Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To call the council to report neighbour

43 replies

roadtorouen · 28/06/2014 07:48

Our last neighbours moved away and the house was sold to a property developer who seems to be doing the job on the cheap. For months now there have been really dodgy looking workmen in there who have been smashing the windows out with hammers, knocking walls down, burning all the rubbish in huge regular fires that last hours etc. We overlook their garden from the kitchen so it's like living on a building site. They have a massive pile of bricks up against our wall and no regard for other people. You can't even hang your washing out because of the constant fires.

At 7.20am today I was woken up by them throwing scaffolding and making huge crashes. They are now talking at the top of their voices while still banging about. AIBU to think this is far too early for a weekend? I work long hours in the week and have to be up at 6, so I was hoping to sleep in. They were here all week too.

I want to report them. I actually feel like they're affecting my life. I can't sleep past about 7, the smell of the fires leaves a nasty smell in my front room, they are always out there making noise. We are considering moving even though we were happy before.

OP posts:
MostlyMama · 28/06/2014 07:49

Forget the council, call the non emergency police number (101)

Icelollycraving · 28/06/2014 07:54

Call the council. Pretty sure building work can start at 7am possibly 8am on a Saturday. I live in the middle of a new build development & they start early every day.

adsy · 28/06/2014 07:54

WTF is with all this call 101 for everything??
There is no legal time they can start but it is recommended to start noisy DIY no earlier than 8am on Saturdays so they are 40 minutes early according to convention.
Maybe the OP would be better off having a friendly word rather than trying to get them arrested mama

Cabrinha · 28/06/2014 07:54

I think you're on a hiding to nothing about noise after 07:00 tbh, though I'm sympathetic!
Have you kept a diary?
I think if you make a complaint you need to have fact about how often the fires are lit and how long, tbh.
Certainly call the council for advice on complaining, what info you need to keep.
Have you spoken to them at all?
Told them to move the bricks?
Tbh I'm a bit "hmmmm" at you saying 'dodgy looking builders' - how so?

MostlyMama · 28/06/2014 07:56

Thats why I said 101 not 999 adsy, Councils tend to be ineffective IMO

adsy · 28/06/2014 07:57

But it's not a police matter mama. emergency or not.
At the most it would be a civil matter of getting a noise abatement order through the courts / council.
And yes, in what way do the builders look "dodgy?"

insancerre · 28/06/2014 07:58

Dial 101 and report what?
Some builders building?
Just go out and talk to them.
Ask them not to light fires

PixieofCatan · 28/06/2014 07:59

Keep a log and report it. However RE weekends, they can start pretty early. I remember when my parents had four houses being built (in a car park!) next door but one and they reported the early weekend starts, they were laughed at essentially and told that they were perfectly allowed to start as early as they were!

Original poster
roadtorouen · 28/06/2014 07:59

By dodgy I mean I don't thing they are genuine builders by trade. They look like they're making it up as they go along with maximum noise and mess. They set the other neighbour's fence on fire once then panicked.

We have spoken to them and to their boss. Boss is very charming and promises that everything will be finished soon and bricks will be moved (that was over a month ago and they're still there!) Builders don't say much. We mentioned the washing smelling after one of the fires and they apologised but that's it. I've heard them shouting and swearing at another neighbour to am a bit wary tbh.

OP posts:
LIZS · 28/06/2014 07:59

Are there any valid planning permissions on the property , do they place any conditions such as working hours . Are there any H & S shortcuts such as no scaffolding - if so you can report those. Smoke and bonfires are a grey area but keep a log as many councils do have policy on repeated nuisance. Presumably once the house is done up it will either be sold or let so there should be an end in sight. Could you contact the developer and ask to discuss ?

PixieofCatan · 28/06/2014 08:01

To the council, report it to the council. Unless they're actually being nasty to you when you do talk to them about it, the police can't and won't do anything about it. It's the council that deals with fires and noise complaints.

Not sure you can do anything about bricks up against the wall though Confused Have you asked them about that?

superram · 28/06/2014 08:01

You can't do anything about the time. However, it is illegal to burn building waste so I would look on your council website and report it. Please don't call the police, you are wasting their time.

VegetarianHaggis · 28/06/2014 08:03

I though it was illegal to burn waste like that (especially as it is a business) - call the council.

Also how old is the house? Any chance there is asbestos in there?

insancerre · 28/06/2014 08:04

I don't get the issue with the bricks.
Are they on your property?
Its not illegal to do building work as a non builder

HarlotOTara · 28/06/2014 08:06

There are rules about working on a Saturday - 8 am to 1 am on Saturday, I would contact something like building control.

HarlotOTara · 28/06/2014 08:06

Sorry 1pm

hmc · 28/06/2014 08:07

the guidelines

Original poster
roadtorouen · 28/06/2014 08:08

It just feels never ending. They have taken ages to finish this and it seems like every day they needlessly knock a wall down or something. Our garden is covered in rubble and broken glass.

I know it's not illegal to do building work as a non builder but this is a huge job and I don't feel like they're being safe. The house is also quite old (1930s) so there could be asbestos.

OP posts:
adsy · 28/06/2014 08:11

How come your garden is full of rubble? Are they throwing stuff over the wall? If so then you can get that stopped.

Pumpkinpositive · 28/06/2014 08:11

How many months is months?

What could they possibly be doing that takes so long? Confused

cozietoesie · 28/06/2014 08:12

Building Control. They may take a (short) while to get into gear but they grind very small when they do.

PseudoBadger · 28/06/2014 08:15

Police have no legal powers against noise. EHOs hold all the power :o

Joysmum · 28/06/2014 08:20

Personally if the neighbouring house was being done up to be sold and they were being inconsiderate I'd be asking them to be considerate in the first instance, then reminding them if things haven't changed that it'd make things harder for them to sell as they'd have to disclose any neighbourly disputes on the TA6 form and your next step is to go official and assert your rights at any given opportunity, including when viewing might occur, which will affect saleability.

Original poster
roadtorouen · 28/06/2014 08:21

About 4 months. They are completely ripping out the house. All the old fittings have been taken out. Walls have been knocked through. They are replacing all the windows and doing a loft conversion now. There is rubble in our garden because we have a low wall that separates us and a lot if it flies over when it's being smashed up.

OP posts:
Nanny0gg · 28/06/2014 08:25

then reminding them if things haven't changed that it'd make things harder for them to sell

And then they'll rent it out, and who knows what that could lead to?

Could be the nicest neighbours in the world or loads of students or something (yes, I know I'm sterotyping!)