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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that starting work on your house on a bank holiday is anti-social

266 replies

polarpig · 19/04/2019 11:27

Our neighbour is very elderly and has advanced dementia so he's moving into a care home. Recently they have had gardeners in clearing the over grown garden and so on to prepare the house for sale. Today they have had workmen in since 8am who are taking out all of the rotten windows and doors and replacing them with new windows and bifold doors and have some others in cutting down trees in the front and back garden so it's very noisy with chainsaws, drills and hammering going on.

AIBU to be annoyed at all the noise on a day when we're trying to relax and enjoy our garden?

OP posts:
crimsonlake · 19/04/2019 12:05

Do you have any noise cancelling head phones or ear plugs? Not ideal I know but possibly a solution. My son who is studying for his finals has just walked in the room and asked the same thing. It comes with living amongst neighbours, although some are are more considerate than others. Do not get me started on people who put there dogs in the garden rather than walk them and let them bark for hours.

JPK1510 · 19/04/2019 12:11

My partner is working today he’s an electrician. We have a baby on the way and the firm he worked for went bust last week so he’s taking any work on any days he can get right now as we need the money. I know it’s annoying but please think of it from this point of view it’s not always black and white.

Nomorepies · 19/04/2019 12:12

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ on the poster's request.

FredaFox · 19/04/2019 12:12

Yabu they are within their rights, yes they probably should have started at 9 but it might have been the earliest they could get a builder to do it
I’m sure your precious revising children have made noise over the years. Kids shout squeal and scream when playing, it’s cute to some annoying to others.
You have neighbours you have to accept all noise from time to time. It’s living in a civilised society . Don’t want noise? More somewhere quiet

WolfhoundsofLove · 19/04/2019 12:13

I can’t believe you feel you have the right to judge what your neighbour’s “children” do, what’s it got to do with you? Why shouldn’t they do what suits them? Yes it’s an early start, so speak to them about starting at 9 perhaps? But they are entitled to do work on the house, everyone is, and you sound like a right miserable caaah. They are coping with a parent with dementia ffs. You come across as feeling bitter or put out that the house is owned by his kids - otherwise why mention it? Why is that do you think? I think you’re a busybody who thinks the world revolves around you.

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 19/04/2019 12:14

It could be that the people organising the work have friends who are doing it and this is the time that they are available. Or maybe they’re doing some of it themselves and it’s when they have the time.

All of us do things that annoy our neighbours from time to time, I’m sure. It won’t be for long though will it? We had lovely neighbours who mowed their lawn often, when I just got my son to sleep and it woke him. They were mortified when I mentioned it politely, because they just hadn’t realised. Perhaps they don’t realise it’s disturbing you.

Shinesweetfreedom · 19/04/2019 12:18

The neighbour needs the house selling pronto to pay for probably very large care home fees.
So yabu

WolfhoundsofLove · 19/04/2019 12:19

Of course they don’t realise it’s disturbing the OP - why would they be thinking about that? If you live close to people you have to put up with the noise they make, it’s part of life. Most people just get on with their lives and don’t worry about what their neighbours are doing or not doing. Everyone makes some noise, sometimes. It’s a ridiculous thing to start a thread about imo.

SilentSister · 19/04/2019 12:22

You have my sympathies. We DO live in the countryside, so often quiet, but still have neighbours, and there is one today, who having done noisy DIY work all week, now thinks it is a great idea to burn all his rubbish today, when everyone is in their gardens and have all their windows open. Git.

TeacupDrama · 19/04/2019 12:22

traditional easter and may weekends are used to get on in the garden and do DIY by those you don't use it as a religious holiday, bank holidays are when B&Q etc get mobbed
doing DIY this weekend is fine but I think 9am-6pm would be reasonable as you say it will probably just be one day, but they may be in a hurry to sell as need money for care home fees some councils will pay for 12 weeks to allow you to sell without using your own money ( obviously it needs to be paid back but it is to give families time to release assets) the kids may need to sell to pay fees or need tenants in paying rent in order to pay care home fees so time getting it ready is of the essence

IHateUncleJamie · 19/04/2019 12:23

It’s a ridiculous thing to start a thread about imo.

Lucky you don’t work at MNHQ then, isn’t it. 🙄

CalamityJune · 19/04/2019 12:28

It's likely theyre doing it for a favour around other jobs, maybe family friends. Are you honestly telling me that you would decline cheap building work and pay full whack, just for the sake of the strangers who live next door?

The weather looks great this weekend- I expect much DiY and pottering will be getting done around the country ready for summer.

It would have been nice of them to inform you before building work started but they are not being unreasonable with the timing.

LarryGreysonsDoor · 19/04/2019 12:28

It is for nurses, doctors, police etc but builders?

Eh? I think you’ll find that the hospitals and police stations are all open.

Anyway, yes it is bloody annoying but perhaps the builders are friends and doing it when they don’t have work on?

daisypond · 19/04/2019 12:29

Yabu. Eight o’clock is a normal time to start work, I’m at work today too. But I appreciate it can be frustrating. When mine were doing revising and doing exams the neighbours were fully in the middle of a ginormous extension and cellar excavation that went on for six months.

Original poster
polarpig · 19/04/2019 12:30

I'm sure they would like to be enjoying their bank holiday with their own families, but instead have this along with the stress of a parent with dementia.

I expect they are enjoying their bank holiday because they aren't even here.

OP posts:
Original poster
polarpig · 19/04/2019 12:31

*It is for nurses, doctors, police etc but builders?

Eh? I think you’ll find that the hospitals and police stations are all open.*

That's what I said. Normal working day for nurses etc, not builders.

OP posts:
TreadingThePrimrosePath · 19/04/2019 12:34

My next door neighbours apologised for their noisy, energetic grandsons in their garden. I remembered all the times 20 years ago that they were patient and understanding about my two, and reminded them how much in credit they were!
Let’s hope your new neighbours are quiet OP. But they may be shift workers with motorbikes, screaming children and a drum kit.

MidsomerBurgers · 19/04/2019 12:34

3 things

Good Friday is not a Bank Holiday. It is a Public Holiday.

The NHS is still working.

So are many other businesses.

So yes, yabu.

Planesmistakenforstars · 19/04/2019 12:35

I'm a self-employed tradesperson (gardener.) We don't get paid for bank holidays. There is one today, one on Monday another in 2 week's time, and yet another at the end of May. I can't afford to lose 20% pay for 4 out of the next 7 weeks at the time of year when I need to make hay. It'll be the same for builders. YABU.

FraggleRocking · 19/04/2019 12:35

It’s always been the time of year when work has been done to the house. Spring clean and DIY. We started painting at 7am this morning (not a noisy task I know) but I would’ve expected to hear lawnmowers, drills, etc. Sure enough, by 8am it was all going on down the street.

englishdictionary · 19/04/2019 12:36

As for so fucking what if there are builders next door, read my OP.

I did. That's why I said it.

gairytoes · 19/04/2019 12:37

I think noise is made all the time, if it's not work being done it's someone cutting their grass or someone revving their motorbike.

balloonyellow · 19/04/2019 12:37

Builders at the Lidl near me have been going on since 7am so YAB a little U

gamerwidow · 19/04/2019 12:37

It’s horrible having building work done next door when your at home and disappointing when you’ve planned a nice relaxing weekend and something like this comes along.
It’s just part and parcel of life though. It’s probably been organised for the bank holiday so that the kids can pop in to check up on it without having to take a day off of work.

Freshstart40 · 19/04/2019 12:38

OP you have my tota sympathy. My neighbour is a DIY enthusiast.... I hate his guts Grin