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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to complain about my neighbour's builders starting work at 9 on a Sunday morning?

47 replies

ogredownstairs · 07/04/2013 11:32

especially as they aren't living there (they moved out to avoid noise and disruption!) Incredibly noisy, sledge hammering, stone cutting, cement mixer, loud radios etc. Has been going on since December, Mon-Sat 7.30-4.30. But not usually Sundays. Now very pissed off!

OP posts:

WeAreEternal · 07/04/2013 13:48

It is seriously irritating but 9am is a pretty reasonable time, even for a Sunday unfortunately.
But 7.30 every day for five months is very annoying.

I would be sending a letter to the owners IIWM asking how much longer the building work is expected to take as the constant noise and disruption is driving you mad.

DontSHOUTTTTTT · 07/04/2013 13:51

Jeez,

Sorry my post was full of typos.

I meant to say that there may well be an out of hours noise abatement team in your council. (Who you should phone right now so they can witness the noise themselves). It's what you pay your rates for .

K8Middleton · 07/04/2013 13:54

I think it's anti social and I'd be pissed off too. Common courtesy would be to at least let you know there would be noise in advance.

I would seethe a bit and then go out.

Wibblypiglikesbananas · 07/04/2013 13:55

I think you should check with your local environmental health team. Two areas I've lived in only allowed this kind of work 8-6 M-F and then 8-1 on a Saturday. Sundays were an absolute no no.

That said, the quicker they crack, on the quicker it'll be over. What do any other neighbours think? Surely you can't be the only people affected by this?

bigbluebus · 07/04/2013 13:57

Check the planning consent - if they have any!
We live next to a field where they have just started building 5 houses. They started up the digger at 8.00 on the Bank Holiday. My DH quickly got dressed and went out and told them to go home. They are only allowed to work M-F 07.30 to 18.00, Sat 08.00 - 13.00 and no work to take place at all on Sundays and Bank Holidays. Thankfully they downed tools and left fairly sharpish!
Those times seem to be fairly standard on Planning Permission, although not sure if they apply to work happening on one house - but worth checking. I know what you mean about just needing a break. In the last few years, we have had houses built opposite us, behind us and now next to us - 3 different building firms, and every one has taken the p**s with regards to the time they could work. They each only did it once though!!!!

JeanPaget · 07/04/2013 13:58

I'm surprised about how relaxed everyone is about it, I'd be furious about being woken up at 9 on a Sunday (possibly because my kids are older now and I've got used to a lie in )

I think months on end of work 6 days a week is soul destroying enough tbh I'd definitely be having words.

PseudoBadger · 07/04/2013 14:01

Links above are correct, no noisy work on Sundays.

Ledkr · 07/04/2013 14:01

We've got all this to come and I'm dreading it.
Next door having total rebuild and extension starts tomorrow.
Its wrong really that the owners stay elsewhere but someone the other side if a few bricks has to tolerate it.
The bit I'm most dreading is being unable to use the garden due to noise and dust and having no privacy.
I know it can't be helped but I'm dreading it and would be annoyed if we didn't get Sundays off.

Ledkr · 07/04/2013 14:06

Oh that's good to know. Does that vary from council to council though?
I'm dreading trying to get dd to nap during it all she does like it quiet [hmm

littleducks · 07/04/2013 14:15

Our neighbour did this, its horrid and exhausting. Most annoyingly he told us he was sound proofing but in fact as they went very open plan its really echoish and we can hear everything now they have moved in!

Montybojangles · 07/04/2013 14:22

Check your local council website. Under noise nuisance (likely in planning and environment) it will give details. Ours says no work permitted on saturday after 1pm, Sundays or bank holidays that creates noise audible outside the boundary of the premises. This does not relate to DIY type activities. As these are contractors I think it would be covered.
I think you need to contact the council.

Montybojangles · 07/04/2013 14:23

That's in Essex by the way.

PseudoBadger · 07/04/2013 14:26

The Control of Pollution Act 1974 allows authorities to restrict timings. I've not come across a council that allows noisy work on a Sunday (except in emergencies like gas/water leaks).

PseudoBadger · 07/04/2013 14:28

And if it's really noisy/intrusive at any time then call the noise team if you have one and they may take action under the environmental protection act 1990. That legislation also covers nuisance from dust/smoke Ledkr

AmberLeaf · 07/04/2013 14:34

I really doubt people would be so understanding if it were their neighbours.

I have had this, 6 days a week was tolerable, but I wanted to chop my head off when it started at 8:30am on a sunday....the only sunday in 14 that I was child free and I cherished the lie in.

It is a pisstake.

MrsCampbellBlack · 07/04/2013 14:37

On the bright side - perhaps the sunday working is a final push before the work is completed?

It is annoying but I think more and more people are extending as the property market is so quiet.

Our neighbours have been doing extensive work for the last 2 years and to be honest I have sort of got used to the noise and can block it out when in the garden. And also we'll be doing extensive works in the next couple of years so I'm hoping we'll have stored up some goodwill.

MrsCampbellBlack · 07/04/2013 14:38

Oh but I thought professional builders couldn't work on sundays because of regulations and only until lunchtimes on Saturday so I'd definitely query that with environmental health.

Ledkr · 07/04/2013 14:43

psuedo the extension is level with my patio and we often eat out there. It's going to be very dusty I should imagine but how can that be helped?
Just hope they dig the footings when it's still so cold.

Original poster

ogredownstairs · 07/04/2013 17:11

Thanks all - we have been out for the day as it was too noisy to stay at home. I've checked the council regs and they should indeed not be doing any noisy work on Sat afternoons or at all on Sunday. I have told them that we're not happy about Sunday working. They're keen to get finished as they are behind schedule. I can sympathise and it's a difficult balance as we've got to live next door to them for the next 5 yrs at least....but I don't see think our house should be made unliveable just so they can meet their schedule. Ho hum.

OP posts:

PseudoBadger · 07/04/2013 17:23

Does your council have a noise team working Sundays?

PseudoBadger · 07/04/2013 17:24

Ledkr some dust prevention measures can be taken such as damping down and a solid barrier between the site and your property see here

DontmindifIdo · 07/04/2013 17:28

I'd contact the neighbours, tell them if it happens again you will be contacting the council - quite frankly, if they are stuck in a hotel for a few more weeks, that's not your problem -week days are fine as I'd assume you can easily be out. But weekends is a bit much.

They need to realise that pissing off your neighbours before moving back into a 'forever' home is never a good idea. I'd not be taking in parcels or making any effort with them if htey didn't clamp down on this.

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