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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be a little bit annoyed with new neighbours

114 replies

PeriodFeatures · 13/02/2014 19:46

We live in a semi. The house next door was recently brought and the couple are working on it.

About 4 weeks ago at about 7pm it sounded like they were hammering skirting board and drilling walls. Really noisy for ages.

I popped round and ever so nicely asked how long they were going to be, said we were trying to settle baby. They were very apologetic and decent and I wished them well with the work etc.

A couple of weeks ago a man, i assume it was the father of one of the couple popped around to tell us he would be drilling until 7pm. I said thank you for letting us know, he looked really stressed.

A few days before this a storm tore through the gardens ripping down fence between our gardens. We put a note through their letter box saying that we'd cleaned up mess but not sure who is responsible for the fence, perhaps they could look at their deeds and we'd have a look at ours. Happy to go halves. No mention of this by stressed man!

We have now replaced fencing having had no response from neighbours. Monday an abandoned sink was left in front of our house on pavement. Sheepish builder came and removed it

T9onight more drilling until about 15 mins ago. DD woke up crying.

AIBU to be annoyed? Do I sound like an arse? I get they are probably stressed and busy but is it reasonable to be doing noisy diy until 7.30pm on a weeknight? Not to respond to note about damaged fence?

OP posts:

Original poster

PeriodFeatures · 13/02/2014 21:38

Annabelle I think a couple of people responding have suggested that we have replaced fencing then demanded money, totally not the case and typical MN.

I accept that I need to chill out and that now and again the baby will get woken up etc.

I come from a different environment to this naice suburb so am unfamiliar with 'the rules' I guess! There is no community here, it's a shame.

OP posts:

ReginaldBlinker · 13/02/2014 21:39

Yes, but they're not you OP! You have no idea where they've moved from, or what else they have going on in their lives. For some people, the thought of going over and banging on a strangers door (even if it's the stranger right next to you!) is a completely foreign concept.

Accept that you're being unreasonable about the noise, and accept that YOU made the decision to replace the fence. If there's nothing in your deed about it (which would really surprise me, as normally solicitors will flag that sort of thing), then when things have calmed down a bit, perhaps you can have a chat to them, or you can get your own solicitor involved to get it in writing to prevent this type of major catastrophe from happening again.

ReginaldBlinker · 13/02/2014 21:40

Hit "Enter" too early.

For now, what's done is done. You can be annoyed if you so choose, but they're doing absolutely nothing wrong.

Facebaffle · 13/02/2014 21:41

Yabu.

It's not too late to be working and it's not thier problem that you have a young baby. It's crap for you but not much you can do about it.

It's not against the law to be making a noise at that time. It's not even anti social behaviour so not even worth ringing the council.

They've probably got higher priorities than a new fence. Now you've sorted it, I don't think you can ask for the money. Why didn't you just knock on the door and speak to them instead of relying on a response to your note?

Facebaffle · 13/02/2014 21:44

As you look onto your garden from your house, the fence on the left is normally your responsibility < as our neighbour is quick to tell us everytime a fence post or panel is damaged >

TheProsAndConsOfHitchhiking · 13/02/2014 21:44

I just don't know how to behave in this strange urban environemt where people don't speak to each other even when a storm batters through our gardens breaking our things and it needs sorting!

They are probably thinking exactly the same thing, Wondering why You never went round and SPOKE to them about it, Instead they received a note through the door

I think yabu, They have just moved in and are trying to make their new house a home, Surely you can make some allowances for that?

Going round complaining at 7pm when they had only just moved in add a note through the door to that and they have now probably assumed you are 'one of those' neighbours.

Why did the previous neighbours move op? ;)

BakingBad · 13/02/2014 21:45

Your neighbours have just moved house and are trying to make it nice to live in - give them a break.

My DCs (and the neighbours' kids) made far more noise than a hoover (or a drill for that matter!) and tbh I find the noise of screaming children far more annoying.

YABVU and it's bought

Mamafratelli · 13/02/2014 21:48

You do realise that once they have finished their diy your dc is going to be making noise and annoying your neighbours for years and years.

Original poster

PeriodFeatures · 13/02/2014 21:48

Thanks reg it is a teeny thing indeed.

For some people, the thought of going over and banging on a strangers door (even if it's the stranger right next to you!) is a completely foreign concept

Ah, shall I pop round and ask them to lend me a cup of sugar once they are settled in? Help them integrate a bit?!

Accept that you're being unreasonable about the noise, and accept that YOU made the decision to replace the fence

I totally do accept the above. ^^

Solicitors would cost more than fence! I'm not bothered anyway really. I just posted on here because DD woke up crying again because of hammering on wall and my wine was waiting . The fence issue was an addendum, had forgotten about it mostly.

