Neighbours building work

[GhostHoward]

I probably am BU, but it's also something that's really affecting our lives at the moment.

We live in a largish Victorian terrace. I have three kids (5, 7, 11). Earlier on in the year we had neighbours move in. They're not overly friendly, but say hello if we happen to open the door at the same time, so no problems with them at all.

The first thing they did, was to rip out the bathroom (it was terrible) but the only time work would take place was in the evenings. It was right against my 11yo's wall, and went on for weeks. There were a couple of times that he just couldn't sleep, and it was going on past 9.30pm, so I did go over and ask if they were stopping soon, as it was against my son's wall and he couldn't sleep (there were a few nights he went to bed in my bed to stay away from the noise). They answered the door and said "yeah, nearly finished" and kept going until gone 10.15/10.30. I wasn't impressed, but thought that it was just a one time thing, and that we'd figure it out.

They've just started on their kitchen and downstairs....and the work starts at 6/6.30 and can end after 9.30pm....
It shakes our house and is affecting the boys sleep. I "know" it's short term in the scheme of things, and don't want to complain to them, but they're obviously doing it themselves, so it could be going on for years. My neighbours on the other side have asked me if I'm having work done, because they hear the drilling, so I'm not being precious about the noise.

We're planning on having a lot of work done next year, so I GET it....building work makes noise, but is worth it...but they're doing it at the most antisocial hours for us, so it is grating. (The other next door took over a year to do, but the builders never went past 7pm, knowing that it affected the neighbours so much.)

I know I just have to suck it up, as it's done in legal hours...but AIBU to just feel "ugh" about it.
Reading it back I'm really unreasonable...but it's hard when you live right next to it.

[QuarterMileAtATime]

You’re very nice, OP, and clearly not a complainer. We have just had a loft conversion done: all over in 7 weeks, no noise etc outside hours of 8.30 and 3.30 on weekdays... our PITA neighbour has still found things to complain about - dust on one small side window and one of the scaffolders walked over his drive 🙄

[EL8888]

It sounds like the work is being done at anti-social times. The first house l bought then the neighbours would loan if we did work after 5:45pm 🙄

[GhostHoward]

Thank you. I felt like such a dick the two times I’ve been over.
I don’t want to stop them...but equally, they know I have young children and what time they go to bed.
When we have our work done we’ll be moving out, but I wouldn’t dream of going into the evenings. Legally I think it’s 10/10.30pm....so I have absolutely no leg to stand on...but equally, we have to live together for the next however many years.

[LittleTopic]

Check with your council but I am fairly sure that work is restricted to 7-6 or 8-6 and less on weekends. Their website should tell you.

Get that info then I’d be round to politely ask that they finish at a reasonable time given you have children and it is disturbing you. After that, I’d be reporting it to the council if they don’t stop.

[73Sunglasslover]

My guess would be that they can't afford to move out or pay someone to do this so are doing it around their jobs. Is that right do you think?

[OlaEliza]

but they're doing it at the most antisocial hours for us

Tough shit. They are allowed to make noise until 11.

[TSSDNCOP]

Just because you can, doesn't mean you should though does it? Only a dick does work that late with young kids next door.

[Khione]

Planning permission, when it is needed usually gives a time frame which may vary depending on the council but was between 8 & 6 weekdays, 9 and 2 Saturdays and nothing on Sundays or Bank Holidays.

I know they won't need planning permission for like for like changes to bathroom and kitchen but I am sure that council bylaws would not allow drilling etc to be done up to 10.30.

I would see if it says anything on your council website or give them a ring and ask for guidelines.

A council officer can come out and talk to them without making a huge deal about it. One set of my neighbours complained at least weekly about my house build (I and my builders followed all the rules and kept disruption to the minimum possible) The council came out a few times, confirmed we were following restrictions and being as considerate as possible - and left.

[NoWayNoHow]

I might be wrong, but I don't think antisocial noise and building works fall under the same restrictions, probably because there's a noticeable and obvious difference between music that's a bit loud and ripping down a wall.

Check your council's website

[lynzpynz]

Yeah as @NoWayNoHow said antisocial noise and building work timescales have different regulations, certainly do on my council website. This isn't on and whilst it may indeed be awkward you've tried asking nicely and explained about kid trying to sleep through the wall and still carrying on with loud drilling till 10pm? - report them. They clearly don't care a fig about you or the kids (perfectly normal!) bedtimes. Just remember this when it's your turn for building work and don't do the same back, just because they're inconsiderate twats doesn't mean you have to retaliate in kind.

[Darkstar4855]

This is a difficult one: when I bought my first house I couldn’t afford to pay someone to do work so I had to do a lot of it myself in the evenings after work e.g. sanding floorboards. I’d never do it later than 8pm though. Work until 10-11pm is definitely a bit U.

[AnotherEmma]

Check your council website.

Also, assuming this is a big renovation project (and not a small DIY one) it might come under the laws about construction noise, in which case the hours should be restricted.

www.gov.uk/guidance/noise-nuisances-how-councils-deal-with-complaints#noise-from-construction-works

[Booksandwine80]

@OlaEliza

Glad you’re not my neighbor, you sound vile

[OlaEliza]

That's alright 😁 the neighbours of my detached villa love me.

[Whiskers14]

OlaEliza That's utter bollocks. You can't do DIY or building work until 11pm! Detached villa, my arse as well. Troll off and bother someone else.

[Wheredidigowrongggggg]

OleEliza sums up the Boris Johnson I’m alright jack of what I hope is now the minority of people. Consideration makes the world go round. I so hope there are restrictions you can call on OP to bring your neighbour back in line. In the meantime I’d try a final ‘please could you keep to reasonable 8-6 hours as it’s disturbing my children’s sleep. Eyeball them. Take the children with you.

People can be so selfish sometimes.

[InACheeseAndPickle]

YANBU
@Wheredidigowrongggggg Exactly I can't stand people like @OlaEliza ! Who cares about being decent considerate people as long as I'm legally entitled I'll just crack on regardless.

[OlaEliza]

🤷 @Whiskers14 Think what you like, doesn't bother me while I'm sitting next to my pool in the sunshine.

[Ylvamoon]

I'd have a little chat about it with the neighbor on the line of sleep and having to get up for work on weekdays. How you find it difficult (the same as them) and if it would be possible to not do the very noisy work (drilling) after say 9pm ...
If they do this work around their jobs, you might find a reasonable chat will do the trick... worst case scenario, you find out how long it will take.
Think about it, it is short term and you are planning to do work yourself- I'd be careful as this ca backfire.

[Swimtobreathe]

I think you do need to ask again and then complain to the council if they don't stop. My dad did up two (consecutive) houses in this way, not being able to afford otherwise. However he only did the bigger noisier jobs on the weekends (still not great I appreciate, but if it's done mid day on a Saturday at least theres a chance neighbours will be out, or can have music on or whatever) After work in the week they'd only do work they felt was reasonable so it would be painting/prepping/measuring or using quiet tools (eg for sawing wood, certainly no drilling or hammering into walls). I do remember visiting and finding him still doing DIY at 10pm but it would be with paintbrush in hand, not a power tool!

[ElsieMc]

OlaEliza - are you my neighbours. Sorry op, but a few of us in our village complained about our business people neighbours, Mr and Mrs Important, who have put us all through 6 months of hell with their building work. They breached just about every special condition on their permission. The Council did nothing but write to them which they ignored because they were too important to follow regulations.

Any confrontations with her in particular resulted in tearful meltdowns and counter allegations. One elderly neighbour was accused of screaming aggression and filming her in her bedroom. I was accused of screaming and swearing at her and another neighbour of behaving appallingly. She never stops to consider why her neighbours may be slightly upset because she is so very important.

I take it your neighbours dont have kids themselves. It will be a whole lot different if you begin your works when they have them believe me op.

Sorry I can't offer any more by way of consolation here.

[CycleWoman]

YANBU

We were sort of your neighbours! We moved in to our new house and had to do immediate renovation work to make it habitable. It was external, dusty and noisy, and we felt terrible about it.

Before we started we informed our neighbours how long the work would take and what hours the work would be completed.

Our builders said the generally accepted times for building work are mon to fri (8am to 6pm), Saturday morning (8am to 1pm). But I’m not sure how enforceable that is or whether it’s just a code of conduct. Either way, they never worked outside of those hours and we asked that they didn’t work at the weekends to avoid upsetting the neighbours any more than necessary.

I don’t tbink they have approached it in a very neighbourly way.

[Booksandwine80]

Ooh my house is better than your house ner ner ner ner ner

[GhostHoward]

@ElsieMc
No, no kids...just two VERY yappy daschunds.

Thank you everyone. I assumed the “legal” noise included heavy building works. It’s not like they’re hoovering or just putting up a picture. It’s major drilling into concrete and walls. I’ll look more into it...but equally, I don’t want any objections to the work we have planned (we’re applying to planning permission for it.)

I can’t remember who asked, don’t worry, I have absolutely no plans to do the same back to them. I have other neighbours who I really like and don’t deserve it. (No one deserves it.)
Bad neighbours neighbours on the other side are an elderly couple. I also feel for them as I know they go to bed early.

[GhostHoward]

It's 7pm and they've just started drilling and chiselling outside. There's no light, natural or otherwise...what the fuck?

I'm not feeling sympathetic, having a sick 7yo who needs his sleep.