few more episodes of bob the builder !!!! not too much reassurance as that sort of makes it ok to be scared but a bit matter of fact

but YANBU in thinking it is rude not to tell neighbours it is not asking permission just informing them ie

"we are having an extension they are starting 4th march and it will last 6-8 weeks apologieas in advance for noise etc they will be working 8-6pm most days etc"

[therugratref]

I thought you had to get party wall agreement to work on the party wall. We certainly needed to gain our neighbors consent when we did work that involved the party wall. I would ring your planning department on Monday.

[Pendeen]

"I would ring your planning department on Monday. "

The Party Wall Act is nothing to do with the local authority (planning dept or any other dept) however if there are structural alterations in progress then Building Control may be interested.

The PWA doesn't cover minor work such as drilling for fixings or cutting shallow chases for cables.

[Dahlialover]

www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/br/BR_partywall_explain_booklet.pdf

Party wall info - I think it only applies to structural work. The local authority should have informed the neighbours that it might be necessary when they got planning permission, then it is up to them (the neighbours) to find out about it and serve notice.

[AgentSprout]

Same here OP.

Monday skips, vans and a scaffolding company turned up outside my house. I was in my kitchen when they turned up so didn't see what was going on at first until I found a cheeky bastard workman walking over my lawn with scaffolding poles, then passing them to another bloke OVER my car that was parked on my drive. When I went to ask them what the fuck they were doing, I opened my door (side entrance) to find scaffolding poles and planks propped up against my fucking door!!!!! To top it off they had parked across my driveway totally blocking access.

Neighbours have fucked off on holiday whilst having a new roof done. First I knew about it was when I asked the workmen what the fuck they were doing.

The last week has been a nightmare. 3 days in a row I've ask them to move their bloody vans from across my drive so I can get out and to pick up their bloody rubbish from their lunch that keeps blowing into my garden.

Neighbours are on my shit list at the moment!

[treesntrees]

what about asking the builder if your son can watch them drilling for a few minutes. If he can see what they are doing he might be less frightened. We had a lovely builder once who involved my son to the extent of letting him put a few trowels of mortar on a couple of bricks. He loved it and worried less when it came to any noisy work.

[stevesmi]

I can't understand how some are saying "what difference will it make if not informed?". It makes a very big difference to the quality of your life if you know when you can expect some excessive noise. So a little courtesy goes a long way. In my example I was sitting comfortably half dozing half watching the TV at 9.15am having woken up at around 6.30am after the prevoius days lateshift (not nightshift). Suddenly I heard a very loud roaring noise. I shot up half asleep and confused. I didn't know if the building was collapsing or the fridge or washing machine had gone faulty or even a car or aircraft crash was happening or even thoughts of an erathquake were creeping into my mind. I checked everything then eventually ran down the apartment stairs to find my neighbours door open and a workman drilling into the equivalent wall where I had been dozing upstairs. A little courtesy would have prevented all that and my heart palpitations and also the ensuing unnecessary severe argument.

[loobylou10]

I'm sure this work is finished now - 203!!!!

[loobylou10]

2013

[DancingLedge]

Zombie

[Tainbri]

Have you checked the relevant planning permission for what they're having done? Not being funny but if you live in a terrace/semi and the builders are working on the dividing walls it effects your property! Aside from the fact that your neighbours are self centred and rude! I'd be on to the council if they're doing major work and causing a disturbance.