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Neighbours DIY and night shift working

5 replies

Frequency · 06/09/2022 18:14

When is it okay, if ever, to request that your neighbour knocks it on the head with the DIY for a few hours?

Next door started doing some kind of DIY against the party wall. I'm not sure what they're doing but it sounds like they're trying to turn the party wall into a colander from the sound of it.

The start of it happened to coincide with shift one of a four-night run of night shifts for me. On both days the drilling has been consistent from 9 am to lunchtime after that it's intermittent drilling and hammering until 4 pm ish, which in a way is worse than the constant drilling. I'll just be drifting off and the drilling starts and wakes me suddenly.

I have had about 3 hours of sleep in the last 48 hours. I am exhausted. I feel physically ill with it. Obviously, the neighbors are entitled to do DIY and it's not their fault I work nights but is it OK to ask them to take tomorrow off so I can sleep?

Nowhere near us sells earplugs and I physically cannot walk the 20-minute walk to Tesco/the nearest pharmacy to get some. I'd collapse on the way there.

OP posts:
Willbe2under2 · 06/09/2022 18:18

I think it's OK to ask - if it were me I wouldn't mind being asked but whether I agree or not would depend on if the work was important/time critical etc. You could suggest delaying the start or even suggest doing it in the evening if you're not there?

AlwaysLatte · 06/09/2022 18:21

If I knew a neighbour worked nights I'd definitely arrange with them a time when the work would be convenient for them. But I guess now they've started they probably need to finish. Tricky! You could ask how much longer it will be, and make sure they know you're on night shifts and deprived of sleep. Hope you have a better day tomorrow.

LadyGardenersQuestionTime · 06/09/2022 18:21

DH is night shift worker so you have my utmost sympathy. You can ask but they might not be able to stop immediately.

Do they know you work nights? Our neighbours know us well and ask now before noisy building work.

AlwaysLatte · 06/09/2022 18:22

NB if they are planning to continue I'd probably go and stay in a hotel to get some sleep!

Frequency · 06/09/2022 18:27

They know I used to work nights as they used to see me walking home when they were setting off to work but I now work from home 100% so maybe they think I no longer work.

I thought about a hotel but the nearest one doesn't check in until 4pm so it would be no use for tomorrow.

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