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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:
AmIAStone · 17/04/2020 11:35

Maybe let them know when you will do it? Doing it all in a few days and getting it done is far less stressful than a half hour here and there popping up. It’s also the wiring for the noise not knowing that is super super stressful

goodwinter · 17/04/2020 11:35

How are people supposed to get any work done to their house if they can't even make noise before 6pm? I'm surprised at the replies here. Ok possibly the noise has more impact on your neighbours right now as presumably they're home much more than usual and so can't get away from it... But to complain about the kitchen noise pre-lockdown seems way excessive to me.

If you want to be neighbourly, I would say delay finishing until restrictions are lifted. But in normal times, as long as you're respecting the laws around making noise during unsociable hours, then what else can you do?

Original poster
Stillmonday · 17/04/2020 11:36

Yes we can stop the work for some of the day. But they never said the garden was an issue so we've had no comms with them since my neighbour complained about us putting the kitchen in.

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OhhhPeee · 17/04/2020 11:36

The kitchen was “a one off”...but now you’ve started decking. And it’s not like they can go anywhere to get away from the noise. Some people are much more sensitive to noise than others, it seems unfair to inflict this on your neighbours when they can’t go out. Can’t you leave it til the end of the lockdown as a gesture of goodwill?

Scabetty · 17/04/2020 11:36

What! My neighbours had a year ling ‘project’ running 7 days a week to sometimes 8.30 pm. My kids were revising to drilling for GCSEs and A Levels. Neighbours had moved out. We never complained though it was annoying.

TwentyViginti · 17/04/2020 11:36

So you finished one noisy project then started another, during lockdown? I can understand your neighbour's complaint.

Scabetty · 17/04/2020 11:37

Just carry on doing your decking.

Thisismytimetoshine · 17/04/2020 11:37

God, don't be so ridiculous Hmm. Trying to justify your "one off" nonsense by saying each individual job is a one off 🤦‍♀️

LoisLittsLover · 17/04/2020 11:38

I think the difficulty is that in your head you have a plan for for instance 4 weeks of banging then rewarded by a nice kitchen, and you can see the progress. The neighbours know none of this so only hear banging, which after 3 weeks might go on forever for all they know. A short note setting out your plans may help restore neighbourly relations and give them the reassurance that it isn't just going to go on forever. We always do this to our neighbours for any noisy works no matter what the duration, and they reciprocate. Plus a bottle of wine for anything that really inconveniences them

NoMorePoliticsPlease · 17/04/2020 11:40

This may go pear shaped for the neighbours if they come to sell their house and are asked if they have ever made a complaint to the council

Original poster
Stillmonday · 17/04/2020 11:40

So You are saying that because we've had a new kitchen then we can't possibly do the garden. It's one or the other? It's my garden but when I'm in there house I can't hear any noise.

We could wait until lockdown is over but then we are back at work so would be same situation as the kitchen time wise.

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 17/04/2020 11:40

I do feel for your neighbours. In normal times then they could just leave the house to get away from the noise but they can’t now.

If you are lucky enough to have a garden then it’s not unreasonable to want to sit in it in peace at the moment.

majesticallyawkward · 17/04/2020 11:41

So neighbours complain about the noise, you say it's a one off then start another project? You see the issue there surely?

It's quite difficult to get a council to take action about noise, if a letter has been sent it's more than you claim here.

lljkk · 17/04/2020 11:41

eek, this wouldn't matter so much if your neighbours weren't trapped at home, too. So sorry you got this letter, OP. You need to ring the council. Hype up that the deck is a safety hazard if you just leave it (if you can).

Original poster
Stillmonday · 17/04/2020 11:42

We did tell them we were doing the kitchen in advance, they still complained about the noise.

We had a bathroom fitted 4 years ago and they complained about that too.

Is 4 years gap not enough?

OP posts:
IsadoraQuagmire · 17/04/2020 11:43

I'd hate to be your neighbour!Hmm

Sparklingbrook · 17/04/2020 11:43

I imagine it’s all about the decking now, not previous DIY projects.

PleaseStopCrying · 17/04/2020 11:44

So You are saying that because we've had a new kitchen then we can't possibly do the garden. It's one or the other?

Well no but it's a very self centred way of looking at the issue. Its clear you don't like them but given they cannot go anywhere surely the nice neighbourly thing to do would be to not undertake another project when they are stuck in lockdown??

Lucked · 17/04/2020 11:45

Well almost all DIY is a once off!

How much longer will your decking take? You could go speak to them and sort out a schedule.

KnobwithaK · 17/04/2020 11:45

Do you have the neighbours email address? Why don't you write to them giving an estimate of how long (in hours) the work will take to complete and ask them what hours of the day would be least disruptive to them?

Scabetty · 17/04/2020 11:46

Why couldn’t they knock and agree with you hours that work can take place like reasonable people. Carry on and let the council visit.

Original poster
Stillmonday · 17/04/2020 11:46

The one off I refer to was the noise they recorded as a cupboard was being fixed to our adjoining wall.

The was the one off.

OP posts:
Original poster
Stillmonday · 17/04/2020 11:47

Decking will take a few more days, maybe a week

OP posts:
EvilPea · 17/04/2020 11:47

I think it’s probably the frequency and succession of two noisy projects, carried out after work so the times they want to relax.

I think your neighbours were wrong to go straight to council. But they were probably concerned it would be the next project and then the next one and then the next.

I would pop a note apologising explaining that is it now through the door with some chocolates orsomething and deal with the council desperately. That way you’ll come across as approachable next time

Thighmageddon · 17/04/2020 11:48

God you sound like my neighbours 'making their house nice'. The constant sawing, banging and hammering means I can't even have the back door open these days because of the constant need for DIY.

Please just give them a break, pay someone to do your next 'one off' job to get it done in a few days rather than a bloody month.

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