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Neighbour has complained about Portaloo

265 replies

Helenwalker2 · 10/11/2025 17:24

We are having some work done on our house which has required a portaloo to be placed at the front. 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).

Our property is at the end of our street so we have only one direct neighbour. When it was first delivered the woman who lives next door made a comment about it being unsightly and hoping it won’t be there for too long - I confirmed the works are going to take up to 3-4 weeks but would keep her updated.

We are 2 weeks on, and this morning our neighbours husband knocked. He said they are unhappy with the smell and want us to move it to the back of our house in the garden. I confirmed we had previously asked and this wasn’t possible. Note we don’t believe there to be any smell albeit were away this weekend.

The woman then knocked this afternoon. Moaning about how bad it smelt at the weekend and how we are unreasonable to have placed it outside the front of our house and so close to their windows.

I said the work is still on plan and it will be gone in the next week or two. She then said she is going to complain to the council as they’ve had ‘advice’ that it isn’t permissible to place portaloos at the front of houses where there’s an attached house (as both ours is being semi detached).

AIBU to stand firm? We don’t believe there’s any truth in what she’s said and by the time the council get round to doing anything, it should be gone.

OP posts:
NovemberMorn · 10/11/2025 18:54

Helenwalker2 · 10/11/2025 18:18

I’m not sure, and don’t fancy physically checking!

Sounds like someone is a neighbour from hell.
If your neighbour is not usually the complaining sort....it sounds like it might be you.

runwithme · 10/11/2025 18:51

When we had workmen they would turn up at 8am, and take it in turns to use the toilet. I can't say I timed them but they were not in and out. Each and every time it was left dirty. The timing of it (just before the kids were going to school and DH heading out to work) was inconvenient, and the kids refused to go in straight after, because of the smell. This went on a few days and I had no choice but to complain. The boss thought I was being ridiculous and said "I will tell them not to use the loo all day then" , but all I wanted was a little consideration. If I knew it was they cheap to hire a portaloo I would definitely have got one

Praying4Peace · 10/11/2025 18:50

MyballsareSandy2015 · 10/11/2025 17:38

Ignore her! Silly mare. My neighbours have had one in their front garden since May and I’ve never smelt it … even during our long hot summer so I doubt she’s smelling anything in Nov!

Not fair.
I'm sure the neighbour isn't complaining for no reason.
I wouldn't have a problem with workmen using my toilet but I fully appreciate that some wouldn't want this

AndeanFlamingo · 10/11/2025 18:50

Your neighbour is being ridiculous. We had work done over the summer, which ended up stretching to nearly three months. The portaloo was in more or less the same place as yours with respect to our attached neighbour and no-one had any problem with it. Our builders didn't even give us a choice, the portaloo was part of the quote. We were happy to provide it and I think they were equally happy to keep out of our way and keep all (most of anyway) the dust and dirt away from the top floor.

bigboykitty · 10/11/2025 18:46

It never ceases to amaze me, the things that privileged middle class people feel they're entitled to complain about. Check with the council and if there's no issue, tell the neighbours not to approach you again, otherwise you might decide to keep it permanently as an extra facility. Seriously, what's wrong with people?

takealettermsjones · 10/11/2025 18:45

Helenwalker2 · 10/11/2025 18:34

The workmen are in the house when needed - they just aren’t using the toilet.

What do you think the workmen are going to do to your toilet?!

lucylox · 10/11/2025 18:44

PastaAllaNorma · 10/11/2025 18:41

@lucylox , it's actually very common for builders to price in a portaloo - they don't want to have to be taking boots off and asking to use the toilet every day across a substantial project. Especially if the family are needing to use the toilet as well.

Lots of the extensions locally have had portaloos in the front garden (problems of access to empty them if in the back.)

As I said, I have a few feet from my door in the NDN's garden and it's no more unsightly than the scaffolding, huge piles of building supplies, and mountain of brick and rubble awaiting disposal in what used to be their front garden.

When people get building work, neighbours just have to get over themselves and be tolerant. It won't last forever.

I get that but the fact that the op has specifically said she won’t allow the builders to use her loo makes it sound like she is shirking any inconvenience for her and passing it along to her neighbours, which I think is a bit off when it’s work being done on her property.

Helenwalker2 · 10/11/2025 18:44

Blodyneighbour · 10/11/2025 18:35

Me too. DIAGRAM please

This is as fancy as I can manage I’m afraid! The cylinder shape being the offending loo.

Neighbour has complained about Portaloo
OP posts:
FullLondonEye · 10/11/2025 18:42

Screwyousimon · 10/11/2025 17:50

No she isn’t. Who wants workmen traipsing through their house? Especially if the only loo is upstairs.

OP ignore them!

You say it as if they were aliens - workmen are human beings! There is no reason they shouldn't be allowed to use a toilet in the house. What awful stories have you heard that mean you won't allow it, @Helenwalker2 ? My husband is a tradesman and he treats his customers' houses as he would his own. I wouldn't want him working somewhere if he's get treated like this. Are you Hyacinth Bucket?

PastaAllaNorma · 10/11/2025 18:41

@lucylox , it's actually very common for builders to price in a portaloo - they don't want to have to be taking boots off and asking to use the toilet every day across a substantial project. Especially if the family are needing to use the toilet as well.

