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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think that undertaking major building work in a terraced house every weekend is a bit out of order?

44 replies

CAS77 · 02/03/2012 14:33

The new owners of next door house are doing complete refurb - fair enough, house needs updating. But, in addition to the building work done in the week, they have work done every weekend for the last month. We're not talking a bit of hammering here and there - rather full on banging, from 8.30am until 6pm, both Sat and Sun. It's pretty impossible to be in the house and relax, watch TV etc, baby can't nap either, so we've been going out all day all weekend.

Got no problem with the work done in the week obviously (it's annoying of course but they've got to get it done). But AIBU to think all weekend, every weekend is a bit out of order in a terraced house?

DH and I are tossing up whether to say something if it happens again this weekend but are worried about getting off to a bad start with new neighbours.

OP posts:

poinsetta · 02/03/2012 14:37

I don't think they are meant to do it Sat PMs or Sundays. YANBU if it has been going on for weeks. If it is 1 or 2 then I would cut more slack.

suburbandream · 02/03/2012 14:38

Hmm, tricky one ... they are at least keeping the work within day light hours not banging away all night and if the work needs to be done surely it's best to just get it over with rather than dragging it out for longer by not doing it at weekends? I know it can be unbearable, I lived opposite a building that had major works done, all day every weekday for about a year. At least in my case the weekends were quiet but since I was at home with two pre-schoolers my weekdays were not great!!

sparkle12mar08 · 02/03/2012 16:49

Ring the council and see what the regulations are. If they're in breach then you've got a point to start from, if they're not then you probably just have to suck it up.

bibbityisaporker · 02/03/2012 16:51

Poinsetta is right. Get the council noise team on to it.

Sirzy · 02/03/2012 16:52

If the work needs doing the work needs doing. If they are doing it themselves and work full time monday - friday when else do you expect them to do it?

AgentZigzag · 02/03/2012 17:03

Sounds like they're pulling their finger out and getting stuff done, I know it must be annoying but you should be pleased they're bothered.

Getting it all out of the way instead of stringing it out for 10 years like we have

Our house was such a shit hole when we first bought it we had no choice but to do stuff all the time just to move in.

You can say something to them, but don't expect to be close neighbours afterwards.

AgentZigzag · 02/03/2012 17:04

8.30's a bit early for a weekend start, but I doubt the council will have anything to say about a 6pm finish, that sounds as though they're being considerate and you'd be being petty.

PopcornMouseInBoots · 02/03/2012 17:05

YABU - it's annoying, but it won't go on forever. They can't not do the work

BIWI · 02/03/2012 17:10

Have they been to see you to apologise/acknowledge that they are causing a disruption?

If they haven't, then I don't think it would be unreasonable to go round and at least ask them if they have a date by which they will be finished - and to point out that it is actually very noisy in your house. They may (being charitable) not realise quite how noisy it is.

AllotmentLottie · 02/03/2012 17:12

From Brent council:
www.brent.gov.uk/eh.nsf/Noise%20nuisance/LBB-122

Guidance to professional builders is not Saturday afternoon or Sunday. Does not apply to DIY, but neighbours asked to be reasonable.

Are they DIY or not?

kitbit · 02/03/2012 17:14

We are just about to be those neighbours doing a refurb :o

I have introduced myself to both sides brandishing wine, and although we have a tight schedule we'll be doing non-noisy stuff at weekends for just this reason! I bet they don't realise there's a problem - you can get so focused on getting it finished.

Friendly chat time?

Firawla · 02/03/2012 17:17

I know it must be annoying but they need to get it done & it can't go on forever so I think yabu a bit

TinyPants · 02/03/2012 17:21

When else are they supposed to do it if they both work full time?

valiumredhead · 02/03/2012 17:28

They have to get it down and maybe this is the quickest way. People need to do their houses up that's just life.

valiumredhead · 02/03/2012 17:30

done not down

BackforGood · 02/03/2012 17:31

I know it must be annoying, but, needs must, and it will be over quicker this way.
Maybe you could go round and ask if they might be able to be a bit quieter say before 10 at weekends ?, although, if you've a baby, I can't see you getting to lie in til then anyway ?

PineappleBed · 02/03/2012 17:40

They're in breach of noise regulations. You can only make noise which goes beyond your boundary on Saturday morning. You can't on Saturday afternoon, Sunday or bank holidays.

Talk to them first! Maybe they just havent thought.

If they are off with you contact the councils noise team.

woopsidaisy · 02/03/2012 17:46

YANBU! You are only asking for Sat afternoon and Sunday "off". Yes,they need to get the work done, but people are in titled to some peace and quiet in their own homes, surely!
Maybe the next time you see them you could ask for Sunday "off" even. I cannot imagine anyone would object to letting you have one day away from the noise!

Sirzy · 02/03/2012 17:54

But doing that would mean the work takes twice as long to complete!

AgentZigzag · 02/03/2012 17:57

It's only been for the last month woops, the way the title reads you'd think the OP was going to go on to say for every weekend for the last six months.

Now that would be unreasonable, but four weeks when they've only just moved is pretty normal for most people when they can't afford to move into a house that's already been done up.

Original poster

CAS77 · 02/03/2012 18:03

Thanks everyone for the replies. Suppose I thought that Mon - Fri, 8am - 6pm was when the work would get done really (when the builders are in). At the weekend it seems to be owners plus builders doing work. I don't know - perhaps if they'd talked to us and told us how many weekends it was likely to be then at least we'd know what to expect. Basically we have no break from the noise at all apart from the evenings. Maybe we'll have a polite word to find out what's happening.

OP posts:

Pendeen · 02/03/2012 18:03

If it's DIY work on a domestic property then daytime Saturdays and Sundays is generally accepted as being reasonable however late evenings / early morning or night working would be questionable if on a regular or long term basis.

For contractors the approach is less relaxed.

Northernlurker · 02/03/2012 18:04

Well go ahead and make a fuss but you'll knacker your relationship with them for good. Why not ask if they might leave baby's naptime free - a couple of hours without drilling isn't much to ask.

Original poster

CAS77 · 02/03/2012 18:07

Agentzigzag - they are definitely not short of £. They are renting house nearby while work goes on and have an array of v expensive cars!

OP posts:

AgentZigzag · 02/03/2012 18:08

I agree with Northern about saying when your DC has their nap.

If you go round and introduce yourself to them they might just bring it up themselves without you having to say anything and muddy the neighbourly waters?

Just start chit chatting about what stuff they're doing and the conversation will probably turn to how long they're going to be etc.

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