To not pay for my neighbours flats to be cleaned after building works?

[happyfrogger]

We are 4 weeks into a 6 week renovation on the ground floor flat we just bought in London. We have 2 neighbours above, one on either side and one at the back. We are not living there whilst the work is being done (it's a building site). It's noisy and messy.

We like to think we are considerate and neighbourly, and contacted all the neighbours letting them know our plans and schedule. We have left notes and chocolates with them part way through the works and kept them informed (and continued to apologise for the disruption) along the way.

Unfortunately, they are starting to get impatient. This week we have had a very unhappy email stating how shocked and upset the neighbours are about the state our builders are leaving the place in. They expect the communal hall to be hoovered daily and no building rubbish to be left outside in the front garden at any point. (I believe it's not in their way and personally I would bear with it for this short period). We have asked our builders again to keep it cleared regularly where possible.

I am sympathetic to a point, and we have played a civil and apologetic game. The neighbour DEMANDED her windows were cleaned by us at the end of the work, we happily we said yes of course. We also pointed out we would have communal areas professionally cleaned / carpets washed at the end of the work - and make good any damage or knocks to the communal hall etc.

We visited today to keep them informed. We were met with up-tightness and attitude. I understand it is not nice living amidst this but I'm not sure what else I can do to placate them.

Above all I want to be FAIR. Today's demand was 'I think we (all the neighbours) DESERVE that you pay for all our flats to be cleaned. At which point I said 'unfortunately I think this is a hazzard of flat living, but I'm happy to have all communal areas processionally cleaned, as you know.' Perhaps I object to the word 'deserve' or that I'm being seen as the meal ticket for redecorating the hall (yes they asked for that too). I like the fact that we are moving to an area with people who care about being considerate neighbours but I think they are starting to be unfair and there is little else I feel I can do at this point.

AIBU? What else can I do / suggest that is FAIR and without setting the expectation that I can be walked over just to keep the peace???

[whetherpigshavewings]

That would make for an interesting update! How did everybody get on after the hellish building work the neighbours had to put up with?

happyfrogger are you still around?

[IJustLikeBiscuitsOK]

Well, that's 10 minutes of my life I won't get back. I wonder if OP even still lives there..

[Nith]

It is important that the people here know how others feel

If you really want to give MNers the benefit of your views about bad workmen, start a new thread. There is simply no point in giving your views about a specific situation that happened over 7 years ago.

[Cadent]

@happyfrogger

ok, it sounds like the majority rules here! I will relent and offer to have their flats cleaned at the end of the work.

Yes, it is only a fraction of the cost, but I just object being spoken to so rudely!

And to put it in context, the neighbour didn't get in my good books when she (a) asked our builder to look at her gas leak on our paid time because she thought we must be using her supply with the amount she has been paying recently and (b) said to us today 'the noise was so loud I couldn't hear if the Muslim on the news was going to blow up the houses of parliament or westminster abbey' - WTF?

Plus she is using our roof as a terrace when it's not built/insured for that, so I fear asking her to insure/change that will not make her happy...

Safe to say we will be pleasant but sadly we haven't found our new bff next door!

Thanks for your opinions

said to us today 'the noise was so loud I couldn't hear if the Muslim on the news was going to blow up the houses of parliament or westminster abbey' - WTF?

Zombie, but I hope OP didn't pay for the racist twat's cleaning.

[eatsleepread]

Oh FFS, I didn't even notice

[WhereYouLeftIt]

@BILLYB1111, why in the name of fuck are you resurrecting an EIGHT YEARS OLD THREAD? Are you on glue?

[crosstalk]

Zombie? but I do hope the OP comes back to say how much she had to do and whether she's getting on with her neighbours.

[MuthaFunka61]

Made me chortle

[eatsleepread]

I'd be very, very wary of fucking off my neighbours so majorly before I've even moved in.
Is it worth it?
The builders absolutely should be vacuuming the communal areas regularly, and removing their rubbish each time.
I'm really sorry, but I actually think you sound quite entitled.

