Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To complain to neighbour about building work noise

25 replies

applestrudels · 08/02/2021 11:00

I'm working from home at the moment, like a lot of people, and as soon as I sat down at my desk today I heard the sounds of really loud drilling and sawing coming through the wall from next door, so loud I can't concentrate at all, and certainly can't do any zoom calls (my flat is small so there's nowhere in the house I can go where the noise isn't really loud.)

I went round and complained, because I thought the least they could have done was give some warning so I could find somewhere else to go and work for as long as the work goes on, but my sister thinks I was being pushy and should have just said nothing.

Was I being unreasonable for complaining..?

OP posts:
Littlejayx · 08/02/2021 11:01

I wouldn’t have gone round complaining first I would have politely asked for a little heads up as you are working from home

Aprilx · 08/02/2021 11:04

Yes unreasonable. People are entitled to do maintenance work or enhancements to their house. Unless they were doing it in the middle of the night, it is something most of us will have to put up with now and again.

HaveeeeYouMetTed · 08/02/2021 11:15

YABU. Usually you'd be at work so you wouldn't hear the noise. But you're not. Which is unfortunate but not your neighbours issue. You cannot expect other people to not do their own jobs or DIY because it doesn't suit you.
You certainly shouldn't of complained. Maybe just asked politely for a heads up next time so you can make arrangements around work.

Iseeyoulookingatme · 08/02/2021 11:25

Unless they are doing diy all day every day then I wouldn't complain. People have to do diy from time to time.

Cuddling57 · 08/02/2021 11:36

Maybe get some good noise reducing headphones?
Our neighbours are having an extension done soon. I'm hoping the kids are back at school then as it is distracting!

Smallgoon · 08/02/2021 11:47

Would you rather they started drilling at 9pm when you were settling down for the evening? * Not that they're allowed to anyway as I'm sure the law stipulates that building works take place from 8am-6pm. But builders have to work too, so not entirely sure what you expect?

I had works carried out on my flat during the first lockdown and one resident in our flats did complain, despite the fact we were adhering to the hours. He sent me a message telling me the noise was disruptive whilst he was on zoom calls. I sent one back telling him that much like him, builders too were required to work, but that I'd ask them to be more mindful of those working from home. Didn't hear from him again.

caligulascatharsis · 08/02/2021 11:48

I mean, what do you want them to do about it now? The work has already started. Where else would you have gone to work from anyway?

DynamoKev · 08/02/2021 11:50

YANBU

Kendodd · 08/02/2021 11:51

Not all building work is this type of noisy. I would go round and ask if they could just avoid the very worse noise while you have zoom calls booked. They have to be able to do maintenance though so even this might not be possible. So is life!

Sparklesocks · 08/02/2021 11:53

I sympathise as we our neighbours are renovating the house next door (thin walls, terrace) but I don’t really know what can be done, as the work needs to go ahead either way. I think you only really have recourse if they’re doing it at unsociable hours.

I appreciate it’s irritating and makes WFH hard, I’m in the same boat. But unfortunately I don’t really know if there’s a solution.

cautiouscovidity · 08/02/2021 14:52

I don't think you're being unreasonable. Most people are at home day and night at the moment due to lockdown, many of whom are working on zoom / the phone during the day and most people are aware of this.
It would've been courteous of the neighbours to pop a note through the door giving you the heads up a day or two in advance. Even if it was emergency work, they could've popped round to say something.
(I'm not suggesting the neighbours are wrong to carry out the work, but they were wrong not to let you know it would be happening).

NotFabulousDarling · 08/02/2021 14:57

This sort of noise is permitted during the day in residential areas. I know that doesn't make it any less frustrating but when do you expect them to do it? At night?

MissMarpleDarling · 09/02/2021 00:36

Yes YABU.

bloodyhairy · 09/02/2021 02:18

I can't imagine living in a world where I wouldn't give my neighbours advance notice of this kind of thing. It's just incredibly selfish and rude.
YANBU.

Snoringmouse · 09/02/2021 04:24

I think it’s so rude to start noisy work without letting neighbours know, it would be a real problem for us and I think most people at the moment.

There are short term rental offices in the business centre near us, is that an option for you?

NoSquirrels · 09/02/2021 05:00

YABU to complain.

YANBU to ask for notice if possible.

Blimey2s · 09/02/2021 06:54

What did the neighbours say when you complained?
I’m not sure I’d have complained, I’d have just had a chat and asked for a heads up. (Or quietly seethed and said nothing)

CandidaAlbicans2 · 09/02/2021 09:27

YANBU to be irritated by it but YABU to have complained in the first instance. It would’ve been more diplomatic to have asked them if there was any way they could schedule the noisier work to the times you don’t have zoom meetings. Or if they could give you a heads up first so you could try and mitigate the issue. See if there was a way you could all work as harmoniously as possible rather than go straight for complaining. I hope it gets quieter for you, OP.

Skyla2005 · 09/02/2021 12:12

People are entiltled to do work on their house as long as it's not sill hours. It's one of them things

Keepcalm123 · 14/02/2021 21:07

This is an interesting one. I would like to ask my neighbours to delay work on their extension as my job is training online which I do for 2 four hour sessions a day. I have spoken to my manager about what I can do and she has advised if I cannot deliver would be made redundant!!!!

Felifox · 15/02/2021 09:17

We're in lockdown and people are asked to work from home, it's not normal circumstances. Children are not at school. So it's unreasonable to make continual noise knowing people are stuck at home.

Alienchannell21 · 15/02/2021 10:10

Yabu though I appreciate it's really annoying. You're working and they're working. Maybe get headphones as this will help.

Verashat · 15/02/2021 18:35

@Felifox

We're in lockdown and people are asked to work from home, it's not normal circumstances. Children are not at school. So it's unreasonable to make continual noise knowing people are stuck at home.
I agree and saying that everyone has to work and it’s the same- it’s not. My work doesn’t impact anyone else. My Dh is in court hearings from home, they can’t go ahead if there is so much noise he can’t be heard.
peak2021 · 15/02/2021 19:18

YANBU to ask for warning, assuming it's more than a few minutes.

Davros · 15/02/2021 19:23

Be nice and get the builders to do a few odd jobs free

New posts on this thread. Refresh page