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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To go next door and punchworkmen

124 replies

nicslackey · 22/04/2020 12:37

House next door (semi detached was up for sale and empty for 3 years) has sold but is needing extensive renovation. AIBU to feel irritated at the horrendous noise whilst I can't go out and we are working from home with conferences online etc. Think all day drilling as they strip all the walls, rip out kitchen etc. I know it has to be done. I appreciate the new owner will want to get in asap but ffs. They called in to oversee yesterday and don't know us obviously, I could have a sick child and a wee note to say how long this will take would have been nice in the interests of good future relationships with your neighbours. Quite prepared to concede that I am BU and oversensitive to the noise but it is sooo loud, like they are coming through my bederoom wall and I can't watch tv. It's been a week so far. Is this really needing to be done now or can I go in and punch them (lighthearted obviously)

OP posts:
Ifonlywecouldwishuponastar · 22/04/2020 14:04

This made me laugh (sorry it did). I understand as my dh is having a lot of conference calls and next door keep doing 'noisy' diy. Sometimes it starts at 9am on a Sunday. I was tempted to send a sarcastic WhatsApp saying some of us like having lie ins.....

PhilCornwall1 · 22/04/2020 14:05

Its pretty darn selfish during lockdown

Not really. Regardless of what the majority of MN thinks, life as much as possible does need to continue. The longer this government imposed effort continues, the more people are going to start back up working and I don't blame them.

OneandTwenty · 22/04/2020 14:06

ilovedjerrymore
Not sure why you want to pretend that every construction worker is committed tax fraud, how rude of you.

HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend · 22/04/2020 14:06

*OneandTwenty

The world can not just come to a standstill!

great, but why do think builders have a special status? Are they magically immune or something?

And what magical special status is that then? government has advised construction can still go ahead, business who’ve asked to be closed are closed and business who cannot work from home can still work however adhere to the regulations.

Are you one of those who makes up their own guidelines and absolute nonsense speculation to fit your own agenda?

What has tax got to do with construction workers working Hmm

Original poster
nicslackey · 22/04/2020 14:10

engagedagain It's bad timing from your point of view, being the house was empty for 3 years prior. yes, very good point, I have probably been spoilt with the quiet!! I really wanted to just have a virtual grumble rather than seethe in RL iyswim. This has all turned a bit confrontational. I just asked from safely over the hedge, that I appreciated they had work to do but to possibly turn their radio down and they have. No issue, no punches thrown (although possibly some eye-rolling on the quiet from both parties!!!)

OP posts:
ilovedjerrymore · 22/04/2020 14:13

@OneandTwenty your last message makes NO SENSE!

It seems you are having a very boring day and have come on this thread just to argue!
I will not rise to a rude ignorant person who has insulted a industry that is working very hard at the minute when times are tough.

Please carry on just hope you don’t need the construction industry anytime soon!

Signing off this thread guys, hope the noise doesn’t continue too long for you opSmile

OneandTwenty · 22/04/2020 14:15

ilovedjerrymore
makes perfect sense.

Some people committed tax fraud, and are in a bit of pickle now.

I know construction workers who didn't, and I can think of at least of a couple who are making huge sacrifices to keep their employees safe. And they were not playing with the books in the first place.
Do not pretend everybody is a fraud, that was my point. I was laughing at the ones who were.

OneandTwenty · 22/04/2020 14:18

And what magical special status is that then? government has advised construction can still go ahead, business who’ve asked to be closed are closed and business who cannot work from home can still work however adhere to the regulations.

but don't come and pretend a team of half a dozen and more working together are respecting regulations.. that was the point.
None of the businesses should have had to close if you go that way. It's the hypocrisis the problem.
And it's not fair on the business owners who run constructions companies who ARE applying the guidelines and keeping their staff safe. They shouldn't be put in the same bag either.

OneandTwenty · 22/04/2020 14:21

CtrlU
you said it, not me Smile

ProfessorPollington · 22/04/2020 14:22

Wow Ctrlu I would HATE to be your neighbour. What a series of rude posts. I guess the word neighbourly is not in your vocabulary.

