Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

Original poster

AIBU re next door's building work

18 replies

springyticktack · 06/12/2013 14:02

yy I appreciate that building work is noisy. We are conjoined and I work from home.

The new owner initially knocked on my door some time ago (3 months?) saying he'd be doing the building work - all fine. I signed a very basic party wall agreement form saying I'm ok with him developing the property. He's doing a single storey at the back and a double storey at the side (the side which doesn't affect me). He doesn't need planning for the single storey at the back and he hasn't yet put in for planning for the double storey at the side. He is a property developer so it is likely he knows the procedure - he may be putting in for planning for the double storey at a later date.

AIBU to mind that the earth-shattering work started one Monday morning with no warning; that it was impossible for me to work at home and, as I had a project to deliver that Friday, I had to work through the night to deliver it.

AIBU to mind that the builders have their radio on full blast and that the builders working on the extensive scaffolding front and back can see directly into my living room, kitchen and workroom (I work in the latter two rooms).

If he had told me the day the building work was due to start, and how long it is likely it could go on for, I wouldn't mind half, a quarter, as much. As it is I feel beleaguered, upset, tearful, dread coming home. The neighbours on the other side (not conjoined) are retired and also weren't told when the building work was due to start.

So as not to dripfeed: the property (which the new owner and his wife are going to live in) was previously owned by an woman with severe MH problems (who was eventually sectioned) and the house and garden needs extensive work. Two days after the gardeners were clearing the garden - constant chainsaw - a neighbour 2 doors up had a sudden and terrible bereavement: I texted the new owner and asked, very politely, if he could hold off the garden work due to the neighbour's awful bereavement. I had no reply and the garden work stopped. Did he not tell anyone when the building work was due to start because of that incident?

I have spoken to the council who say he is entirely within his rights and that, legally, he didn't have to notify any neighbours when the building work was due to start and how long it could go on for.

Apologies for long post.

OP posts:

UptheChimney · 06/12/2013 14:03

As annoying as it is, you can't expect him not to do the work. Sorry.

paxtecum · 06/12/2013 14:11

I sympathise with you.
Can you buy some cheap net curatins and tack them up for privacy?

Noise defenders over / in your ears may help.

Best wishes to you.

TooTryHard · 06/12/2013 14:17

Yabu but you can ask him to turn the music down. At least he can do something about that.

3littlefrogs · 06/12/2013 14:22

He probably assumed that as he had spoken to you, and you had signed the party wall agreement, the start of the work would not be a surprise. He did stop the garden work when you asked. Maybe he didn't think you would need a warning regarding the actual date the work would start?

I think earplugs and net curtains are the way to go.

domesticslattern · 06/12/2013 14:26

Sorry but unless the hours are totally unreasonable I'm afraid you're going to need to suck it up. That would involve putting your energy into finding another way or place to work (friend's flat? Library?) rather than going over what he should or shouldn't have done.
Estimating when building work will start can be rather difficult as builders suddenly finish one job and become available to start. Estimating an end date is even dodgier. I am very sorry for you- genuinely I know how disturbing it is- but it's going to go on for months so you're going to need to find a workaround. The first few days of digging foundations are unusually noisy btw, likely you will find it quieter next week...

DaddyPigsMistress · 06/12/2013 14:27

Its building work. Its noisy.

ceebie · 06/12/2013 14:27

YABU. Yes it would have been nice for him to inform you. But he doesn't have to. What difference would it have made anyway? At least he informed you that there would be building work - he doesn't have to keep you fully updated. I am certain I forgot to inform my lovely neighbours when work started on our kitchen. I had plenty of other things to think about and overlooked it.

Hassled · 06/12/2013 14:29

I was told when the building work next door to us would start and tbh it's still bloody grim. Knowing when it was going to happen didn't lessen the awfulness of it. Relentless banging and then more banging - I know it needs doing and I haven't said a word but I do want to kill them.

Original poster

springyticktack · 06/12/2013 15:04

I need a workroom for my work ie a lot of space, not possible to do it elsewhere though maybe this is a kick up the bum to get a studio

I have sent him a text, politeness itself, laden and double laden with reasonableness and thanks (and support); asking him how long he thinks it may go on for approx ; saying I work from home and need to plan.

The heavy work at the beginning was unbelievable, impossible to stay in the house, ear-defenders etc wouldn't have made a difference, the entire place was booming and shaking. There will be heavy work further up the line but, hopefully, not directly in the room adjoining my studio.

I will suck it up. I hope the text message was not a bad idea

OP posts:

Ephiny · 06/12/2013 15:07

I do sympathise (we had a similar situation with months of building work next door) but unfortunately it's just one of the hazards of having close neighbours, and of working from home.

He did inform you of his plans, and get your agreement, so it probably didn't occur to him that he needed to tell you again. If for some reason you needed to know the exact date and time the work was starting, maybe you could have asked him?

You could ask to have the music turned down if it's very loud.

Original poster

springyticktack · 06/12/2013 15:12

I feel better for posting it/laying it out, thank you MN free therapy. Puts it into perspective.

It is not reasonable that I felt my sanctuary completely invaded by unbelievable noise, noise, noise and BLOKES! WITH A CLEAR VIEW OF MY LIFE all of a sudden.

My bad.

OP posts:

Original poster

springyticktack · 06/12/2013 15:17

I didn't honestly think he would start the work without knocking on my door (and the other side) to say when it was likely to start. Surely that's just basic form? He didn't have to, there was no legal requirement, but he has my mobile number, a quick text would have sufficed. (but maybe he was put off by my text re the bereaved neighbours..)

OP posts:

GrendelsMum · 06/12/2013 15:43

The radio you can sort out at least. Just go round, ask them to turn it down. Ask them to turn it down every time it gets too loud. If you don't ask, they don't know it's a problem.

I am beset with builders and they are fine about turning the radio down.

UptheChimney · 06/12/2013 18:07

I didn't honestly think he would start the work without knocking on my door
I had lovely neighbours on one side (I was the end terrace) -- we got on really well. They did a huge total renovation, just as I had taken sabbatical to write a book. They didn't give me a start date. My study adjoined their bathroom, which was completely remodelled (their house had been lived & died in by an elderly couple & hadn't been touched for 40 years). It felt & sounded as though the drill was coming straight through the wall and into my skull as it was about level with my head as I sat at my desk.

But I sucked it up. I moved to work elsewhere in the house, or I just put up with it, as I would hope they would out up with my noise. Do as you would be done by, was what I thought.

ljny · 07/12/2013 01:03

Springy, that sounds awful. If he legally doesn't need to notify you - and the shoe's never been on the other foot - he probably doesn't realise how it's turning your whole life upside-down.

Sending you lots of and sympathy.

Good idea to keep hassling the builders about the loud radio.

Can you afford to rent studio space elsewhere?

DoYouLikeMyBaubles · 07/12/2013 01:12

I dunno to be honest, surely if you'd signed something you would expect it at some point. And would you have changed anything if you had had that knock on the door?

It's a pain in the arse but it won't be forever, it's just for now and it is uncomfortable but sometimes you just have to deal. Have you tried some ear plugs or something just for now? However the radio can be sorted out!

holidaysarenice · 07/12/2013 01:55

Have you even been to ask him the plans/how long etc?

mirry2 · 07/12/2013 02:23

I really, really sympathise with the op as the same has happened to me. I don't agree that we should just suck it up. There is such a thing in law as 'quiet enjoyment' and while people are perfectly entitled to carry out building works to their property I really think they should be compelled by law to give fair warning to the closest neighbours about start and end dates

Flip