What to do about next door’s building work

[FortunesFavour]

Hi Mumsnet

I have a dilemma and would welcome your thoughts on what you would do.

Last year a new neighbour moved in next door and gave us notice of extensive building works to remodel his house. We are in a 3 story Victorian terrace and share a party wall. He has bought whole house next door, our house is divided into 3 flats with me and partner in middle flat.

Fair enough - new homeowner want to do work on their house, we understand and will tolerate any disruption under normal circs. We signed party wall agreement etc. All amicable.

Now here’s the problem - the timing! Partner and I are both wfh full time til Sept. no choice - both of our offices closed til then due to Covid/non essential travel. Lots of TEAMS meetings and teleconferences. DP is working from bedroom, I’m in lounge in our 1 bed flat. Not ideal but we’ve been managing. (No kids, I have no idea how parents wfh have been able to cope, I am lost in admiration for them!).

Anyway, NDN’s builders started work yesterday. Scaffolding up, 6 builders, angle grinders, cement mixers, internal wall demolition, the lot. The noise is unbearable. I had to drop 2 calls yesterday where there were 15+ attendees because the drilling noise was drowning me out and so loud it was unpleasant for other down the phone line. This will go on for around 4 months.

Sigh. WWYD? On the one hand I like new neighbour, don’t want to fall out and don’t want to be unnecessarily obstructive. I understand he wants to do up new house, I’d feel the same. Plus the noisy builders are all nice, friendly etc and just doing their job - impossible to be quiet really. I’m pleased they’re back at work, needs to happen, I support that.

But but but, the bloody noise!! Aargh!! It’s only been 2 days, but since they’re right next door with shared party wall and the flat is shaking with each hammer blow and ringing with drilling, radio and chirpy builders banter (quite like that last part).

Wouldn’t matter if we were at work of course, but we can’t go to office (both companies confirmed offices closed til 1 Sept earliest). We have to work and just can’t with this level of noise.

Don’t know what to do. I don’t think we’re unreasonable to want to be able to continue our jobs - bottom line is full time wfh or no job. But he’s not unreasonable either in his building either really, aargh.

How would you approach this wise mumsnetters?

Thanks

Lots of great suggestions. I don;t agree however with the suggestions that you should be asking your neighbour to bear any additional financial costs.

Haven’t read whole thread but could you message a group of friends offering some money in return for spare room use? Then you’d feel less bad asking and you’d only get genuine responses if they want to do it.

I don't get why you can't just be on mute for all calls? Then, with noise-cancelling headphones too, surely that would solve the call problem?

But maybe talk to your employer. I'm not sure of the legal obligations, if any, companies have while they're obliging staff to work from home, but it is surely worth looking into. They may be able to find you a space or at least pay for/towards somewhere for you to rent. They may even be obligated to.

I don't get why you can't just be on mute for all calls?. She might need to contribute to the call? The ‘use the chat function’ suggestions are good but it isn’t ideal long term (my business partner is going through exactly the same issue as OP and frankly it’s a pain having her type instead of speak)(but not so bad she’s HAD to change tbf)

Unless they’re building a basement I’d be v surprised if the ‘noisy enough to be a real problem’ stuff lasted long at all......she says with wild optimism

Yes it’s exactly that SnakesandKnives - some calls I can just dial in on mute, but many I am leading, delivering briefings, training etc so I am a major contributor on the calls.

Some good suggestions about using TEAMS chat function, that’s helping sometimes, but usually I have a lot of info to provide so too much to type. (Some of my colleagues are probably secretly pleased that I am currently being forced to put a sock in it!). The noise cancelling tech suggestions on this thread will really help with that I think.

I am also following a pp’s advice and explaining the situation early in the call. Yesterday I did this while a drill was going off. One of the call participants replied “I’m glad you explained, I though there was a walrus on the line”. Teehee, lockdown laffs!

You could try making yourself a sound-proof booth if you have room around your desk to do that. Google acoustic foam, it's often used for audio recording to cut out echo and make things sound less tinny. Or moving blankets (that removals people use to protect furniture etc) are generally quite thick and good for blocking sound and not very expensive. A double layer of bubble wrap over the windows will let light in and help a bit with the sound. Tape it to the wall all around the window frame with painters tape and it will come off without leaving a mark.

You wouldn't have to completely enclose your desk, although that would be the optimum for cutting out sound, even just building a wall of soundproof material between your desk and direction the noise is coming from will help.

Ah, I see. (I'm a bit shit on Zoom; thankfully don't have to use it for my work!)

For online meetings could you wrap yourself in a duvet or three? Or create a sound proofed corner of your flat using a hanging tail or bed frame or something like that?

Or for scheduled calls, take laptop plus dongle outside somewhere.

Not ideal, I know.

But it’s worth talking to your new neighbour about the noise + WFH issue - if he would offer even half the cost of an alternative workspace it might be something.