Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Shout at my neighbour at 7.30 this morning

63 replies

Tara336 · 26/06/2018 10:53

Our neighbour whose home is side on to our back garden advised us last week that they want to demolish the garage that makes up a part of the boundary and really place replace a fence.

I went and chatted to them it seemed all friendly and reasonable and I asked that they let us know when they were going to do it as we have dogs that might escape , patio furniture next to the wall they are demolishing and we have French door stop in our bedroom and kitchen with no curtains and so for privacy reasons want notice.

It was all agreed very friendly they would keeps us in the loop.

Fast forward to 7.30 this morning we had overslept and I’m woken by banging I look up and there’s two men on the garage roof looking straight into our bedroom while myself and DP are laying in bed.

So my question was AIBU when I got out in the garden in my PJS and ask what exactly they think they are doing? Because according to the neighbour there’s is no problem and I’m being unreasonable

OP posts:
Original poster
Tara336 · 26/06/2018 11:51

Our garden is/was very private. We’ve got French Doors into the garden from the bedroom and kitchen we don’t/didn’t need blinds or curtains. We agreed with the neighbour they would give us advance warning so we could make sure our dogs are safely indoors and so that we could ensure some privacy while the work was done. We also agreed we would put our own fence up on our side to ensure we keep our privacy.

The neighbour said absolutely fine we will let you know and will be a few weeks yet before we do anything but will pop round and let you know. They didn’t!

The shouting at 7.30 was to stop the lunatic using metal cutting discs on the garage roof less than a couple feet from our brand new patio furniture which had sparks flying onto the seat cushions!

OP posts:
Original poster
Tara336 · 26/06/2018 11:55

@soulrider yes they’ve been demolishing it all morning. When I went and spoke to them last week it was all reasonable and amicable and they said it would be a few weeks as they weren’t quite ready yet hence not moving anything or putting blinds up

OP posts:
Agerbilatemycardigan · 26/06/2018 11:56

You gave them an inch and they took a mile OP.

Original poster
Tara336 · 26/06/2018 11:58

@GailTheGoldfish no I don’t think so but we don’t mind it being take n down and a fence going up it’s just the lack of courtesy they are showing tbh

OP posts:
LighthouseSouth · 26/06/2018 11:58

shouting perfectly reasonable in this scenario!

Original poster
Tara336 · 26/06/2018 12:03

@LighthouseSouth no we weren’t told it would be today. When I spoke to them last week I was told it would be a few weeks yet so we were caught completely by surprise. I had explained about not having curtains up etc and they said ok we understand then we had the rude awakening this morning. I had to shout as he was using cutting equipment on the garage roof.

OP posts:
LighthouseSouth · 26/06/2018 12:05

OP we cross posted

yes I'd be furious.

Karigan198 · 26/06/2018 12:06

I would have shouted too. You made a simple request for notice and they were unreasonable not giving it to you.

ikeepaforkinmypurse · 26/06/2018 12:07

YANBU every reasonable person would be furious.

It's not impossible that your neighbour did not know the guys were starting today. Some tradesmen are a nightmare with schedules, and see nothing about turning up early or late without telling you.

Original poster
Tara336 · 26/06/2018 12:10

@SoddingUnicorns I did have a quiet friendly chat last week! I explained my corncersn they said they would work with us so we were all happy. I didn’t explode I shouted over the sound of the guy cutting the garage roof up at 7.30am! I don’t mind the garage being demolished I do mind not being given the fair warning I’d asked for and was promised

OP posts:
Original poster
Tara336 · 26/06/2018 12:11

He hasn’t gone to tradesman he’s actually doing it himself with the help of another guy

OP posts:
mydogisthebest · 26/06/2018 12:11

Your are not unreasonable at all but your neighbours certainly are. They should have told you the work was starting today and given a time. I certainly do not think 7.30 am is ok either.

viques · 26/06/2018 12:13

It's annoying that they forgot to remind you, and that the workmen caught you in bed, but it's hardly the end of the world is it?

diddl · 26/06/2018 12:18

Even if they didn't know until the guys turned up they could have given a knock to let you know.

Original poster
Tara336 · 26/06/2018 12:19

@vigues I do t remember saying it was the end of the world, but yes I’m annoyed. I try to be a reasonable person and treat people as I would like to be treated unfortunately it appears that not everyone appears to have that same attitude

OP posts:
fruitbrewhaha · 26/06/2018 12:23

Is it completely on there land, or astride the boundary?

If it's astride the boundary they need a party wall agreement, I think? For a party fence wall.

fruitbrewhaha · 26/06/2018 12:25

Actually, it is a party wall as it forms part of a building and they should give you notice of the works.

It depends how you want to play it OP. I think you are within your rights to stop the work, but cause a whole load of grief with your neighbour, or talk to them about a temporary fence to keep the dogs safe.

BlueBug45 · 26/06/2018 12:27

OP that was stupid of them - what would have happened if your dogs were out but they couldn't see where they were?

And yes I would have shouted at them. I shouted at some workmen who started before our local construction start time of 7.30am before then complained to their bosses. I found I wasn't the only person to do that and after that they always started at 7.35am to make sure.

gillybeanz · 26/06/2018 12:33

Tbh, I'd be more concerned that the neighbour and his mate were doing the work and it was lawful and safe tbh.

Original poster
Tara336 · 26/06/2018 12:34

@fruitbrewhaha it’s definitely on the boundary and a back corner of the garage is in my neighbours garden and forms part of her boundary too she had no idea it was happening at all, we had a note through the door as it’s mainly forming our boundary. I genuinely don’t mind it coming down as it’s ugly but it’s just the fact we had an agreement which they reneged on. As we were told it was weeks not days we were completely unprepared. I did go again this morning and try to explain why we are annoyed but I was met with shoulder shrugging and not much else

OP posts:
Original poster
Tara336 · 26/06/2018 12:37

@gillybeanz that was our other concern as the roof of the garage appear so to be asbestos! we didn’t want that dust flying all over our home, garden and us! It was the roof he was cutting at this morning that woke us

OP posts:
WingsOnMyBoots · 26/06/2018 12:43

This is basically what happened to us a few weeks ago. We discussed with the 'fencer' and the home owner that they would let us know when they were taking the old fence down.

One morning I heard crashing and banging and there he is taking the fence panel out. One of the main reasons I was annoyed at this was that we had a mirror hanging on the back of it and we also have a cat. I didn't want the mirror breaking and glass everywhere.

Anyway I went out and he asks me (AFTER the fence panel is out) if it's ok and do I need to move anything? Bit late.

I pointedly said 'there WAS a mirror on the back of but I moved it last week'.

It just really annoyed me. Why do people pretend to be all agreeable and then go back on their word. People attach all sorts of things to their fence including lights and baskets and have plants climbing up them. How can you think it's ok to just rip down the panel?

Sorry OP this isn't helping you but I think I just needed to air it!!

As for your neighbour - NO you are not being unreasonable - you had an agreement which was fair and sensible to both parties and he broke it.

gillybeanz · 26/06/2018 12:46

You need to contact your council to come and have a look. I'm sure it will be fine but sometimes you can make more work by doing a particular job.
I'm no expert but it could unravel a whole heap of problems if not done correctly, especially if corners are cut.
If only to put your mind at rest, just have a word.
They will probably come out and speak to the neighbours to find out their plans and how they are doing the work.

Stefoscope · 26/06/2018 12:46

I'd be annoyed as well. Even if you had sorted the patio furniture and privacy issues sooner, your dog could have escaped or been injured.

IWantMyHatBack · 26/06/2018 12:47

The roof is asbestos? Argh