To ask them to pay for cleaning?

[Goostacean]

We live in a Victorian terraced house and the flat downstairs is now being extended and totally renovated. They’re taking out everything except the barest bones. Today was the first day of works and based on the dust so far, I will have to clean everything in my kitchen for the next six to ten weeks before I can use it. I’ve left footprints in the dust, it’s that bad.

WIBU to ask the owner (who also happens to be our freeholder) for a deep clean of the rooms of our property above theirs, or even the whole place, once their shell is sealed and work is taking place indoors?

I’m always nice It’s more, am I asking them for a favour, or do I have rights?

It's very likely they are unaware of the level of dust coming up to your property so until you let them know and see what they say it's hard to say what you can reasonably request. So I'd start there. Show them pictures or ask them to come up and see for themselves.

It's going to be best to speak to the owner wherever they are. I can't see much point in speaking to the builders downstairs.
I don't know all the right legal jargon but it seems obvious that the works are making your home unliveable at present and causing undue disruption.

Good idea to go armed after speaking to the council and looking at the terms of your freehold (?) so you know your rights. I'm sure you must have some! A clean of your property seems the least the owner can organise.

Good luck. You seem remarkably calm about the whole thing

You seem remarkably calm about the whole thing It’s been on the cards since Christmas so I’ve had some time to get used to the idea! I’m glad to hear I’m if anything too relaxed, you have given me the confidence to sort it out and not put up with it!

Perhaps "resigned" is the right word then! I hope you can get some recompense.

On the bright side, the actual smashing down of the interior or what not may be quite short and then there'll be far less dust. Perhaps you could find out a time scale for the actual "demolishing" part. Just for your own sanity.

4-6 weeks... 2 months until the shell is sealed, supposedly...

That's terrible Op - definitely speak to the owner as you shouldn't be inconvenienced to such a level.

Well I had a nice chat with the foreman and they’ve taped up all around the edge of our kitchen and hallway, so we hope that will bring the dust down to a more sensible level. Time will tell! Basically there was a big gap all around one radiator pipe, which was essentially an opening to downstairs. Now it’s covered up... 🤞🏻

Yanbi

In the meantime is it possible to put up plastic sheets at entrances to maybe curb the dust a bit?

OP I would be very worried about you and DC breathing in all that dust.