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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbour wants no drilling this afternoon

181 replies

Daisydrum · 19/07/2021 07:06

We are having work done on our house. The workers are only here M-F within normal hours. Our neighbour has asked for no drilling this afternoon because of important calls. Not sure if they are being unreasonable?
We did warn them months ago work was coming and when work was starting.
They have had about 2 years worth of work on and off, often during my important calls (and they’ve had it on evenings and weekends).
I’m not sure if the builders will need to use the drill or not but there will certainly be some banging as we can’t expect them to do no work for the whole afternoon.
Not sure what to say back.

OP posts:
drpet49 · 19/07/2021 07:07

Hypocritical of them considering they had 2 years building work. Tell them tough.

insancerre · 19/07/2021 07:09

Tell them it will be essential drilling only
And then tell the builders to crack on
It’s all essential

RaspberryRipplesofLard · 19/07/2021 07:13

Urm no. It’s your house, you don’t need to moderate your behaviour because of what they are doing in their house. I don’t ring my neighbour and tell him to stop mowing because I want to have a nap! If it’s an important call then he needs to make the adjustment and either take it elsewhere or wear headphones so the drilling doesn’t interrupt him. I’d be marginally more sympathetic if he hadn’t had so much building work going on but as it is he can Jeff off.

Overthebow · 19/07/2021 07:15

They are being unreasonable. You are sticking to weekdays during daytime hours which is reasonable. They can work elsewhere if they have a problem with it.

cookiesandcreamm · 19/07/2021 07:16

Your staying within working hours for the builder, crack on!

Brefugee · 19/07/2021 07:19

Have you ever taken the initiative and asked them not to be noisy during important calls?

ForeverSausages · 19/07/2021 07:20

Is today the first day of the builders being there?

Porcupineintherough · 19/07/2021 07:24

I think it's a reasonable request actually, as a one off.

Original poster
Daisydrum · 19/07/2021 07:26

Thank you everyone.
@Brefugee No I haven’t as often I’m on a call when they start doing something so I have no warning.
@ForeverSausages No it’s been about 3 weeks.

OP posts:
Notwavingbutdrowing3 · 19/07/2021 07:26

@insancerre

Tell them it will be essential drilling only And then tell the builders to crack on It’s all essential
This ^ It is difficult wfh with noisy building or road works nearby But unfortunately it cannot stop, bc someone is wfh. He has had fair warning and can decide to work elsewhere for his important calls. Your builders are booked snd will need to get in with THEIR important work which is essential.
Ikeameatballs · 19/07/2021 07:26

The builders need to be working in your house.

Perhaps the “important calls” would be better done elsewhere?

I’d have sympathy if it was eg a remote interview and they gave an hour’s window and could explain why they had to do it at home but not a whole afternoon.

HeddaGarbled · 19/07/2021 07:28

I think it's a reasonable request actually, as a one off

I agree. How ungenerous not to try and comply with a specific request for one afternoon.

CharlotteUnaNatalieThompson · 19/07/2021 07:32

I'd ask the builders if it was possible to plan their day to avoid drilling this on but if it wasn't then too crack on. And I'd reply to the neighbors saying that you've asked this but obviously having had work done themselves they'll know it might not but possible

Ohdeariedear · 19/07/2021 07:32

I’d agree for today. You have no idea what the calls are, for example, Dh has been having having cancer treatment and a lot of the discussions around options and treatment took place over the phone. Perhaps it’s something like that.

However, I’d probably say no to further requests. The fact that they’ve come and asked for your help today, for a specific window of time means I’d be more inclined to help this time.

Soontobe60 · 19/07/2021 07:33

The house next door to us is being renovated. I tutor online at home some days. On those days when I tutor, it seems like the builders bring out the big guns and spend hours drilling just opposite where I’m working 🤣. They also have the windows wide open and the radio on full blast.
Last week I did go round and ask them to turn the radio down - drilling I can just about tolerate, but with music on full blast too it was a step too far. They asked me what time I’d be tutoring til, and managed to keep the noise down during the times I said, even though I didn’t ask them to.
Suggesting using headphones and mic doesn’t help - the noise is still picked up by the mic so the other people on the call can hear it.
Op, I would ask the builders if they were able to rearrange any of the jobs so as not to be drilling on the party wall during certain times - just because you didn’t ask the neighbours when they were building doesn’t mean they can’t ask you.
@Overthebow you suggest they can work elsewhere - some people aren’t able to work ‘elsewhere’. I live in a small terraced house, wherever I work in the house the noise is loud. My tutoring can’t be done elsewhere. For some people, their offices have all but closed down so they have to WFH. My SILs job is home based, always has been.

NailsNeedDoing · 19/07/2021 07:33

As you haven’t answered yet, did they ask you in a text message. I’d reply that you aren’t sure what the builders are planning today and you can ask them to be quiet for an hour or so, but that a whole afternoon is too long. I wouldn’t tell them a straight yes, because then they’ll think they can ask for quiet mornings or afternoons whenever they want, and that can’t happen.

It is more important for your home to be your home than it is for their home to be their workspace. If they are struggling to wfh for whatever reason, then they need to go back to the office.

PersonaNonGarter · 19/07/2021 07:33

If it’s a one off I would try to comply.

Somuddled · 19/07/2021 07:35

I think it is a perfectly fine request, so long as it is occasional. We are doing loads of work. A couple of times our ndn has asked for no noise during a certain time. Her office isn't open, some calls need silence. Once it was for an interview. The other times were very sensitive conversations about children. We obliged because we are normal people. OP you can hold it against them that you never asked for quiet when you needed it. That's on you.

AbsolutelyPatsy · 19/07/2021 07:39

important calls obviously need to take place during working hours,
can you find out the exact timings?

DinosaurDiana · 19/07/2021 07:40

No. They’ll start dictating your life if you give in.
I’d just say that the builders will be doing whatever they need to do.

HasaDigaEebowai · 19/07/2021 07:41

It is difficult in some situations. I’m a lawyer and court hearings are largely online at the moment. It’s really hard when there are builders working close by. But at the end if the day I would have to hire a serviced office space if it was that much of a concern.

HoliHormonalTigerlilly · 19/07/2021 07:44

I'd ask what time exactly are the calls.

An hour or so is reasonable as long as they've asked politely.

Skyla2005 · 19/07/2021 07:45

@CharlotteUnaNatalieThompson

I'd ask the builders if it was possible to plan their day to avoid drilling this on but if it wasn't then too crack on. And I'd reply to the neighbors saying that you've asked this but obviously having had work done themselves they'll know it might not but possible
Because one afternoon lost will cost money and time
AlwaysLatte · 19/07/2021 07:46

If it was a particular one off then I'd try to oblige, get the builders doing something quieter. Try to find out the exact time the calls are happening.

comebacksunshines · 19/07/2021 07:46

I would ask builders can they comply with request, as a one off for today. Any further requests I wouldn’t. Why piss of your neighbours unnecessarily.