To hate my neighbours and their million pound basement??

[Amimissingsomethinghere]

Okay so yes IABU but lord help me guys I don't know what to do.

Background - we live in central London on a quiet street in the ground floor flat of a converted terrace house. Next door they are returning the whole house (basically ripping everything out top to toe) and then adding in a very elaborate huge cinema basement room. There currently is no basement so there will be a LOT of drilling.

Basement works haven't even started. They are currently only ripping out the existing kitchen but this is ALREADY causing my walls to vibrate and the banging noise is unbearable. It's so loud in my sons nursery. His bedroom wall is on their side (we are in a small flat) and there's no way he will be able to nap in there.

I am already feeling extremely anxious and every band makes me jump. I am a SAHM and so will be around the flat a lot with my little boy. (1.5)

What do I do? There's nothing I can do is there? It's awful. I feel like sobbing.

The party wall surveyor said the basement would probably take a YEAR to build.

I feel trapped.

@niugboo they are in my local council 🤷

Oh no, it's 6pm, I stand corrected. That's what's really important here isn't it

You are not being unreasonable at all. If you are renting, are you able to get another unit? If not, I wonder if a white noise machine would work while your son naps. It is extremely disruptive, and I am so sorry that you are going through this.

Hi OP, no advice about the noise but will your lo sleep on you if you put her in a carrier? A friend of mine puts her 2 year old in a back carrier and lets her nap while she walks around.

@CommunistLegoBloc if she starts kicking off about the works at 5 it’s important yes.

Can you move?

So I can update.....

The other day I was sorting the bins out the front and one of the builders came outside so we had a friendly chat. I mentioned I live next door and casually asked what they were planning to do over the next few days as I'm planning if I should take my son out for naps etc.
He was a really sweet polish man and asked me if there was a time he should try and be quieter. I replied between 1-3 would be amazing even if it's just a little quieter. He said he would get his boss the head builder to pop over and explain things.
Anyway cut to the next morning. Knock on door. Really large tall guy at the door with another man. The first thing he says Is 'have you been telling my men they can't make noise from 1 -3??'
I was so taken aback and just stuttered 'no not at all, I mentioned it when he asked if there was a time...' you get the idea.
Anyway he, not shouting, but in a condescending aggressive way says oh but I have a schedule to stick to we are gonna have to make noise it's gonna be really noisy! There's nothing I can do about it. We can't stop making noise at that time. I asked about lunch breaks and linking it to his nap time. His response is oh they don't take lunch they are polish...
The way he was talking really put me on edge and then I burst into tears. It was SO embarrassing. You know when you can't hold it back. Aah.
Anyway after that he kind of mellowed a bit and he left after giving me his number and explaining if there were any problems call him.
Ugh I just feel rotten about everything and want to move now.

I went through this (I’m also in C London). I’m in a terraced house and my neighbours on both sides did a basement excavation at the same time.!! A year and a half all told. It was hideous. At one point I moved out for a week because DD has tonsillitis and it was literally impossible for her to sleep or even rest with that noise going on.

It is shocking that planning permission takes no account of the impact on others. You pay the price in terms of impact on your life and they make all the profit. At least we could go out in the day but I used to wonder about the impact on shift workers and people who are housebound or seriously ill and undergoing chemo and stuff like that.

Sorry to hear that OP. I cried buckets once when someone out of the blue had a go at me. It's a crappy situation for you which I wholly sympathize as I've been there with noise hell. Nrtft but it's probably not wise to move unless you think in the long term it's a good idea. Depends how much you like it where you are etc, and finance. Plus it could take months, and then it won't be so long until it's finished. Depends what you think it will be like after the work is done. Do you rent or homeowner?

Also, if you have to stay as I said before, try to get a good night sleep to help you through the next day (noise is always worse when tired) and get out as much as possible. Then occasionally stay with someone if you're starting to feel desperate.

Why don't you rent it out through an agency and rent somewhere else for a year? People who are out at work all day aren't going to be bothered by this at all, but I totally understand why you are.

That is what I would do anyway.

I second 2020newme's suggestion of enting your home for a year and moving elsewhere.

Move

We are the owners. We could move out and rent but renting round here you barely get anything for your money! It's just depressing. We have been thinking about moving but I guess it would take a while. Ugh I don't know...

@Binterested how loud is the drilling? Be honest? Would white noise in his room block it out? X

I remember a Grand Designs where they dug out the basement to make a disco room. I seem to recall them moaning to Kevin about the neighbours putting in a complaint to the council.

Would noise laws not still cover this? I’m in a different part of the country but even daytime noise can be reasonable cause for complaint if it’s beyond what you could reasonably expect through day to day living

@alohamore I can't even invite them over... they are living in their other house whilst works get done ....

OP, just checking - you mentioned a Party Wall surveyor early on. Do you have a party wall agreement?

@user1493494961 I really don't think so. They have got planning Permission so I'm not sure what I can actually do.. :(

Planning permission can’t permit something that wouldn’t be allowed due to other rulings. Does your council have any noise standards for developments? I know you don’t live in Luton, but here is an example for Luton:

It's a borough in SW London. I really don't think there's anything you can do. Others have done it on our street but the problem is the toddler sleeping. I wouldn't really care otherwise !

OP - assuming you live in the City of Westminster, these documents may help you understand if you have a case for complaint via the council’s planners.

Noise complaints were investigate

Information for contractors on noise and pollution

Sorry x posted. Your borough will have similar docs on their website.