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???

I live in a terraced house and I had some work done (replacing roof) and now rebuilding steps that lead to the front door of the house.
My neighbour (a few guys who rent the house next door) has asked today how long the works will last because his carpet is getting dirty.

Now, the builders are keeping everything fairly organised, and the work is happening in front of my house (not theirs). The work on the steps has been going on for the past 3 days, and will be finished in 2 days' time. I am just wondering what right they will have to ask me for cleaning their carpets? (They are filthy guys anyways, the house smells like it has not been cleaned for a long long when they open the windows)

I'd start a new thread, not post on an old one, because reviving zombies annoys people.

As to your problem, I think they are trying it on, tbh, if it is as you describe. So long as the builders are being considerate, I can't really see how they can blame you for he dirt.

Did you deliberately go hunting for a Zombie Thread barbaraluton? I've never understood people who do this!

I think you are all missing the point here. It is also the responsibility of the contractor to keep the communal areas clean and tidy.
A qualified tradesman will have served an apprenticeship and being tidy, especially in shared buildings is part of the training.
It is unacceptable to behave in this way.
The neighbours are well within their rights to expect the communal areas to be kept clean. The fact that the neighbours are complaining is an indication that the contractors are not behaving themselves.
All flooring and wall areas should be fully sheeted and the site should be cleaned properly at the end of every day.
These poor people must be going through hell. Dirty, untidy, communal areas can make a property difficult to sell and could reduce the value of the other flats in the building.
As a goodwill gesture, every leaseholder in the building should be compensated financially, with a letter of apology.
Sadly, these days, most contractors think they are above cleaning.

Zombie!!

Why do posters find and bump.

Why the actual fuck has this thread been resurrected...twice?!

I read nearly a full page before I realised this was a zombie 😩

Jesus you sound awful!!! Dust going in their flats? Constant builders mess in the communal hall?

We have builders in they hoover EVERY DAY - it takes 10 minutes. Totalyl unacceptable to allow mess to build up like that.

I actually wonder if this is a reverse - you are causing major disruption and they can't open their windows? Is this a joke? you dont want to clean their homes?

How do people find posts so old?!!

Read the first 2 and last wasting 2 minutes.

These poor people must be going through hell

If the building work is still going on 8 years later then I imagine they have bigger issues than a flat clean at a this point ...

We had an issue with flat roof being used by tenant in our flat although there was a notice on the access door only to be used in emergency/fire. The flat roof was lead, damaged by heavy furniture and pot plants, water went through damaging downstairs ceiling which we paid to have repaired. Council building control said structurally was not strong enough to be used, consequently we couldn't claim on insurance for repairs.

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

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.

@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??????

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.

Oh 2013

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.

This thread is 8 years old

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.

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.

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.

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.

ZOMBIE THREAD!