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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think neighbour should warn us about loud construction?

26 replies

salviapages · 09/03/2022 10:38

This has happened a few times over the last year, neighbour has had various work done in driveway and garage (in garden) which is very loud and given us no warning. Today they are taking up his whole drive with Jack hammers. My husband works from home so this is very awkward for him.

I would've thought it's just polite to drop us a note to let us know, so husband can rearrange calls etc? WIBU to drop a note round asking for notice of this?

OP posts:

Whatterywhat · 09/03/2022 10:43

Yes they should & yes I would. Fucking inconsiderate of them.

Original poster

salviapages · 12/03/2022 08:35

Update: He's now getting a massive loud delivery of paving slabs at 8.30 on a saturday. Just a warning would be polite???

OP posts:

ohhooh · 12/03/2022 08:37

I wouldn't warn my neighbours of an 8.30am delivery slot?! 2am perhaps I'd give them a heads up yes, but not 8.30.

Justanotherobserver · 12/03/2022 08:42

I live next door to one of these so you have my sympathy. A few years ago they had work done that took two years. Two years of generators, cement mixers, stone cutters etc. We had peace for a while but now they're building something out the back and we're back to the above noise.

Neighbour was also in the habit of burning large amounts of cardboard at weekends, always just the other side of the wall. We were never warned and, because we like the windows open, the house would sometimes fill with smoke before we had time to shut them. The last straw was him burning cardboard on a sunny bank holiday weekend Sunday when I had washing on the line. At that point I had to speak and the burning did stop, but the building noise seems endless.

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 12/03/2022 08:44

I don't know.

I can't imagine advising my neighbours about work being done at 10am or a delivery slot of 8.30am

Constant noisy work for weeks/months - absolutely but not for a one-off.

Elsiebear90 · 12/03/2022 08:46

I wouldn’t expect a warning really, I mean it makes no difference to me whether I know in advance or not. I suppose if your husband works from home maybe he could go to the office or a coffee shop, so in that sense a warning might be helpful, but I wouldn’t think of letting anyone know of an 8:30 delivery, it’s not like they need your permission.

HELLITHURT · 12/03/2022 08:46

I have my neighbour three months notice that work was going to be done and I would advise them again of the timing just before it started. Gave her a weeks notice of the actual commencement date.

She still moaned and groaned to us, the workmen, everyone that would listen. Not sure she posted on MN.

The next time we have work done, I'm not bothering.

She's stopped talking to us now anyway, which quite honestly is a blessing.

WlNDMlLL · 12/03/2022 08:46

Yes it would be courteous but I'm not sure how relevant the WFH thing is. My husband has been self employed from our house from long before the pandemic and I think it's important to remember that residential areas are not office spaces. It's reasonable that people do DIY on their properties, especially on weekends. And this happens in offices too anyway surely? I was on a call from the school I work at yesterday and builders started drilling. Such is life.

Original poster

salviapages · 12/03/2022 08:48

Work wasn't being done at 10am, it started at 8. Regardless it wasn't the time it started it was the fact it went on with no warning when my husband works from home.

When I said it's happened a few times this year I meant a few projects that lasted a week or 2, so it's certainly not a one off

OP posts:

mum11970 · 12/03/2022 08:50

If the neighbours have contractors in to replace their drive they may well not be aware what is being done when. We’ve had our drive dug out and a patio laid and I had no more idea than the neighbours when the jack hammer was coming out and I didn’t tell them the estimated times I was given for any deliveries. A delivery of tiles is no noisier than any other large item that needs delivering.

notanothertakeaway · 12/03/2022 08:53

Saturday delivery 8.30am is not unreasonable

Agree would be courteous to let you know of noisy work

HELLITHURT · 12/03/2022 09:01

@salviapages

Work wasn't being done at 10am, it started at 8. Regardless it wasn't the time it started it was the fact it went on with no warning when my husband works from home.

When I said it's happened a few times this year I meant a few projects that lasted a week or 2, so it's certainly not a one off

What would your husband have been able to do if he had warning?

This is one on the down sides of working from home. It's not all positives.

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 12/03/2022 09:03

@salviapages

Work wasn't being done at 10am, it started at 8. Regardless it wasn't the time it started it was the fact it went on with no warning when my husband works from home.

When I said it's happened a few times this year I meant a few projects that lasted a week or 2, so it's certainly not a one off

The thing is - it's not your neighbours responsibility to make sure your husband has a quiet place to work.

Home improvements and DIY noise during the week is considered normal from 8am under most councils so I doubt they see a warning as necessary.

Onthedowns · 12/03/2022 09:16

It's courtesy. We have done it every time we have had work done our neighbours are arse holes and have never done it. Yes working from home if it's going go be particularly loud it's still courtesy to drop a note, it doesn't take much.

We had roofers at 7am one sat morning banging knocking music swearing. No need for it, people have forgotten about being neighbourly

Onthedowns · 12/03/2022 09:18

It's not about responsibility. It's pure manners it costs nothing to prewarn or noisy building works. Why would you not? It's how neighbourly relations sour. People are just so self absorbed and think only of their little bubble

Tomnooktoldmeto · 12/03/2022 10:43

Actually there are often regulations about work on Saturday and Sunday so yes it is reasonable to expect them to let you know and comply with any time restrictions

Typically Saturday is 8-1 only but people often flout the rules unless neighbours are clued up

BlanketsBanned · 12/03/2022 10:49

I always let our ndn know, its just good manners, they have a toddler who likes to watch the workmen and gardeners anyway but also gives them the opportunity to go out if they want to.

RampantIvy · 12/03/2022 10:54

We are having a new kitchen soon, and I have given our neighbours the heads up, not for the noise, but because we will have a skip and I have asked if can park the car in front of their house.

HELLITHURT · 12/03/2022 10:55

@Tomnooktoldmeto

Actually there are often regulations about work on Saturday and Sunday so yes it is reasonable to expect them to let you know and comply with any time restrictions

Typically Saturday is 8-1 only but people often flout the rules unless neighbours are clued up

This post doesn't indicate any broken rules?

Volhhg · 12/03/2022 10:58

It's really rude and inconsiderate not to give warning. Even a note through the door would suffice if they're shy or just don't like to confront. It's not like it's any effort or cost to give warning

Nyfluff · 12/03/2022 11:00

It is the polite thing to do. I dropped a note and box of chocolates to console my neighbours when I had some internal work done for 3 weeks. In return they've been making horrendous construction noise outside my window for the last 10 months without warning. Lots of metal grinding and things that could've been done on the other side of the property away from us. They know we have disabilities in our household and have to wfh.

burnthur5t · 12/03/2022 11:02

It would be a considerate thing to do but then I find most people are not considerate

ukborn · 12/03/2022 11:10

I've just renovated my house and went to both neighbours to say what I was doing and to apologise in advance. My work wasn't particularly noisy.
So yes, it would have been better to have told you. The delivery is fine though - they can't always dictate the time.

saoirse31 · 12/03/2022 11:23

It would have been courteous to let you know in advance of work, tho not necessary to do so in advance of delivery.

I would say something re notice but I'd say it to them, not leave in a note. I don't get the obsession with leaving notes to neighbours as opposed to talking to them on Mumsnet.

MargaretThursday · 12/03/2022 11:32

The delivery slot could easily have been 8am-1pm or even 8am-8pm, so they didn't necessarily know it was coming at this time.

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