Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To hate workman

56 replies

Elusiveone · 14/05/2018 08:50

The mess, the noise and having to sort out someone to here and let them in. Im in my third week of having my work done. Ive coped quite well with it but being a student and caring for a disabled dd and i have anxiety and ocd. All this is making me want to cry. Builders are my worst nightmare. Yes im probably being stupid but just want this over with. Im finding it hard to be polite now

OP posts:
tigercub50 · 14/05/2018 11:15

I can empathise - even if the guys are nice & friendly ( our decorator is lovely), it’s really unsettling having people coming & going plus as you say all the noise, mess etc. I would also suggest you provide a key. Can you have a proper chat to explain your situation & get them to stick to the same times if at all possible?

Ifailed · 14/05/2018 11:20

As a tenant, you have a right to "'quiet enjoyment" of your home, and it doesn't sound like you are getting that. Is is it worth raising with your landlord and agreeing a timetable for the work to be done so you could at least try and make other arrangements?

Original poster
Elusiveone · 14/05/2018 11:21

Problem is its different workman different days. Today is electrician and tomorrow is plasterer. Im not sitting in every day but all i ask they be here on time so i can sort out my day. Friday i could not take dd to a physio session as they were late and i informed them many times when i needed to leave to get the hospital

OP posts:
Original poster
Elusiveone · 14/05/2018 11:25

Orginally was just one set of workman but now turned into a good few of them. The landlord told me a week and i was fine abd happy with this but now in week three because landlord got hes timings wrong

OP posts:
Nikephorus · 14/05/2018 11:25

Oh come on people. The OP has a disabled DD plus anxiety and OCD. It's hard enough when you've got workmen in ( even when you have arranged for them to do the work ) without the added issues the OP has.
This ^^ Why do people feel the need to pick holes just for the sake of it?
I totally get where you're coming from OP. You just have to try and count the days till it's over, and make the most of days when you know they're not going to be around. It's not forever, but while it lasts it feels that way.

Snowysky20009 · 14/05/2018 11:26

Sometimes they can be late for genuine reasons, like having to pick up something from the builders merchants before they can do the job, which doesn't open until 8:30am for example. Have you asked them why they were late, and explained that certain days you will be gone by x time, so will leave a key?

Original poster
Elusiveone · 14/05/2018 11:31

I have written down my whole week for them and done as much as i can. I asked nicely why he was late and he said he overslept....

OP posts:
Original poster
Elusiveone · 14/05/2018 11:34

Landlord has the only spare and he lives just a few minutes away so the days im out he was coming to supervise them etc but he never answers the phone and when i been to hes house to ask or drop a note in with advance warning when i will need him to go to the house he ignores me

OP posts:
onalongsabbatical · 14/05/2018 11:38

Ok, so you can't give them a key because it's different people, I see that now. So can you ask your landlord to be responsible for letting them in as it's gone way over the agreement and is now causing you massive disruption? I understand that this might be hard, but you'd be surely within your rights as they are messing you around and the landlord needs to take charge of them, I think. I don't think I was one of the 'harsh' posters, but if I was, I apologise, OP. Flowers

onalongsabbatical · 14/05/2018 11:39

Cross post sorry. Yes, you do have a problem if landlord isn't helping. I think I'd get pissed off and go out and not be there to let them in in that case if I had to.

LARLARLAND · 14/05/2018 11:42

I hate it too. Just had one arrive at my house and he's already got my heckles up.

Original poster
Elusiveone · 14/05/2018 11:53

LARLARLAND my sympathy to you. What work are you having done.

My one disappeared for a hour and a electrician turned up who i know from last week is lovely

OP posts:
Original poster
Elusiveone · 14/05/2018 11:57

No appologises needed. But just to point ive not been rude to any workman thats been here. I just dislike the building work. I like my own space and company. And dealing with dd whos been sent home unwell but i know this will come to an end soon but my landlord has a lot to answer for.

OP posts:
Godowneasy · 14/05/2018 12:02

If you've already told your landlord / builder that you have to go out at a certain time for an important appointment, it would have been reasonable for you to go out when you needed to.

