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Original poster

We've had a noise pollution letter from the council!!!

472 replies

Stillmonday · 17/04/2020 11:26

We aren't big DIYers but February my husband fitted us a new kitchen, it took a whole month inbetween work and he always stopped any noise at 6pm.
Now we are doing some decking in the garden whilst on lockdown. Some sawing, sanding & banging again stops at 6pm.
A letter has just arrived warning us of noise pollution and excessive hammering, banging & use of power tools.

Our neighbour was really annoyed when we had our kitchen, they even recorded the noise it made one day but I tried to explain it was a one off and that's what happens when a new kitchen is being fitted.

Now we are quite shocked to receive the letter but don't know where we stand. Are we allowed to finish the decking or shall we not bother?!

OP posts:
Beautiful3 · 17/04/2020 14:32

I was on your side about the kitchen until you said you started on the decking?! Give your neighbours a break. 2 hours after work and all weekend filled with noise?!!! Leave it a while before doing the decking.

CostaRicaCoffee · 17/04/2020 14:36

When people make a noise complaint the council ask them to keep a diary of it. They then contact the noise makers if they think it appropriate, which they have done.

sleepingpup · 17/04/2020 14:38

The thing is the decking can be fitted during working hours now. No need for 'evenings and weekends.' That is a bonus for everybody.

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amber763 · 17/04/2020 14:41

I laid my decking myself in 2 days. Why on earth is it taking so long? Your husband could surely have this done in a day!!!

Hoggleludo · 17/04/2020 14:41

I haven't RTFT but @GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat put it 100% perfectly.

Hoggleludo · 17/04/2020 14:47

Also. It doesn't seem to matter what anyone says to you here judging by your answers. So carry on and see what happens I guess

fouriershellcorrelation · 17/04/2020 14:55

Seriously, such an arsehole thing to do when you've just put them through a month of installing a new kitchen, especially when they can't leave the house. If it were up to me, council would prosecute you under Environmental Protection Act.

ChicCroissant · 17/04/2020 14:57

So what advice did the letter give you about the noise, OP? You'd need to speak to the Council to see what would happen if the noise continued, but I would expect the letter to outline the steps/what would happen next.

SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 17/04/2020 14:57

You say people aren't reading replies OP, but neither are you! You are determined to believe that you are reasonable, and your neighbours are not. There seems to be a few excuses being made. Don't understand how the power tools are only being used at the bottom of the long garden, unless you have decked your whole garden?

Easilyanxious · 17/04/2020 14:58

Surprised at replies on here if kitchen was done pre lockdown and only just decking now and done in reasonable hours then it's your house . Did neighbours speak to you about the issue ? We had to put up with 20 house built right opposite us from 8-4 mon- fri for about 6-8 months including demolition of old ones . I worked evenings at the time but there was nothing I could do about it . Maybe with decking just do 1 or 2 days of week though rather than a little bit every day so they have some break

ukgift2016 · 17/04/2020 15:01

Omg I would hate you to be my neighbour. Total piss take.

SpillTheTea · 17/04/2020 15:01

They had a whole month of constant noise and now they've got more to listen to. I'm not surprised they've complained. Every morning we get a ton of building noise and it pisses you off after a while. We're in lockdown, be a bit more considerate. You're house can wait.

BacklashStarts · 17/04/2020 15:02

Is the letter legitimate? I’d ring the council and check. If it is ask what’s been submitted and explain for an X week period you did 2 hours diy a day starting after X time and finishing before 6pm as you are reasonable and have a baby. See what they say as if the letter is legit it sounds like your neighbours have falsified their evidence

You’ll get no help on mumsnet as people here hate decking and think everyone should be silent at all times.

Finish your decking.

avotoast1 · 17/04/2020 15:03

I'm really shocked at these responses! I honestly wouldn't mind at all... it's your house you do what you want! You are being respectful and finishing at a reasonable time. Crack on!

FrippEnos · 17/04/2020 15:04

My neighbours might have finished with their DIY projects it is hard to tell until they they start drilling or hammering for however long till they get board of it.