Lots of the extensions locally have had portaloos in the front garden (problems of access to empty them if in the back.)

As I said, I have a few feet from my door in the NDN's garden and it's no more unsightly than the scaffolding, huge piles of building supplies, and mountain of brick and rubble awaiting disposal in what used to be their front garden.

When people get building work, neighbours just have to get over themselves and be tolerant. It won't last forever.

TheatricalLife · 10/11/2025 18:38

Just placate them OP. Arrange to get it emptied and ask if the builders can put up a screen between the loo and the neighbours house. It won't take much and will save you from a crap relationship with your neighbours.

lucylox · 10/11/2025 18:38

MzHz · 10/11/2025 18:36

🤣 tell me you’ve never had builders in without telling me you’ve never had builders in.

ONE dump and you’re scarred for life

Does a builders dump differ much from other people’s dumps? Is it a tradesman thing? Or just builders specifically?

MzHz · 10/11/2025 18:36

Redpeach · 10/11/2025 17:36

Wouldn't it be cheaper and easier to let them use yours and employ a cleaner? Have you never had a party? Same difference

🤣 tell me you’ve never had builders in without telling me you’ve never had builders in.

ONE dump and you’re scarred for life

lucylox · 10/11/2025 18:35

Helenwalker2 · 10/11/2025 18:34

The workmen are in the house when needed - they just aren’t using the toilet.

Yes I get that. Hence the portaloo. The point still remains.

Blodyneighbour · 10/11/2025 18:35

3hairspastfreckle · 10/11/2025 18:23

I'm disappointed at the lack of diagram thus far

Me too. DIAGRAM please

Helenwalker2 · 10/11/2025 18:34

lucylox · 10/11/2025 18:33

Of course I have. But I don’t think I’d want one outside of my house for weeks either. It’s just a bit grim isn’t it?
My point is that you’ve chosen not to allow the workmen into your home but now you’re expecting the neighbours to deal with the fallout from that choice. Rightly or wrongly it’s clearly bothering them and the work on your house is of no benefit to them.

Edited to add…the ‘kindly’ wasn’t needed, it sounds a bit like you think I’m a moron for having a different view 😂

Edited

The workmen are in the house when needed - they just aren’t using the toilet.

OP posts:
lucylox · 10/11/2025 18:33

Helenwalker2 · 10/11/2025 18:30

Kindly, have you seen a portaloo before? Nothing is visible, anyone using it is obscured.

Of course I have. But I don’t think I’d want one outside of my house for weeks either. It’s just a bit grim isn’t it?
My point is that you’ve chosen not to allow the workmen into your home but now you’re expecting the neighbours to deal with the fallout from that choice. Rightly or wrongly it’s clearly bothering them and the work on your house is of no benefit to them.

Edited to add…the ‘kindly’ wasn’t needed, it sounds a bit like you think I’m a moron for having a different view 😂

waitam · 10/11/2025 18:32

Is the work being done to the inside/outside only/ or both? Are you living there while it's being done? The answers would colour my answer about you using the port a potty in your front garden and not allowing the workment indoors!

I often think that people who complain about their neighbours are actually envious of them getting work done, also - if you have not long moved in, they are asserting their rights to rule the road!

Either way, I'd go in and explain that it can't be moved and it will not be there for much longer and say I hope you understand. Then when works are done go round with a big box of chocs and a nice bottle of vino. Stay friendly if you can, it's not worth falling out over.

MrsMoastyToasty · 10/11/2025 18:31

Get it emptied/changed for a new one.

Festering pee and poo isn't nice (and I speak as someone who has visited a fair few sewage treatment works in my working life!).

Helenwalker2 · 10/11/2025 18:30

lucylox · 10/11/2025 18:28

So you don’t want the builders accessing your home to use the loo but you think it’s fine for your neighbours to see and smell the toilet outside of their home?

Kindly, have you seen a portaloo before? Nothing is visible, anyone using it is obscured.

OP posts:
Owly11 · 10/11/2025 18:30

I would move it. It sounds as if it is right by their house. Or just get rid of it and let the workmen use your toilet. Not sure what horror stories you have heard about that.

lucylox · 10/11/2025 18:28

So you don’t want the builders accessing your home to use the loo but you think it’s fine for your neighbours to see and smell the toilet outside of their home?

Theonewhogotthecake · 10/11/2025 18:27

Request to get the portaloo emptied

Moontwigdotcom · 10/11/2025 18:26

Meadowfinch · 10/11/2025 17:59

Let her complain. She's being absurd.

She must have a super human sense of smell, given that the loo in your garden, she almost certainly has double glazing, and the prevailing temperature is now 15 degrees or below.

I suspect she just doesn't like how it looks.

This

we had a complaint from a neighbour about building work, via the council, the letter has a 10d window to reply, we left it until near then end of this, by which time the job was finished. the council cheerfully closed the case.

HildegardP · 10/11/2025 18:26

AmberRose86 · 10/11/2025 17:34

Out of interest, how much extra do you have to pay to keep the riff raff from using your toilet for the use of a portaloo?

If there are more than 7 workers onsite & the OP has only one loo in her house she's legally obliged to cover provision of the portaloo. See; Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, & HSE regs.