OP posts:

Original poster

PeriodFeatures · 13/02/2014 21:50

They are probably thinking exactly the same thing, Wondering why You never went round and SPOKE to them about it, Instead they received a note through the door

Because they don't live there. They just turn up after work and power tool for a few hours and go away again! They are Never there at weekends, the place is empty!

OP posts:

enriquetheringbearinglizard · 13/02/2014 21:50

We knew all our town neighbours and now in the country have never seen or met the people from the next house in one direction. We've been here 12 years

I wouldn't think replacing fences is a very important issue in the current weather conditions, a lot of people would think it best to wait out the storms really.

Seriously OP you'd be better chilling out. Just put a friendly note or card through the letterbox again asking the people who own the house to get in touch and take it all from there.

Please don't get yourself into even more of a stew, good neighbours are really hard to find.

Original poster

PeriodFeatures · 13/02/2014 21:51

Mama yes!

OP posts:

BakingBad · 13/02/2014 21:56

As you look onto your garden from your house, the fence on the left is normally your responsibility

Not always the case, Facebaffle - in our street it's the fence on the right according to our deeds.

TheProsAndConsOfHitchhiking · 13/02/2014 21:57

If they are not there then how can they respond to the note? they probably picked it up with all the junk mail/ex neighbours letters and binned it!

YeahThatsWhatISaid · 13/02/2014 21:57

There is a lot a of bad advice on this thread and a lot of posters who don't have a clue about noise legislation.

OP, I would call on you nieghbours again and ask if you can have a chat about the noise. Ask if they can give you a heads up if it's going to be a noisy night and try and get them to agree a time when they will stop all noise. Perhaps you can offer them a free pass over the weekend where you can agree that they can use power tools between 9 and 5 (FOR EXAMPLE).

They have to do the work but they should be considerate towards you. I really recommend keeping friendly with them - it's a nightmare having to live next to neighbours that hate you.

I think 7 o'clock for building work/noisy DIY is quite late enough during the week.

DoJo · 13/02/2014 21:58

Our fence is in a right old state - no possibility of it being anyone else's responsibility, but I'm not fixing it until the storms are over because what would be the point? They probably assumed that as you were asking about the deeds, you just meant that when it was actually a sensible time to look at fixing it, you should discuss it, not that you actually wanted them to start hunting out paperwork immediately and get back to you asap.
I think you were kind to sort out the fence, and hopefully not interfering in their renovations schedule will mean that it is all finished nice and early so that when the time comes for open windows and light evenings you will be able to socialise with them a bit more and not have started on the wrong foot!

Ubik1 · 13/02/2014 22:03

Thank your lucky stars you don't live in a Glagow tenement, op!

clam · 13/02/2014 22:04

"As you look onto your garden from your house, the fence on the left is normally your responsibility"
Facebaffle Your neighbour is wrong. It is often considered the case, but not always. In fact, everyone seems to believe it, but it's not true.

Pipbin · 13/02/2014 22:09

Fences on both sides of us came down in the 'St Judes' storm and I've not got round to fixing them yet, mainly because I work full time and haven't had the chance. Also as neither myself or our neighbours are using our gardens then it's not our top priority.

As for the house in this situation...so, they are not living there and are doing it up around their work. Well of course they are going to be drilling in the evenings. Tbh they could be doing an awful lot worse than drilling at 7pm. After 9pm is taking the piss a bit but up to then it fine really. I personally would put up until then as they sound like nice enough people.

I can't believe some people are suggesting calling the police over this. It's someone drilling at 7pm, get a grip.

Pipbin · 13/02/2014 22:10

And the fence, no point fixing it until after the storms is there.

PenguinBear · 13/02/2014 22:13

YABU. 10/11pm no but 8pm is acceptable. They could be at work till 6/7pm!

Nanny0gg · 13/02/2014 22:29

Why does it matter what time the neighbours are at work till?

What if they do late shifts and don't get in till 8pm. Is it okay for them to start drilling then? No, of course not. They do quieter stuff in the evenings and drilling at the weekends.

Even if the OP didn't have a baby, would you want your TV and evening drowned out by next door's noise?

Pipbin · 13/02/2014 22:46

If I read the original post correctly then there have only been two occasions where there has been drilling or noisy in the evening?
If it was every evening, or even a couple of times a week then fair enough but twice is nothing.

Sixweekstowait · 13/02/2014 22:58

God I can't believe some of the attacks on OP. forget the baby, I just couldn't stand noise like that at 8pm. Drilling and hammering is very different from everyday household noise.They have some responsibility in this - why didn't they call round and say that they would be doing work in the evening and give some idea of how many evenings and for how long? And why no weekend days? They found selfish and thoughtless - probably doing up the house to rent it out to the tenants from hell!

HarpyFishwifeTwat · 13/02/2014 23:03

No wonder they seem stressed out having moved next door to Princess Tippy-Toes who is already nagging them about noise and fences.

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