Neighbour has complained about Portaloo

The alternative wouldn’t be worth thinking about? Eh? It’s people using the loo. Jesus.

Try having one inside 😧

Op has already said it won’t be emptied until the work has finished. Think she should question this. Bottle of wine and flowers for neighbours would be a nice touch. Apart from that - it’s only 1 month so the neighbours will have to suck it up

This was a requirement of both parties who quoted if we weren’t to allow access to a toilet indoors for the various trades who will be on site (absolutely no chance with the horror stories I’ve read on here and from a couple of friends)....
It’s only £40 a week which I’m more than happy to pay given the alternative wouldn’t be worth thinking about with the stress etc.

I'm just highlighting these little gems again OP as you worked so hard, I wanted to give them the recognition they deserved.

😂

You mean stories like pissing on the floor and seat? They’re all true! Anyway I don’t want workmen coming in at frequent intervals to dump and pee! If someone only has one loo it’s horrible.

If she complains to the council they may send an environmental health officer to check on it. If you're right and it doesn't smell then they will go away happy. I assume it is being emptied and cleaned regularly since this is usually part of the service. When we had one for our building work it was done weekly.

When we were redoing our kitchen, our kitchen supplier asked us if we wanted one. I said "no" and came to regret it in the end but in retrospect if I opted for one, I would have come to regret it anyway as our kitchen nightmare installation went on for 5 months instead of the promised 4-5 weeks!

Still, I don't see it as being the same as the old colonial families making their servants use a separate loo. Our fitter, for example, used our downstairs loo. Naturally, he never removed his boots throughout the installation and I had to live with the dirty floor on a daily basis. If that wasn't enough, he wasn't exactly keen on cleaning up after himself or leaving the window open, so we had to endure that too. Not many people fancy dealing with that after the person or people, who are essentially strangers in their home.

Completely agree with this.

@Helenwalker2 to be honest this is probably a good idea if you value the relationship rather than being right and winning the argument.

Honestly, I'd take a bunch of flowers and a bottle of wine round to the neighbours to say sorry as there really isn't an alternative and give them a time frame for removal. I was grateful for our neighbours being so understanding during our renovation.

The workmen are allowed inside your house, but not allowed to use your toilet? Why? I don't understand. What are all the horror stories you've read about people using a toilet?

@charleschicken This is where it says it won’t be emptied until collection at the end of the job

@Helenwalker2 the woman who lives next door made a comment about it being unsightly and hoping it won’t be there for too long

Yes, ok, it isn't a pretty sight, and I don't know how bad the smell is but you only have 2 weeks left of the planned timeline? It's not like it's going to be there for months! If it's not right under her window, how does she even smell it constantly to complain?

I hope you aren't in a situation like we were with our kitchen when the supplier offered us a portaloo for 4-5 weeks to install the kitchen and then installation turned into a 5 months nightmare! Then you'd really might need to consider what to do next!

I can't see where she said it won't be emptied. If that's the case then that's definitely not usual- we had builders for a long project and the loo was swapped weekly.

If it hasn't been emptied then I think it would be sensible to mention the complaint to the builders and ask them to arrange for it to be emptied. Otherwise just ignore- by the time the council leap into action (if they do) it will be long gone.

Yes, and also as per the op it won’t be emptied until it is collected- so 4 weeks in total without being emptied. That’s grim for the people using it. Even though I think the neighbours are being precious. 2 people living on a boat empty their toilets more than once a month.

I’m amazed that you (and other PPs) would have a portaloo rather that let your trades use a toilet in your house! We had one for one big reno but only because all the water was turned off and all bathrooms ripped out for a month or 2. Once a toilet was installed, the portaloo went.

It reminds me of way back when in the Deep South where white families would have a toilet hut built in the back yard for the black servants to use.

By the time the council do anything it will be gone. You could certainly argue the case for a couple of weeks. In the meantime maybe ask the contractors to make sure they keep it sanitised so there is no smell. Is there room to move it a bit further away from their house, just for the sake of keeping the peace?

As per the OP, it's only been there for 2 weeks so far. It's expected to be there 4 weeks in total.

So has it not been emptied at all yet? 4 weeks without emptying it seems a bit grim but grim for the builders using it, I think your neighbours are being precious if there is genuinely no smell

@VivienneDelacroix Surely it depends what work the workmen are doing though.
When I had 3 months of building work, we had a Portaloo on the drive which the builder ordered as part of the contract. The builders were working outside with limited work needed inside initially. It was a dirty job involving soil/Mud from digging foundations and moving drains, cement, concrete etc. No way would the builders want to be traipsing all that inside the house, nor removing their boots all the time.
I've had other work done, including moving internal stud walls, plastering, new bathrooms, and never had a Portaloo. I've got a downstairs loo by the back door with a tiled floor and the workman are told they can use it, letting themselves in and out of the back door as needed.
Trades coming to do servicing or repairs are always welcome to use the loo if they ask.
But sometimes a Portaloo is the best option and it can legitimately sit on your driveway. It's not always about wanting or not wanting them to use your household facilities.
And those saying they should have access to running water and soap, what do you think trades do on housing developments or those doing roadworks where there are no facilities other than a portaloo? They are used to it and just crack on. Most of them don't bother to wash their hands when they've got access to soap and water anyway!

Yeah, agreed. Obviously they should leave it clean like any toilet trained adult and if they weren't then I'd probably make a polite request the next day. But when they're just using it like normal people? And yeah, that might involve smell, humans don't shit Chanel No 5... well that's what windows, fans and air freshener are for. It's not very pleasant but just use whatever anti smell procedures you use whenever anyone else in the house does the same thing.

These people who are amazed that a person might need a shit while at work, as if being in someone else's house - that is, the workplace for a tradesman! - somehow shuts down the intestines. If you're a tradie then you probably have very early starts and can't always accommodate a perfect poo on the hour. And lay some covers down if you're worried about treading dirt. You're having work done, there's going to be some dirt and dust!

Good enough to do the work, as you say...

I agree with this. I can't imagine not allowing people working for me to use the loo in the house. They're good enough to do the work, but not to use your loo? Do you let them drink from your cups? Touch your kettle? Look you in the eye?
How dehumanising to except then to use a portaloo.

Cleaner here... A night club once.
Trust me the women's was much worse than the men's.

That’s almost double what my neighbours are paying for theirs during building work.

The only time I have noticed any smell is when it is emptied, and the only when I have been outside.

Of course women's loos can be gross but you rarely find piss all over the floor and seat. This is why I hate any gender public toilets. I don't mind sharing the facilities, I DO mind having to tip toe around someone else's urine.