The builders would have to wit til you're back, or the landlord could have let them in (with your prior agreement)

Treaclepie19 · 14/05/2018 12:31

I hate it too. Anxiety and OCD make something that is a small nuisance to other people, a massive problem.
I hope there's not much longer of it. Make sure to take care of yourself.

BackforGood · 14/05/2018 12:39

Why some of you are so judgemental sorry if you think i am BU but i have to deal with this chaos. Not you

...er..... because you asked Hmm
You asked if you were being unreasonable to hate a workman. So people are, quite rightly saying, yes, you are.
Don't get me wrong, I agree with everyone else, that it is horrible having work going on in your home for ages, but, that isn't reason to hate a workman or workmen, as it has now changed into.

LARLARLAND · 14/05/2018 13:33

Elusiveone He's repairing an appliance, only he's just told me it can't actually be repaired so I'll have to buy a new one. Argh!

ASimpleLampoon · 14/05/2018 13:48

YANBU OP and I understand and sympathise! I am autistic, have anxiety and two small children one also autistic. I hate having work done and I am going through similar at the moment. Work hasn't even began I am still trying to find someone to do it! Have so far been in contact with five people, all of whom said they were available and then stopped answering messages when I tried to fix a time. One turned up but after changing the time twice, and then turning up at a completely different time altogether, then didn't want to do half the jobs that needed doing and suggested charging a silly amount for only half the work, not to mention the sexist language (constantly being called "love" etc), Haven't even found someone to do the work yet and I'm already exhausted with them!

Original poster
Elusiveone · 14/05/2018 14:44

LARLARLAND sorry to hear. Hope you get it sorted

ASimple...oh my thats bad i hope you can get something sorted

BackForGood i can hate the work men here its gone on far to long its hard work having to cater for them all. I have a lijfe to lead aswell and a disabled dd who has autism and hates her routine upset. If you have had to deal with what i have had to deal with perhaps you would understand.
Specially when one builder put through a hole in my kitchen wall and ruined my sofa and the mess on my carpet i paid for. No dust sheet was used and i was out at the time they did this. Then they broke my hoover....shall i go on

OP posts:
Original poster
Elusiveone · 14/05/2018 14:46

Treaclepie Thankyou for understanding. Ocd is causing me nothing but problems and making my anxiety bad to. I cant win

OP posts:
bigbluebus · 14/05/2018 15:08

Even when you can leave them a key and they are lovely, it is still disruptive. I've had builders in since last Wednesday. It's my house - I asked them to come. They will be here for between 2 - 4 weeks (I might get a week off in the middle). But I never know if they are upstairs, downstairs, inside or out. It makes it very hard to get on with things and there are also jobs it's not worth starting because of the dust!

I'm sure it will all be worth it in the end OP. Off to make my 3rd round of teas today...........

loopylou6 · 14/05/2018 15:18

I feel your pain @elusiveone I have anxiety and hate people I don't know being in my home, I'm currently having all new Windows and I'm stuck in my bedroom with the indoor cats as everywhere is open downstairs.
Luckily for me tho, my workmen are very nice and don't leave any mess.

QuackPorridgeBacon · 14/05/2018 18:36

We had our kitchen done recently (council house and there was a scheme, badly needed done) it was awful but I didn’t “hate” the workmen. They were simply doing a job they were told to do, they were very good and stayed on longer so we didn’t need to have them around an extra day which suited us great. The mess was unbelievable and I have a disabled daughter, a three year old and anxiety myself so I can see what you mean. But, it’s a job that needed doing and the end result was wonderful. Once they finish you may be glad it was done.

Storminateapot · 14/05/2018 18:39

I agree. Just had 2 bathrooms completely refitted over 4 weeks. Lovely guys, they did a really good job, but I felt under siege in my own home. SO glad they've finished!!

HelenaDove · 14/05/2018 18:50

If your sofa and hoover has been damaged they need to pay for that.

Ask them about liability insurance.

Maybe damage like this is why the OP is nervous about leaving them to get on with it when they have already shown disrespect towards her property.

Swipe left for the next trending thread