New neighbour being a nightmare

Yanbu. You cannot be expected to put your life on hold because she works nights. I had this exact problem and you have to put some general rules in place.

Your contractors must be allowed to work. The renovations need to be done. Just be mindful, outside of those works that she may be sleeping, and try not to disturb her on other days.

She needs to accept that work is going on next door but that it won't be for ever. She can try ear plugs, white noise etc.

I would post her some earplugs and a nice note explaining that if I hear one more peep out of her she will be listening to heavy metal at full volume for 12 hours a day until she gets the message.....

Was your neighbour aware of your planned works?
I would always inform my neighbours of any work and the schedule, and them ours (although we aren't attached). My husband works nights, and a heads up means he could make alternative plans/changes.

If possible, film her abusiveness and then call the Police.

Every. Single. Time.

Do not pander to her. Tough shit she works nights - thats on her, not you.

Ignore her from now on and call the Police everytime she trespasses on your property to abuse you or your tradesfolk.

Is your house detached?

It's a bit of a tricky one, OP! Workmen and women also have set working hours, and are unlikely to want to work around your neighbour's sleeping habits. You also need a house that works for you and your family and, like you said, work gets done as and when you can afford to do it. Please don't let your neighbour bully you out of your house.

My NDN's reputation precedes him. I avoid dealing with him as much as possible. I just warn the workers, some of whom- alarmingly- know who he is (or, at least, know of his reputation). Perhaps this is partly why some of them have declined doing paid work for me 😒

If she abuses anyone else coming to do work during regular business hours, report her and encourage them to report her too.

Noise is annoying but people are entitled to do work on their homes while being respectful of their neighbours.

I would send her a letter saying you are sorry she is being disturbed but the fact is the house needs working on and you are entitled to have work done in daytime hours. Then I would just ignore her.

Our neighbours did up their house over the course of 18 months. Yes, it was horrible having to listen to all the noise, but totally their right to do it.

I feel for you. We are on the opposite side of the equation with a new neighbour who is being a nightmare with noise (not even diy) after hours. Stick to your guns and work within your legal limit with regards to noise and work.

I think we have been too soft with our crazy noisy neighbour. The minute people think they can get away with being in charge, it gets worse. So I think you need to be firm when you are working within the reasonable regs on noise etc

how I wish our awful neighbours were her neighbours. Unreasonable people never seem to live beside each other!

You are doing nothing wrong, whether she works night or not, the work on your house still needs doing. I think she is trying to intimidate you, to be too scared to make any noise. I wouldn’t bother knocking or posting anything through her door. She has verbally abused your gardener! If she comes out guns blazing, just tell her, the work will carry on until the house is completed and stop verbally abusing everyone. Don’t apologise and just ignore her.

Post her some foam earbuds... And stop apologising

She doesn't own the street.

Obviously workmen are likely to need to do 8-4 or whatever

It's not your fault she works nights. You are perfectly entitled to do work on your home within the legal parameters.

Tell her to get earplugs and if she persists to just FO.

By law you’re allowed to make noise in the day time, however it might be worth working out when she sleeps so that particularly noisy DIY and gardening can take place towards the end of her sleeping period. For example if she sleeps 8-3, you could start work at 1pm and finish at 7pm

Just ignore her and crack on.

Perhaps warn tradesmen you have an unbalanced neighbour.