MashedSpud · 22/04/2020 14:25

They are building flats by my home and work halted three weeks ago.

DH works on a site (nhs hospital) and each worker received a confirmation letter to show police if stopped.

🤷‍♀️ I’m just talking a load of rubbish obviously. I’ll let you experts continue. 😁

userxx · 22/04/2020 14:27

This reply has been deleted

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CtrlU · 22/04/2020 14:27

@ProfessorPollington

Like wise darling, Like wise.

Funny when you come on a post being self entitled expecting things to go your way and clearly realise the one who’s being unreasonable is you. Poor you @OneandTwenty Sad And now to try and bring me back into the thread with “CTRLU” said it because you can’t take the backlash of your own unreasonable comments

Some people so make me laugh Grin

TheWordmeister · 22/04/2020 14:31

Building works are suspended unless they have a government or nhs letter.

This is simply not true.

ProfessorPollington · 22/04/2020 14:33

CtrlU massively enjoyed your last post. Please do keep digging. It's very entertaining.

CtrlU · 22/04/2020 14:35

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HenSolo · 22/04/2020 14:39

Oh I sympathise so much op. I have a real problem with noise anyway particularly any neighbour noise. A couple of years ago I had to spend two weeks in hospital with my son who was very seriously ill. When I got back scaffolders were putting up scaffolding down our side to start renovating next door. It was so loud and I was so stressed I just started screaming at them like a madwoman. Not their fault of course. Eventually the noisy work only lasted a week or so so maybe it won’t be too much longer for you....
Of course once one side had finished renovating the other side began Grin

Iwalkinmyclothing · 22/04/2020 14:40

Argh, OP, that would drive me mad too!

Original poster
nicslackey · 22/04/2020 14:40

"CtrlU massively enjoyed your last post. Please do keep digging. It's very entertaining."
But please do it quietly as some of us are trying to work!!!

OP posts:
sundaymorningfeeling · 22/04/2020 14:41

I think you do just have to wait it out OP.

On the flip side, we are the offending neighbours getting work done. We have a landscaper with two diggers digging out our garden from a hill to flat. 10 days do far and it is VERY LOUD. We have warned the neighbours and grovelled but it has to be done and a deposit was already paid. I am sure though that we are annoying them but I have to hope they get over it once life goes back to some type of new normal.

AmelieTaylor · 22/04/2020 14:44

Given the house has been empty for 3 years, I assume it needs a LOT of work Quite feasibly the new owners don't live nearby so can't just pop in or 'leave a note' 🙄. I suppose they could write a letter, but seriously, who would?

Yes, I'm sure it's bloody annoying when you're trying to work, but they're not breaking the law, so all you can do is minimise the impact it's having in you. Headphones, mic, moving into another room, using soft furnishings to absorb some noise.

You could put a note through asking them for a proposed work schedule so you have a date to work towards & maybe a mini noise break if they're getting it plastered etc Plus thanking them for keeping the radio turned down 🤷🏻‍♀️

1555CC · 22/04/2020 14:45

Building works are suspended unless they have a government or nhs letter.

Making up random shit and posting it as fact is suspended, unless it's on an internet forum.

ProfessorHasturLaVista · 22/04/2020 14:47

My sympathies. We’ve been putting up with it since December. Every weekend, evenings, holidays. Breathed a sigh of relief when they stopped for lockdown. But now they are back, working on joint roof capping tiles again after we asked them not to unless we had seen their schedule of work and insurance details. Except this time I’m not prepared to talk to them because of social distancing.
Council useless. I have officially Given Up. Hope for their sake they cotton on to working 2m away from each other but they haven’t so far. 🤷‍♀️

CtrlU · 22/04/2020 14:47

@1555CC LOL

NotMeNoNo · 22/04/2020 14:48

I saw the update.

In the end both the OP and the builders are trying to get on with their jobs after all. One job isn't automatically more important.

The government instruction is that you can go out to work if the work can't be done from home. To access the compensation schemes you have to either prove social distancing is impossible or your work has been shut down e.g. pubs, theatres etc.