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

[Stillmonday]

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?!

I think it’s incredibly selfish and self absorbed of you to be doing this during lockdown,

In normal circumstances fine- that’s life. Right now? Hell no!

OP I'd keep on. Wouldn't they rather it finished quicker during lockdown than all through summer, if lockdown is lifted by then, to be fit around work?

I'm quite surprised at the hate here. So no one is allowed to improve their homes during lockdown? Balls to that, I have several building sites around my home, in with a 24hr generator that sounds like a jet engine, should I complain about them?

Send them a wee "we're sorry but almost done and will inform you of any other projects in the future' however it's your home and if you're abiding by noise lawas between 8am and 11pm then continue.

You are being more than reasonable with finishing up at 6pm.

Good luck OP.

Aren't decks a bit over? Cause of dreadful rat problems IME.

So many posts about decking and rats. But, not everywhere in the uk has to worry about rats though?

I appreciate that in an area where rats thrive, then best not get decking.

If decking actually caused rats, there would be an environmental health order against decking?

People saying "during a lockdown? Never" well we've NEVER had a lockdown before so have nothing to compare it to.

However people are going on about the neighbour's MH. What about
the OP's and her OH's MH? These projects could be saving them from insanity during this time.

DIY is NOT always about money, people use it as a hobby or.form of escapism too.

OP has stated that these neighbours conplained during a bathroom fitting 4 years ago too. In my eyes the OP is victim of harrassment here.

The LA will not take any action if the noise is caused between 8am and 11pm.

Excuse my spelling and punctuation mistakes, I'm going blind.

They are probably more aware of any noise now that they are in lockdown, a kitchen and decking at once must be pretty noisy. Go and speak to the neighbours ffs

OP - I agree with @NeutralJanet, find out the rules and stick to them rigidly. Neighbours sound lazy and jealous - do up your house and move!

Ffs really? When should the OP do an OUTSIDE project, when it rains? Or what should they use to cut a few pieces of wood, a butter knife, just so it doesn't cause 'unnecessary noise'?! The OP and her DH are also stuck at home, just like the rest of the country, and are trying to make THEIR living space nice. Carry on OP, clearly your neighbours are being picky gits! Speak to the Council monday to clarify and give your version, I'm sure they'll appreciate the call

I think while everyone is on lockdown the worst thing anyone needs to put up with is neighbours banging sawing and hammering day after day. Have you got music on outside at the same time?
Can you not go to your neighbour and agree 2 days a week that you work?, perhaps on a day she shops?
ive totally gutted a house, but I agreed no noise Sun, Sat was 10am-2pm, weekdays was 9am-5pm, no radios or loud music, young children slept 2-3pm each afternoon so we agreed no power tools at that time. I think you need to be respectful, especially at this time when folks cant get to escape your noise.

The council will receive a diary from your neighbour (they’ll be working on this now you have been written, with dates times and type of noise & location of noise In the property) the council will then decide if it warrants recording device in your neighbours home. If they do put the recording devices in they’ll realise you’re enjoying your property making home improvements not raving/arguing etc and been respectful of your neighbours with time cut offs etc. You’re both entiltled to enjoy your home in private without fear of a telling off from the council

Op do what you want!! As long as you’re finished by 6pm its absolutely fine! Do people expect you to not have a lovely kitchen or garden because your neighbors are intolerable of the noise ?? At my workplace there were builders for an entire month! Yes it was annoying , yes it was disturbing but I wouldn’t go and complain because they were well within their rights! Not everyone has a suitcase of money to pay trades men to get work done within a short space of time. Put a note through their door providing a time frame for completion and once completed buy them a bottle of wine !!!!!

OP, we are in the middle of home renovations too. Loft being converted, the kitchen redone after that we plan on improvements to the garden. I know it's not pleasant for neighbours, but what can you do. Do they expect you to not to improve your house when you can? It isn't something that will go on forever. Unfortunately they will have to put up with it for the short term until its done!

It’s annoying for them but not unreasonable and not uncessary. My neighbour sweeps her garden, front and back for about two hours a day. Sometimes twice a day. And then hoovers for another hour every day. Every day. I work from home three days a week so it drives me insane. But I wouldn’t complain as I don’t deem it inconsiderate for her to do that, it’s just the noise of daily life. My other neighbour sells logs for burners and saws wood all day. Annoying but it’s his job. Your noise is probably annoying but necessary and is not indefinite.

I have another neighbor who has three day garden parties every other weekend in the summer with loud music, glass bottles smashing and cars revving up and down until 4-5am. Three nights in a row. The record was four nights in a row until 5am each time. On the second night I could t take it and asked them to turn the music down at 3am. Guess what, they turned it up. That would warrant a complaint to the council and I would have done but a for sale sign went up outside their house shortly after.

Your neighbours sound jealous, as do some of the posters earlier in the post. Grumps. Hope you enjoy your new kitchen and decking😎

Yeah it's kind of annoying I don't really blame them especially on lock down when theyve got nowhere else to go and have to sit and listen to that all the time ! Can you give them a break for a couple of weeks ? Do something a little quieter instead it's just about being considerate tbh

Op:AIBU?
90% of pp: yabu
Op: Ianbu!!
[discussion of the merits of decking]
OP: IASNBU!
New pp: YABU

I am a bit gob smacked by the length of time people think a fitted kitchen by professionals would be. Certainly not a few days. 1st the old kitchen need to be removed, then there has to be plumbers and electricians and or gas fitters doing their bit as well as the actual kitchen fitting and then potentially a tiler in after that. These work men can't all work in a confined space all at the same time! My partner fitted ours and he took about a month to fit it and saved us an absolute fortune. We still had to employ a gas fitter though.
Before the lock down happened we had engaged the services of a professional to re do our decking with the new rot proof decking material. He was meant to be starting at the end of May as he was fully booked up. He estimated the work would take a couple of weeks working every day. We haven't got much choice as our garden is on a steep slope. We have never had problems with rats.

YABU and should be more considerate.

The LA wont take any action because what you are doing is reasonable

Why did they send the letter then?

They always send a letter when there has been a complaint. the complaint wont stand up, people are allowed to do DIY during the day.

That seems such a waste of time and effort then if the person receiving the letter has done nothing against the Council's noise pollution rules.

I'm sure 80% of people on here are not living in the real world or in the middle of the countryside.

People near where I live have been extending their house for the last few years, as soon as one finishes another starts because they can not afford to move to bigger houses.

Unfortunately we are going to have to live with noise from people doing work on their houses and gardens because they want to do something at this time for their own mental well being, and to stave of boredom.

If it‘s legal, you’re allowed to do it. I would only work 8-6 and keep Saturday afternoons and the whole of Sunday free of noise though, which will condemn a noise diary to the council‘s bin.

(Your neighbour should have come around to negotiate quiet times instead of snitching)

That seems such a waste of time and effort then if the person receiving the letter has done nothing against the Council's noise pollution rules.

Yep. The letter just shows the council has received a complaint. Not that the complaint is valid.

The neighbours also complained when they changed their bathroom a few years before.
They are complainers.

OP has checked with council who have said what they are doing is FINE.
( of course )

PS I meant to type 9-6