This has been going on for about two years.

Am I jealous? No I am not
I am however very tired of random noise that reverberates through my home.

One of the other neighbours says what he is going to do and when. (never a how long) but at least I know what it happening and why.

fouriershellcorrelation · 17/04/2020 15:06

Great, then perhaps you should move next door to them and enjoy it!

Easilyanxious · 17/04/2020 15:07

All I can say is glad I don't live next door to many on this thread

maryberryslayers · 17/04/2020 15:07

I seriously can't see an issue with what you are doing? Hardly like you're renovating an entire house!
Have none of the people on here ever made improvements to their home?? Do you not think the neighbours could hear you?
Just call the council, clarify what hours you are able to work within and stick to them. As long as you're being considerate and getting things done as fast as possible I wouldn't worry. Don't engage with the neighbours any further if they are going to threaten violence. I'd mention that to the council though.

Thisismytimetoshine · 17/04/2020 15:08

You "honestly wouldn't mind at all" listening to a constant drone of building works next door during a lockdown, avotoast?
I can't believe you're being serious, but if you are; you can't seriously imagine you are in any way representative of the general population, surely?
What sort of simpleton would listen to that by choice?

HavenDilemma · 17/04/2020 15:08

OP ignore the negative posters who seem to be falling over themselves to find you at fault! Of course you can work on your own home! You stopped before 6pm!

There seems to be a new trend on MN of finding any way possible, no matter the stretch, to find the Op at fault. You could mention how you've donated all your money to charity and they'd still find a way to find you to be in the wrong! It's always the same - especially on threads involving noise nuisance! Even if you were only making noise for 2.5minutes - someone on here would try it!!

The letter from the council, unless it states that they plan to investigate, is basically proof that the council have told them there's nothing they can do! However I would still call them and explain that you have been stopping at 6pm as I expect your neighbours will have said it goes on until late!

Moondust001 · 17/04/2020 15:09

I didn't read every page, but it seems that the OP came here to be vindicated because they "knew" they were right. So every single person (the majority) who has suggested otherwise, including the council, is obviously wrong.

I actually like my neighbours, and for the last four weeks the neighbour next door (just a one off job, he was doing the kitchen, which turned into the whole bloody house) and the one across behind me (ditto, only he is also doing the garden!) have been renovating. I am attempting to work from home on large anti-poverty programmes that are supporting thousands of people now (and probably more after the lockdown) and I have been seriously tempted to go around a strangle the both of them. I don't think anyone realises just how much noise and vibration reverberates and echoes to an extent that means it can be worse somewhere else than it is for you.

YABU - four plus weeks of this when people are locked down in their homes and cannot get out is rubbish.

Kordelia · 17/04/2020 15:11

The retired woman threatened to punch my DH in the face when he was doing the kitchen.

What sort of person talks like this even when they're annoyed?

I dislike ageist posts but in this case it is relevant that she's retired as she's not working from home.

The houses on both sides of me (terraced so adjoining) have been worked on off and on over the last few years after changing hands. I was delighted to see them being modernised and the noise wasn't awful or constant. Neither of the owners gave me gifts or consulted me about the noise, and I didn't expect them to, but they're wonderful neighbours.

By the way, I 'm retired and at home much of the day.

Op's neighbours sound unpleasant.

sleepingpup · 17/04/2020 15:15

They had a whole month of constant noise

RTFT. No they didn't

You "honestly wouldn't mind at all" listening to a constant drone of building works next door during a lockdown, avotoast?

RTFT. it's not constant noise. It's putting down some bloody decking.

stardance · 17/04/2020 15:17

I can understand that DIY noise is very annoying but I think as long as it's not early in the morning or late at night it's just one of those things. Jobs need doing and some things just can't be done without noise.

Our neighbours did lots of work when they moved in, the only time it was an issue for us was the day they were using an electric saw of some sort until 10.30pm.

FrippEnos · 17/04/2020 15:17

HavenDilemma

There seems to be a new trend on MN of finding any way possible, no matter the stretch, to find the Op at fault.

How dare people have a different opinion. What is the world coming to?

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