Neighbours who work from home

[Confusednewmum1]

So we have moved to a house that requires total renovation, it has not been touched for over 50 years. We have spoken to the NDN about plans ie rip house apart and start again/extension ect. However every time we do work they complain about the noise as they work from home.

I get that this can be frustrating but at the moment we can’t give a schedule of work just due to the nature of old house. Example last week new front door on Friday to be fitted told 1 hour job no real noise ect. It then turned into needing a lintel, brickwork repair....... but this all spiralled in the moment.

My neighbours seem to think my builders should work around their calls ect. But I have really just advised there will be building work most days Mon-Friday 8:30-5 until at least the end of the year, it’s the only honest timeline. Council are happy as they have said noise not excessive ie generators or nematic drilling. But my neighbours have said this is not acceptable and there 2 1/2 year old naps during the day???

I also have a young child who happened to still be asleep this morning when they complained at 10am as door frame was going in and they where on a call.

AIBU to think that if they work from home then noise is their issue to mitigate not mine?

My goodness. A year.

A year of renovations in a semi detached.

I would absolutely be seething with you. I have poor mental health and sensory issues with noise.

I would be beyond angry and bridges burned despite flowers/ chocolates etc

You just seem to not care op. Lack of empathy I would say.

@FoxEars would you not say that they are your issues though and that it is unfair to project them on to others......... Not saying that you would, but in this case my neighbours have.

I love that someone expressing upset over a year of disturbance is told it's their issue for being sensitive to noise.

I'd feel the same if someone moved in next door and declared a year of noise was about to start and if you've ever had a cranky baby and running on lack of sleep then you might have some empathy for them. I'm not saying you should tip toe around for every nap but they're probably thinking, 'fuck, a year of no sleep through the day for our child, and I have to earn a living'.
Sorry op but I think it's too long. You shouldn't have taken on such an epic job knowing that a year was about the time it would take.

I work from home as is my right, @Monty27 it’s the 21st century you don’t need to and nor should you have to work in a commercial property 🙄.

I would be royally peeved off with you but it is your right obviously, and sounds like you’re sticking to legal parameters. However I do think a year is excessive and unfair, you may be in your rights but that doesn’t make it right! Also you can be investigated by environmental health because as you have a right to renovate your neighbours also have a right to ‘quiet enjoyment of their property’. Just something to keep in mind.

That said I wouldn’t be round complaining, we had something similar with the property behind us - so god knows what it must be like in a semi, it was truly awful that went on for 9 months which was bad enough! As someone said try and think about how shit it is for them and try and be nice/understanding and get it done as quickly as possible. You may need to ask favours of them in the future and they may not be so accommodating if you’ve peed them off for a year. Also that counts for whilst the building work is going you may need access to property, pipes, especially in a semi, renovations throw up all sorts of things, and they could refuse you if you aren’t sensitive to the situation.

@LolaSmiles has made some excellent points of how you can be really considerate without it impacting on yourself or the project.

@08EmmaBridgewater20
Well it gets down to legal matters I hope all is equitable.
Interesting debate 👍

Whilst there isn't legislation around this area perhaps you would like to contact your local MP who probably works at home too if only in the contingency office. They do open surgeries apparently to take up local issues.

*constituency