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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbours builders

84 replies

drdeluxe · 19/02/2019 10:24

Neighbours embarking on 4 month extension. So far the builders have done the following:

  • spent two weekends, Sat & Sun (starting at 9am, erecting scaffolding).
  • now have radio on playing loudly (so I can hear inside double glazed house)

Owners of house have moved out for the duration of project so I will need to email them if I want to raise it with them.

Which of these, if any, would you email about? In a diplomatic way?

I have let the builders can park in our private parking area (which we own) as our road is narrow. So its not as if I haven't been accomodating.

OP posts:
Original poster
drdeluxe · 19/02/2019 10:25

Oh - forgot to say - project is 2 weeks started - could be another 4 months of Radio 5 Live ......

OP posts:
PalmTree101 · 19/02/2019 10:26

I wouldn’t complain about the scaffolding.

I would complain about the radio. Considerate construction work does not involved treating a domestic property like a nightclub.

PalmTree101 · 19/02/2019 10:27

I’d pop round first and ask them to turn the radio down, before emailing neighbours.

IWannaSeeHowItEnds · 19/02/2019 10:30

I'd ask the builders (nicely) if they'd turn down the radio. I think starting at 9 is not unreasonable really. My neighbours mow their lawns earlier than this - it's irritating but not considered anti social.
I wouldn't email about anything yet - see what the builders attitude is to bring asked to turn down the radio first. If start, then you can remove anything accommodating that you do for them.

TwitterQueen1 · 19/02/2019 10:30

Just ask the builders to turn the volume down! You really don't need to email anyone. The scaffolding is just normal - there will always be inconveniences of some kind.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 19/02/2019 10:31

Have a look and see if they are member of the Considerate Construction scheme

www.ccscheme.org.uk/

We've had to complain about 3 firms recently. Because they are working on adjacent houses they seem to think they are in the middle of a bulding site. They have all been far more considerate since!

We emailed each company first and then to the CC scheme for the ones that are members.

YouLikeTheBadOnesToo · 19/02/2019 10:32

Another vote for asking them (nicely) to please turn the radio down. Emailing seems very OTT. As others have said the scaffolding is an inconvenience that you occasionally have to deal with, not really something you can complain about.

Soontobe60 · 19/02/2019 10:32

I wôuld first of all speak to the builder manager. Explain that's you can hear the radio, please turn it down. Also that any weekend work is kept to a quiet minimum. You're going to have them throughout the summer so remind them that you'd appreciate a little courtesy.
Email the owners with this too. However, don't sit and seethe if you're not going to address the issue.
The scaffolding will now stay until the job is ended. Ask that you're warned when it's going to be removed.W

Geminijes · 19/02/2019 10:34

Offer the builders a cup of tea and biscuits and then ask them nicely to turn the radio down. You usually find that if you approach people in a nice manner then they are generally accommodating to you.

mrsm43s · 19/02/2019 10:36

If it was really bothering me, I'd ask the builders to turn the radio down.

Wouldn't have a problem with anything else - 9 am is a very reasonable time to start on a weekend, and building work is, by its nature, a bit noisy.

Original poster
drdeluxe · 19/02/2019 10:37

The issue with the scaffolding is not the 9am start. It is the weekend working. I thought that construction work was not meant to happen on weekends.

Also, I don't see why I should have to speak to the builders when they aren't my employees. Wouldn't they take more notice of the owners who are paying them?

We had our garage converted a while ago and both of these things were prohibited in our builders contract.

OP posts:
CluedoAddict · 19/02/2019 10:38

I don't see any problem with what they have done.

headinhands · 19/02/2019 10:38

You know it won't last so I wouldn't raise it. Thing is, inevitably they're going to encroach on you a fair few times just by dint of the nature of the job. I'd just chill about it. You'll exhaust yourself if you're going to fight every inconvenience.

I've got a full blown estate being built behind my and it's very noisy at times, machinery, music, shouting and so on. It's just life.

lmusic87 · 19/02/2019 10:39

Look at your local council rulings on building.

Mine was until 12pm on Saturdays and nothing on Sunday.

duckthisshit · 19/02/2019 10:40

Ridiculous that you wouldn't just ask them to turn the radio down yourself, sounds like you are trying to get them in trouble.

IWannaSeeHowItEnds · 19/02/2019 10:40

If it's definitely against the rules to work on the weekend then you can and should put a stop to it if it is disturbing you. It's really annoying to be the one left with all the stress of builders, without getting any benefit, while the neighbors bigger off somewhere else.
I guess you could view it as the more they are on site, the quicker they will be gone.

Malbecfan · 19/02/2019 10:40

Also, I don't see why I should have to speak to the builders when they aren't my employees. Wouldn't they take more notice of the owners who are paying them?

But the neighbours are not being affected. You are. It makes much more sense for you to speak nicely to them. Remember you catch more flies with honey than vinegar so be nice but firm.

Anyway I'd much rather listen to 5Live (on now here) than some shit music channel playing the same old crap with a load of adverts every 5 minutes...

JacquesHammer · 19/02/2019 10:43

Which of these, if any, would you email about? In a diplomatic way?

As a first port of call, neither.

I would simply ask the builders to turn the radio down.

I would check with the council regarding permitted work at weekends.

TwitterQueen1 · 19/02/2019 10:44

You're splitting hairs. Scaffolding is erected in order to enable construction to start properly on a working day. Tbh, neighbours with angle grinders or hedge strimmers make just as much noise as scaffolders and it was a one-off.

Yes you could email the owners. Sit down at your PC, figure out what to say, edit it, send it. Then wait for a response from them. Then wait to guess if they've spoken to the builders yet, then wait to see i you can hear any difference....... get yourself into a right stew about it.....

or you could spend 2 minutes making a polite, verbal request...

It's going to be a long 4 months for you OP....

FamilyOfAliens · 19/02/2019 10:51

Tbh, neighbours with angle grinders or hedge strimmers make just as much noise as scaffolders and it was a one-off.

True, but unless they lived in Windsor Great Park, I doubt they’d be hedge-trimming for four months Grin

Original poster
drdeluxe · 19/02/2019 10:52

I'm not very keen to speak to the builders about it.

The last time I asked some builders not to do something (park in our parking space) they blocked my drive with their van.

OP posts:
ASauvignonADay · 19/02/2019 10:52

I think you'd be better off having a friendly word with the builders asking them to turn it down a bit. If you go the long way around and 'complain' there's a chance they'll be less thoughtful in the future.

DarlingNikita · 19/02/2019 10:53

Noisy work isn't allowed on a Sunday, I don't think, but building work per se is OK. If you don't think you could successfully argue that it's noisy, then I'd leave that particular battle, but I would go round, be friendly and explain that you can hear their radio despite your house being double-glazed and could they turn it down a bit?

You can always escalate it and contact the neighbours if they're not willing to be reasonable, but it's worth trying a friendly approach first.

chocomug · 19/02/2019 10:55

" hi, I live next door. Would you mind turning the radio down a bit."

"Could you move the radio a bit we can hear it next door, thanks"

Job done. Say it with a smile

IWannaSeeHowItEnds · 19/02/2019 10:55

If they block the drive, ring the police and complain formally to their company. Withdraw any cooperation on your part.
But this is unlikely to happen if you approach them politely.