[FoonySpucker]

[quote Franklyfrost]@BILLYB1111 is the neighbour. They’ve resurrected the thread because they’ve finally got planning permission for the revenge building works. Their post is a ‘timely reminder’ to let op know why someone’s been using a circular saw on metal sheeting all week.[/quote]

[Franklyfrost]

@BILLYB1111 is the neighbour. They’ve resurrected the thread because they’ve finally got planning permission for the revenge building works. Their post is a ‘timely reminder’ to let op know why someone’s been using a circular saw on metal sheeting all week.

[EveryDayIsADuvetDay]

ZOMBIE

I realised after reading a few replies & getting to one about having windows open because of the hot weather.
@BILLYB1111 - WTF? You think everyone is missing the point? the question was posed SEVEN years ago. OP has probably moved since then, I sincerely hope that she has appeased her neighbours.

[userxx]

My house is filthy from next doors extension and I'm not even joined onto them! I'd pay for the cleaning.

[Throckmorton]

ZOMBIE THREAD!

[GreySkyClouds]

If the building work is causing their flats to be full of dust, then yes you should pay.

If you get on with at least one of your neighbours maybe they’ll let you in so you can see and experience the noise.

Personally, chocolates would make no difference to me.

[FoonySpucker]

If opinions are not required, this post should be removed.

Don't be absurd.
MN don't remove posts just because they are years old
wish they would bloody lock them though

I am curious as to how you found it in the first place?

It is only showing in active now because you posted on it, and lots of people are wasting their time giving advice on a situation that happened 8 years ago.

[Cam77]

It’s a tough one. Normally I’d say your neighbours are being unreasonable but having to put with weeks and weeks of noise, rubbish, builders wandering around, and dust right now at this difficult period must be tough. I dint think you can blame them for throwing a bit of attitude.

[BILLYB1111]

If opinions are not required, this post should be removed.
It is important that the people here know how others feel.
The people may have moved, but untidy workmen are still prevalent in the UK. Hopefullly, the thoughtless flat owner will also get a timely reminder of her inconsiderate behaviour.
I am happy that you replied to my post. It shows that you also care.
Dirty workmen are giving the professionals a bad name.
If it upsets you so much, I will remove my post, but I thought we were living in a democracy, where free speech is allowed.

[Susanshite]

This thread is 8 years old

[AwaAnBileYerHeid]

YANBU. You have been very reasonable, advising them of updates, leaving chocolates, agreeing to pay for communal areas to be cleaned. They are taking the piss now.

[ChronicallyCurious]

Oh 2013

[ChronicallyCurious]

I do think it comes with flat living, yes.

However, I live in a flat and I can imagine how much of a nightmare this must be for them. You’ve literally said yourself that you aren’t living there because it’s too messy and noisy for you. Your neighbours don’t have the luxury of just moving out of their homes for 6 weeks whilst you renovate.

You can hear when one of the neighbours slams a door whilst living in a flat, never mind renovations and I would be fuming, especially as nowhere is open so people have no escape and a lot of people are working from home. I would think carefully about what you do because you could be potentially souring any future relationships with them as you really don’t know what kind of people they are. I’ve lived next to some petty people in my life who hold grudges and have gone out of their way to make neighbours lives miserable.

[FoonySpucker]

@BILLYB1111

As a goodwill gesture, every leaseholder in the building should be compensated financially, with a letter of apology.

This happened in 2013 - they are probably over it by now.

WHY, JUST WHY did you resurrect a thread that is over 8 years old??????

[2020Raquet]

As someone currently living in a flat and has neighbours renovating just their kitchen, I think anyone undertaking major renovation works in a flat or attached house at the moment is incredible selfish. Many of us are working from home/home schooling/zoom calls with constant banging and drilling and due to the “stay at home” restrictions, are unable to escape the constant noise. At the moment we can’t even escape to work in a coffee shop. Plus all the builders in the communal areas increasing the risk for everyone living there.

[Jenasaurus]

This thread was nearly a decade ago, Op has probably moved out by now.