Can I complain about noise from neighbour

[redferrari]

Our neighbours had been extending/building house and it's going on for 2 years now. When we all used to be at work it didn't affect us. Unfortunately now we all wfh and are home a lot and noise seems non stop. They are not very chatty and my husband has tried to speak but have been told they are busy and don't reply to mails. Would reporting to council help? Lost for ideas this is our first home not forever as this area is not the right for us but close to work and logistics made sense when we purchased it. Any ideas or if anyone faced similar what worked for you? Thanks

Depends on the hours they are noisy they must settle down at a certain time legally check your council website for guidelines

I don’t know too much about this, but IIRC if you are selling your house you have to declare any disputes with your neighbours. This would make me personally want to hold back from making an official complaint. Surely the work will be finished at some point?

If they’re working within reasonable hours they have a right to do building work on their house. The council won’t be interested in you wanting quiet because you’re not out at work atm. You’re not entitled to it.

So long as they are working between the normal hours where they are allowed, off the top of my head I think it's 8 am, possibly to early evening? Then unfortunately you won't have a leg to stand on not worth the hassle of causing a dispute.

Think yourself lucky, it'll be done and dusted soon.
My friend lives next door to a house, they started almost 2 1/2 years ago, no sign of finishing. The other side of their property they only finished a 2 year build this summer. Beyond that house they've been building an estate for 7 years.
You need to check they're working within the times stated- eg not before 8am and not after 1pm Saturdays and not on Sundays-check council regulations plus anything specific to their planning permission- both my friend's neighbours' builds have not stuck to that! If work is going on outside those hours, then you can involve the council.

Many thanks all! They do work between 9-6 but I can hear the vacuum cleaning after 7 sometimes. They retired early and are doing the work little by little. Sometimes for weeks it's very quiet and sometimes they drill and hammer all day. I guess it's one of those things you learn to live with. Our office is closed as we have a mandatory wfh policy so I am stuck home up-to September. I am considering getting some noise cancellation headphones.

Yes, it is something you have to learn to live with.

Vacuum cleaning after 7? When is vacuum cleaning cut off? 😮

vaccuming after 7 is not late!

From the hours you’ve posted they’re not doing anything wrong and the council won’t be interested because they’re not breaching noise guidelines.

I think you're in for a rude awakening!

Noise issues with neighbours have to be pretty bad before councils will do anything unfortunately and as a pp mentioned it backfires on you when you come to sell as you have to declare if anything's been made official.

Check your councils bylaws on this as the times and levels vary by council. Where I live 0700-2300 are considered ok hours to make noise which meant I've had to tolerate diy at 0730 on a Sunday morning! Among other issues. My neighbours are selfish arses but are savvy enough to stick JUST within local bylaws and so escape censure

And frankly hoovering after 7 pm is not unreasonable anyway! Many people aren't home on a workday until after 7pm that was certainly the case for me when I was working full time and commuting. If I'd not been able to hoover after that time there'd have only been one day a week I could hoover!

This is part of living among others I'm afraid and unless and until you can afford a detached property you just have to get used to it.

I never turn the vacuum on after 6.30 pm, next door have kids who go to bed by 7ish. Mine son goes to bed by 7.30 pm (usual routine we all left home for 8am when we used to go to work/breakfast clubs at school). I always think it's not nice to run it very close to bed time. It's not just a quick one, I hear it go on for an hour. I suspect all the diy must leave lot of dust and hence the cleaning. I would never do it very late. I think I was very lucky where I rented before and never thought of all this. Thanks for your replies.

It's a semi detached and the noise is heard a lot from my sons room. I can sleep through any noise but he is a light sleeper. But I rented a mid-terrace and never had this kind is issue. Agree that working people might not have time early in the day (I only do mine twice a week when we used to go to work) now I do it most days during lunch break as all are home and going in and out garden (cordless dyson has been lifesaver)

I never turn the vacuum on after 6.30 pm, next door have kids who go to bed by 7ish. Mine son goes to bed by 7.30 pm (usual routine we all left home for 8am when we used to go to work/breakfast clubs at school). I always think it's not nice to run it very close to bed time.

Your children’s bedtime isn’t anyone else’s concern, OP. People can’t alter their lives for you and your kids. There’s nothing wrong with vacuuming until 10pm.

What's considered reasonable noise depends on the volume and the time of day, but construction over two years won't be treated any differently to construction over two months. I've no doubt it's frustrating, I hate building noise myself, but they're working at entirely reasonable times. (Unlike my own neighbours, who've done DIY as late as 1 am!)

You sound quite intolerant of neighbouring noise overall if you think hoovering after 7pm is an issue.

I see a detached house in your future.

I was kind of with you op till you mentioned hoovering after seven. It would seem they work within day time hours and they are permitted to hoover after seven.

It would seem youre intolerant to any noise from your neighbours. I would not complain as you will be wasting folks time.

You need to get over it. You can’t complain.

Thanks all, decided not to do anything about it. Today the banging from 8.30 am. I think they are working on the shared wall so its quite bad. Just ended up going for a walk until it started pouring. Trying to focus on other things now to distract myself.

Thanks all, decided not to do anything about it.

Short of speaking to them about it, you can’t do anything about it.

8:30am is not too early. Noise complaints are addressed between 11pm and 7am.

It’s unfortunate and I sympathise, but they’re not unreasonable to work on their home in appropriate hours.