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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

About new neighbours doing DIY at night?

37 replies

RubixCubix · 30/07/2020 23:22

I live in a semi and our previous neighbour in the adjoining house moved out last week. So far nobody appears to have moved in as yet, but 3 evenings this past week, including tonight, somebody has been carrying out noisy DIY all evening. Tonight I got home at 8.45 and they were at it again, noise of power tools etc. That stopped around 10.30 but I can still hear hammering type noises going on now.

Please tell me IANBU to be annoyed about this Angry

OP posts:
Ontheboardwalk · 01/08/2020 00:45

Can you just not speak to them and ask them what they are doing and how long it will take?

It seems very extreme to be posting notes to your new neighbour of only a week. I’d expect them to do the same to you to complain about any noise you make in the future

I had to do a lot of work in my last house. It lasted 3 weeks and is now all done for a few years.

Appreciate the new neighbours could have spoke to you first but go and speak to them

Original poster
RubixCubix · 01/08/2020 01:09

I can't just speak to them as they are not actually there during the daytime at all and also I'm out at work during the day. Apart from today they have only ever turned up at around 8-9pm and I'm not the kind of arsehole that bangs on people's doors at night and tbh I don't feel safe doing so on my own in the dark anyway. I've spoken to a friend who is happy to go round with me tomorrow of it happens again though.

I do get it that moving in and doing some renovations is going to cause some noise. That's far enough and I fully expected it. But really do normal people think that level of noise is acceptable up till midnight? Begining to think my new neighbours are one of the posters on this thread who think I'm the one BU!

OP posts:
Pinkbunny2811 · 01/08/2020 01:22

We had works done. I told my neighbours when they were starting and how long we expected them to take. Most of it was mom-fri 8-5 anyway. After that I think we did one power tool at 10pm one night cause I couldn't stand It and wanted it done. I did apologise to my neighbours but they were fine. Maybe I got lucky with very understanding neighbours!

peakygal · 01/08/2020 01:38

My new neighbours have been here for 8 months and are still doing diy 😑 wouldn't mind so much if it didn't carry on until past midnight. One morning a few weeks back I was woken to hammering at just gone 5am! My patience is wearing thin at this stage but because I live alone with my DC and absolutely love where I live for the first time in over 20 years I'm not pushed in confronting them

expat101 · 01/08/2020 01:57

We have an adjoining noise issue going on, Council has advised us to keep logging it on the after-hours call out for excessive noise.

I too, approached the neighbour first (albeit via messenger so I have a record) and they don't think there is a problem. However in the theory of ''more the merrier'' several other neighbours are on board to call the noise in too.

Hope that helps with your situation. they won't be friends either way, as they are already inconsiderate and entitled.

Original poster
RubixCubix · 01/08/2020 13:29

If this goes on for 8 months I'll be taking a power tool of my own to my head. Already after 2 consecutive nights of noise plus too much coffee the following day, so I can actually function at work, and I'm so strung out it's ridiculous. We've had to cancel our plans for today, as we are all too exhausted and irritable.

If it was possible to upload the recordings I took last night, I'm sure the YABUs would change their mind. It's not just once instance of using a power tool at 10pm, but load banging noises enough to make the cupboard doors shake and continuous droning power tool noise for hours and hours. All audible through the walls into my DC's bedrooms until around midnight. No sane person would think that acceptable.

OP posts:
DFAMA · 01/08/2020 14:36

Yanbu at all! Whatever they are doing they should have planned how they were going to fit it into normal hours. I recently bought lots of new flatpack furniture and spent a few days putting it together, climbing over boxes and half built things in the meantime because I'm not a selfish prick who thinks hammering after 8pm is acceptable let alone using power tools at midnight! What a way to introduce yourself to your new neighbours eh?! Op I would be round there knocking at the door if they woke me up, make a nuisance of yourself as they obviously don't give a shit about being a nuisance to you

KatherineOfGaunt · 01/08/2020 15:43

@RubixCubix

If this goes on for 8 months I'll be taking a power tool of my own to my head. Already after 2 consecutive nights of noise plus too much coffee the following day, so I can actually function at work, and I'm so strung out it's ridiculous. We've had to cancel our plans for today, as we are all too exhausted and irritable.

If it was possible to upload the recordings I took last night, I'm sure the YABUs would change their mind. It's not just once instance of using a power tool at 10pm, but load banging noises enough to make the cupboard doors shake and continuous droning power tool noise for hours and hours. All audible through the walls into my DC's bedrooms until around midnight. No sane person would think that acceptable.

Put them into a YouTube video with some generic image and then post the link! Grin

Being serious though, I would do everything I can to call round and talk to them. If they don't live there they're obviously completely unaware you get up at 5am, I'd be speaking to them and explaining that finishing after midnight does not guarantee you a good night's sleep. One night is excusable. Several nights in a row is just hell.

We've been doing up our house since we moved in over a year ago. We've done sanding, drilling, hammering and all sorts. But I am very aware of the noise and try to limit it to less than an hour and only during office hours. I'd hate to think we were negatively impacting on our neighbours.

grissomsbugs · 01/08/2020 15:52

I don't understand why you won't go round and speak to them. It's still light to not be a nuisance knocking on someone's door at 8pm! Get someone round to wait in your garden if your that scared. Don't be stupid and let it go on longer than it needs to!

Bargebill19 · 01/08/2020 15:53

Yanbu. I had the same with a set of neighbours - she worked for the council
So complaining did nothing., that was after trying to speak to her face to face and a solicitors letter.
So for several nights I slept in my car in Tesco car park whilst a loud CD player blasted out last night of the proms against her bedroom wall from 8pm - 8 am.
Never heard a thing from her again. Get devious if all else fails.

Mushypeasandchipstogo · 01/08/2020 17:08

Phone environmental health on Monday. Make it known that you already have times and dates and that you have sent a letter. Someone needs to pay them a visit.

notdaddycool · 01/08/2020 17:20

Our neighbors did this, I popped round they stopped immediately. They are probably so focused on getting their home ready they may not even have thought of you, or since you’ve said nothing they may presume you are fine with it/ they can get away with it. It won’t feel like it now but in reality it won’t last, but they can manage it better, have a chat, try to be flexible so the relationship with people you could live next door to for the next 20 years is good. If you are going away tell them they can go until late..

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