Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

My neigbour building

27 replies

ginorwine · 02/04/2017 11:13

My neigbour has been building as a hobby an outside office at the end of our garden for a year now
He bangs daily or taps saws etc
He us very slow and exact
The building has solid foundations and is wood with what will be full insulation , velum window and French doors . It is about 8 foot high or a bit more as well as About 12 by 10 . It is within 3 feet of my garden right next to my little five foot summer house - only 5 long and high by 4 foot .
It was my quiet place but I fully understand his wish to build .
As he bangs 6 days a week we have asked for Sunday s off as it gets wearing as it's very disruptive to be in garden .
Today he is banging on the house .
Am I being unreasonable wanting one day off in a week ?

OP posts:
Astro55 · 02/04/2017 11:15

I thought they had to comply within times - I'll have a look

Original poster
ginorwine · 02/04/2017 11:19

Does this apply if doing himself ? Which he is ....

OP posts:
Original poster
ginorwine · 02/04/2017 11:24

He does all the outside work mon to Saturdays for the last year
It's a hobby
Sometimes he just sits sawing bits of wood into smaller bits

OP posts:
QuinionsRainbow · 02/04/2017 11:40

1 - has he got planning permission?
2 - has he got a day job?

Astro55 · 02/04/2017 11:45

If you read it - it's about noise control rather than building works - so yes it should apply to him as well - look it up in your area - should think it's similar

Original poster
ginorwine · 02/04/2017 12:25

Astro
Thanks I will do - appriciate it .
Quin- he is in 50 s and retired so at home .

OP posts:
Original poster
ginorwine · 02/04/2017 18:41

Thanks Astro
Will ring environmental health tomorriw .....

OP posts:
Original poster
ginorwine · 15/04/2017 16:21

Environmental health said two things
First - as he has not needed / applied for building regs they cannot impose a time limit on when he can bang etc
Second - the only thing I can do is to report a sound complaint
The trouble is it is so unpredictable
Sometimes it's just hours of not v loud tapping , loud banging or drilling and sometimes quieter drilling
It's not always the level of noise it's the constant activity and noise of some sort sort- it's like slow torture - a whole year and no end in sight . He says it will continue for some time .
In tears today just need some quiet and feel invaded and considering moving .
I've been trying to enjoy the sun with ear plugs in and ear muffs on top ( industrial ) as well as listen to nature sounds via headphones but have given in .
What can I do ? 😞

OP posts:
MidniteScribbler · 15/04/2017 16:34

What hours is he doing the work in?

Unfortunately, if it's within reasonable hours, then you can't actually complain because he is actually allowed to make noise during those 'reasonable' times.

To be honest, unless you move to the middle of a large property, you can't expect silence.

Scholes34 · 15/04/2017 16:59

I think you've probably just become sensitised to it and any noise he now makes is considered unreasonable by you. I really don't like the screaming and squealing of my neighbour's daughters, but have to put up with it. I'd hoped they would have grown out of it by secondary school, but alas,no.

Original poster
ginorwine · 15/04/2017 17:12

Scholes I think you are right
Feel worn down with a years worth tho
How can I de sensitise ? I've tried ear muffs and plugs and nature sounds in my ear
My dh is a placid person but he says he is going to ask him if he has any concept of the effect it's having on dh who works full time and comes home to noise daily but needs to chill
He also said he is going to say that it used to be quiet before you moved here - I've told him I don't want that message from me - I thknk I need to cope better - i.e. De sensitise but don't know how . Suggestions v welcome !!!

OP posts:
Original poster
ginorwine · 15/04/2017 17:15

Scholes
Yes we have similar dc at the other side and it can grate
However - I'm not saying they are not annoying - but at least my neighbours dc don't stay out say 9 till 9 for eg as my neigbour does . So at least there is some respite .

OP posts:
hellejuice91 · 15/04/2017 17:22

The EHO regulations stand for everyone if he is working outside of the regulated hours start to write a diary with all the dates and times and report him.

Also have a look on your local council website and see if he has applies for planning permission.

Original poster
ginorwine · 15/04/2017 17:31

He hasn't applied for planning permission
It's a large garden structure with foundations but is made of wood - insulation etc and is less than - just - the maximum allowed . I'm
Conference about complaining because we live in a terrace and he crosses our garden right by my kitchen window to take bins out etc as well as spending a whole day without notice crossing my garden bringing building materials in as he has no other access - it's a quirk of the area and we managed it for years before he came . There is a communal
Agreement that we really walk
Accross as little as possible
Am
Worried if I complain it will be v awkward him walking accross my garden .....I don't know why my phone as decided to do strange sentences ...
Anyway I will start to record whilst trying to desensitise a bit as it's affecting our quality of life .

OP posts:
MovingtoParadise · 15/04/2017 17:40

It's Saturday not Sunday though Confused

Original poster
ginorwine · 15/04/2017 18:13

I know it's Saturday -? 😄

OP posts:
FriedSprout · 15/04/2017 18:34

One of the planning restrictions that may ensure he should have applied for pp is that if the building is within two metres of his boundary he has to limit the height to 2.5m

See here

Original poster
ginorwine · 15/04/2017 18:40

It is less than that height just but it is less than two metres from our boundary it's about one
We have narrow gardens and most sheds are a couple of feet from each other
However this is not a shed it has a concrete foundation
Insulation
Etc
He calls it his studio
Part of this is fear on my part as I love my garden with a passion and the thought of a music studio fills me with dread
Neighbours at other side complained about his guitar practice in the house as that was +++ but it didn't bother me as I used to go and sit happily in my garden ......

OP posts:
Original poster
ginorwine · 15/04/2017 18:42

So from what you are saying he may have needed but not obtained planning permission - but if report him he will only start the whole thing again but further from our boundary I guess ...

OP posts:
jinglebellmel · 15/04/2017 19:03

Totally sympathise! Our neighbour has been building a DIY extension for nearly 9 months now, always evening until about 9pm and weekends 9am-9pm. It doesn't sound late when you tell people but listening to him drilling and hammering into a party wall 7 days a week is so bloody weAring-not to mention trying to get a 3 year old to sleep during it every evening! We've made nice requests but it carries on so we've decided to try and just put up with it as we plan to stay here a while so I don't want to fall out with them. Are you on good terms? Could you try to explain the impact it's having on you? Personally though I don't see how any normal person can behave like that and not consider that it's really going to piss people off!

Original poster
ginorwine · 15/04/2017 19:16

Jingle sorry to hear that
I've heard that our neigbour is described as " being on the spectrum " by his ex -so it may be that he isn't aware .
We did , based on that info , ask for one day quiet a week- which he does adhere to -so he does keep to his side of the bargain - wish had asked for more days off now - but had been worried it wd go on for years otherwise - think I just need to rant plus look at coping mechanizims !

OP posts:
jinglebellmel · 15/04/2017 19:27

Try some mindfulness techniques maybe? It's difficult though when it's so unpredictable and no end in sight! Hope it's over for you soon.

ClaudiaNaughton · 15/04/2017 19:36

Don't have a full scale row with him that would have to be reported if you do decide to move in the future. Could you ask him politely if it's anywhere near completion?

Original poster
ginorwine · 15/04/2017 23:23

I did Claudia
He said it will go on for a significant amount of time afterwhich he plans to replace all the fencing 😳

OP posts: