Building work on a Sunday

[Deucebumps]

The pub behind me has been bought out, and is currently under renovation before it reopens. Last week the builders started at 7.15 Monday-Friday, which wasn't a problem as I get up for work before then. Then they turned up at 8.15 on Saturday. Then again at 8.15 on Sunday. The work they've been doing seems to involve heavy drilling, and it's impossible to ignore/sleep through even with the window shut. It's like they're in the next room. All rooms face the pub so there's no escaping it. Our local council is notoriously slow responding to noise complaints and they'd probably have finished renovating by the time it got investigated.

Wibu to call the company who've taken it over and ask politely even though I was murderous on Sunday if they are aware of the noisy work happening on Sundays and asking if they can have a word with the builders?

Council will have rules, usually not before 8am on a weekday, later on a Sat and nothing on a Sunday. Find out the rules first then ring the company to complain.

I thought Sunday’s was 10-5 or something like that?

Our council doesn't have any recommended hours posted on the 'noise complaint' page, helpfully. Just some bullshit about noise being a part of living in a city and a link to the form to make a complaint

No work should start until 8am, no work on Sundays unless emergency or they have council permission. Contact environmental health, email the council and contact the builders to say what is happening.

What council is it

Rules on building developments around here have always said no building works on a Sunday or Bank Holiday at all - but they were new builds rather than renovation of existing properties, so don't know if that makes a difference. In fact we have sent workmen packing who have abused these rules - presumably the main builders were not aware that the subbies were on site as the little blighters disappeared without argument - so definitely chancers!

I'd be furious too. I'd definitely get in touch with the pub owner/chain and the council, hopefully one of them will do something.

If it needed planning permission there may be permitted hours listed on the approval document.

See if the renovation was subject to Planning Permission - if it was, there may have been restrictions on hours of work when the planning permission was given. You'd find all this on the Planning section of the Council website

URGH, I feel your pain. We had the house next door to us being refurbished for new tenants (it's private let,) and the landlord's brother did it. He did it over Easter 2.5 years ago, and was in over Good Friday, the Saturday, Easter Sunday, and Bank Holiday Monday (as he was doing it in his own time!)

He was refitting the kitchen and bathroom, and putting new doors in. He was in at 7am over the 4 days of the Easter break, banging and knocking and drilling and sawing, til 10pm. I could have fucking murdered him.

Me and DH had the 4 days off together, and were looking forward to a few lie-ins, a few chilled mornings of watching films and supping lattes and eating muffins, and generally relaxing.

Not a chance. We were beyond fuming. It ruined our time off completely, and we were shattered for the entire 4 days, and then knackered at work all week. (We went back on the Tuesday after Easter.)

Even for 2 weeks after, he banged and drilled and sawed and knocked and played the radio loud from 5pm to 10pm every night!

On the plus side, the new tenants/neighbours are really lovely, and very quiet, and we get on really well.

But yeah, if I was you OP, I would contact the council about this pub work.

Councils have very strict rules with regards to building work (different from general DIY).

In my borough - builders can only work:

Monday - Friday 8am - 6pm
Saturday 8am - 1pm
Sunday & Bank Holidays - no working allowed

You are entitled to enjoy time in your home without excessive noise.

I live virtually next door to a university building that’s been undergoing a renovation for over 12 months. It makes working from home impossible but the noise. The builders recently worked on a Saturday until 5pm and on a Sunday morning. I’d had enough so I spoke to building control in the council and they investigated. They have been warned to work within the designated hours only.

Builders are fully aware of these hours - they are trying it on.

This is from Manchester council

secure.manchester.gov.uk/info/100006/environmental_problems/2956/tackle_a_noise_problem/9

It's Portsmouth council, I'll definitely have a look at the planning website after work to see if that says anything. I didn't mind too much when it woke me up Saturday as I thought 'never mind, I can have a lie in tomorrow'

Just say something to the owners! It worked every time for us.

Just back from work and they're still there. One of them is having a sing-a-long to Heart 80s while they put up yet more scaffolding.

I did manage to speak to someone at the head office this afternoon who said they would pass my details on to the site manager and I should get a response by Friday. I'm not going to hold my breath.

Make it very clear to the pub owners that life will be made very difficult for them, and perhaps object to the licence for the new licensee. You could have an incontinent dog rush into the pub shortly after opening, for example.

If it is a brewery owned pub complain as well.

Yup, because everyone's got an incontinent dog lying around for just such a contingency!

We've had a similar problem recently. Complained (along with many neighbours) to environmental health and the out of hours noise stopped. So try your local council.

I don't have an incontinent dog to hand, but I do have a rabbit with a fixation on peeing the sofas so if it gets that bad...