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Original poster

we are being the noisy neighbours...building work

43 replies

MaryIsA · 15/03/2021 11:40

Extension being built - lots of groundworks - digger, just really noisy. We are in week 4 of noise - there's probably another two week of really noisy stuff.

As the neighours in our sitation would you appreaciate a gesture of some sort?

One neighbour is being lovely as he's about to start the same, the oher has moved out to his daughter's - lockdown related rather than the building I think.

I don't know the neigbours at the back very well...

OP posts:

madmumofteens · 15/03/2021 15:15

Yip I agree terrible time for an extension our BT cable was cut 3 times try working from home and a 3rd year student studying maths neighbour has moved out whilst work getting done relations are not good he was less than sympathetic 😡

Original poster

MaryIsA · 15/03/2021 17:46

On the other hand - good timing as both working from home and we can keep an eye on it and any out of order behaviour. Like bad parking etc.

There's never a good time for this kind of work. At least this way the really noisy groundworks will be finished before people want to start using their gardens again.

OP posts:

TheSmallClangerWhistlesAgain · 15/03/2021 18:11

Please make sure really noisy machines like disc cutters don't get switched on until 9am or so. Many people aren't getting up so early because they are working from home and being woken up by mechanical screeching at half 7 is not pleasant.

Also, I know not everyone likes cats, but do not allow builders to taunt or throw things at passing cats. My dad's cat has apparently been traumatised by next door's builders, who shoo him away aggressively. Actual owners of the house don't mind the cat at all, he's a good mouser and ratter.

GreyhoundG1rl · 15/03/2021 18:15

@MaryIsA

On the other hand - good timing as both working from home and we can keep an eye on it and any out of order behaviour. Like bad parking etc.

There's never a good time for this kind of work. At least this way the really noisy groundworks will be finished before people want to start using their gardens again.

That's a bit tone deaf, op. Good timing for you, sure. But it's not only you that's being affected??

Original poster

MaryIsA · 15/03/2021 18:20

Well yes, granted sorry about the tone deafness. But as a lot of the comments on here are about bad behaviour and parking and people who have let builders get on with it. At least we aren't doing that.

If we left it later in the year - then we are getting into prime using garden territory. And when is wfh really going to stop?

They don't start till after 9 - finish at 4 and don't work on a weekend.

OP posts:

Original poster

MaryIsA · 15/03/2021 18:21

And the builders are very nice to the cat - one of them was sharing a sandwich with him the other lunchtime.

OP posts:

HotChoc10 · 15/03/2021 18:39

Our NDNs spent several months out of the last year renovating. It was horrendous. It's almost worse now as they made everything open plan and tiled all the floors so there's nothing to absorb their normal daily noise now and we can hear everything. I would have appreciated flowers and an apology card or whatever though!

Candleabra · 15/03/2021 19:11

@MaryIsA

On the other hand - good timing as both working from home and we can keep an eye on it and any out of order behaviour. Like bad parking etc.

There's never a good time for this kind of work. At least this way the really noisy groundworks will be finished before people want to start using their gardens again.

Yes I think it's good for you to be about to watch the behaviour. And for your build quality too! Though builders who are disrespectful to the neighbours are unlikely to be conscientious in other areas too. Good luck with your extension. (And, as a neighbour, there's never a good time for work to start so you can't please everyone)

KEVINChristmas · 15/03/2021 19:22

We are the neighbours currently. I have no problem with the hours 8-4, my only concern is Easter. I am hoping for Easter weekend off and will not appreciate being woken up at 8am that weekend.

Hovverry · 15/03/2021 20:50

We had a new house built next door. The builders worked from 9 to 5, no radio, no shouting, kept us informed, were polite and friendly. I missed them when it was finished.
A delivery lorry damaged a neighbour’s car and denied it. The builders promptly paid for the repair.

SARASTRA20 · 25/03/2021 20:03

I would pop a card through the affected doors and let them know the timescale and also leave your number/email if they need to discuss anything. Also some flowers at the end. At the very least it sets a standard of neighbours being nice to each other and that's never a bad thing. Too many people now start building works and don't reach out to any neighbours. People at the moment are dealing with an awful lot so I think generous is best. You could end up making some really nice friends as well.

Krazynights34 · 25/03/2021 21:11

Fuck! This thread is making me anxious!
I’m in a semi-D. We have to extend and refurbish for my disabled DD. Owing to lockdown(s) I’ve only met neighbours by chance outdoors. So far they all seem lovely.
But it’s a housing estate and literally no way I could go round to everyone with flowers/chocolates or any other kind of apology.
I’m trying to comfort myself that a) the work is necessary b) it was open to people to object (our immediate (attached) neighbours did but on the grounds of light restrictions and concerns about the foundations (which I can’t answer yet as we are being held back by the council not deciding on our funding and our architect and a million other things).
It’s obviously no fun to have work going on around you, but these days we are being forced to stay home and this sadly sometimes means disturbing other people

LittleOverwhelmed · 25/03/2021 21:31

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Flaunch · 25/03/2021 21:35

We were the noisy neighbours a couple of years ago. I bought my neighbours a decent amount of red wine to apologise. It has to be done but it isn’t much fun.

crimsonlake · 25/03/2021 22:00

You sound very thoughtful.
My new neighbours moved out for months whilst they virtually remodelled their house and built an extension, meanwhile I had to put up with noise and disruption for months on end.
No communication whatsoever. One afternoon a neighbour rang me to ask me did I object to the tree in my garden being cut down?? Turns out the builders were in my open plan front garden sawing part of my tree off as they were about to start work widening their already 4 car wide drive to turn it in to a virtual car park!
I forgot to add that same neighbour had previously asked me did I object to my side garden wall being moved....turned out I had missed this when I looked at the proposed plans on the council website....they were going to remove part of my wall!
I have since moved but someone suggested spelling out a very rude word in weedkiller all over their front lawn, kind of wish I had had the energy during the move to do that .

Busywithtwolittles · 02/04/2021 18:55

Jumping on the threat... We live in a semi , and the non connecting neighbours are starting a 2 story extension next week. The works are meant to last 6 weeks.

Having 2 little ones I am a bit concerned by the noise that will take place as we are not being kept updated by any party.

How many weeks of disruption will there be?

DeadCertain · 02/04/2021 19:22

We had extensive work done a couple of years ago; I went round beforehand to talk to all the immediate neighbours, kept them updated, sent cards and small Christmas gifts when we had finished (just before Christmas). Everyone was exceptionally nice about it. I made sure noise was minimised as much as possible and the builders were considerate about their parking. Our neighbours have large drives and let me park my car on their drives so that the amount of vehicles in the road was kept to a minimum, although some days there were loads.

I think people just appreciate knowing that you are doing your best to consider their needs, or maybe I am just very lucky with my neighbours.

TheChosenTwo · 02/04/2021 19:54

I don’t know really, we’ve always let our neighbors know in advance when we are planning on starting building work and taken them flowers and wine upon completion of the work. We’ve known them (both sides) for some time now and are friendly, had them over for drinks and vice versa over the years. we’ve done a lot since living here. No builders start work before 8am and they are done by 4, they don’t come here at the weekends.
Our neighbours have never openly expressed annoyance although of course may have grumbled to others, the same as when they’ve had work done to be honest.
Yes it can be a bit annoying but tolerance is important, unless you live in the middle of nowhere you have to expect a certain level of noise.
And if you can let people know a timeframe of of how long the work is expected to go on for, add on two weeks and then hopefully this will account for anything getting in the way (I’m talking about major noisy structural work obviously, things requiring scaffolding rather than just having a couple of blokes just pottering about in and out of your house).

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