Neighbours renovating garden - noise at night

[jammydodgers12]

2 weeks ago my neighbours built decking, drilling and hammering on a weeknight.

At 22:15, I'd had enough and knocked on their door, no answer. Went to the bottom of the garden and asked over the fence politely if they could wrap up the noise as we have to be up for work at 5am. They replied we'll finish at half 10.

It's been EVERY SINGLE NIGHT until half 10, drilling, banging, hammering and once they stop at half 10. They all sit out talking, laughing until around 11.

I don't know what I can do about this? Am I being unreasonable? The couple next door have a toddler so can't imagine they're happy with the noise either although I haven't bumped into them to ask and don't want to bother them by knocking.

I'm at my wits end with this noise all night, can't hear tv because of it, can't have doors open to the garden in the warm evenings because of it, can't sleep because of it.

Mine are like this. They don't give a shit so I just have to grit my teeth til the next bloody project is complete. You can set your watch by them, every night at 7.30 as I'm putting the kids to bed something starts grinding or drilling. On and on til 10 or 10.30. I can't hear the tv or go to sleep til it's finished. I really sympathise! The last time I went over to speak to them they just said 'well we've only hired X machine til tomorrow morning and been at work all day' 🤷🏻‍♀️

Sprinkler?

You need to make a lot of noise at 5am each morning you leave for work. Being noisy myself was the only thing that stopped my noisy neighbours

6pm is the cut off for using power tools on UK.

Suggest they Google the law before you report them.

I'm not sure where you've got this from but there are no such laws regarding DIY noise.

London Council website.

ahhh i feel for you, this very recently was me. Fortunately they have finished their decking in their small terraced garden. However the very same day they set up their new hot tub. its great it means every evening and weekend its dry they have it on. Then of course the bubble make so much noise they can't hear each other so naturally shout to one another. They also got a cracking chinmea thing that they burn anything from damp wood to plastic in from 5.30-6pm on wards. I love the smell of smoke on my laundry and bedrooms as it comes in the windows.
i'm all for enjoying your outdoor space but really wish our neighbours would remember they don't like in a detached house with large garden but a litte terrace where their tub is against my fence about 2 meters from my door and their smoke machine is closer. Rant over

How is it taking them two weeks to build a deck!? Must be a very big deck. Have you got a large man who could ask them to be quiet? I find people are far quicker to dismiss women’s complaints than men’s!

If the decking is more than 30cm above ground level it requires planning permission......

@Seeline you should see it! It's about 5 foot up! I will take a photo out of my window in the morning!

Sorry to hear about people having the same issue.

They've also been burning wood and plastic so I know that feeling too.

When he said half 10 last time I said no way and he said his brother had come from London to help I said I don't care, wrap it up or I'll report for noise.

He knew I was pissed off. They don't seem to care about anyone around them.

6pm is the cut off for using power tools on UK.
Suggest they Google the law before you report them.

That's guidance only and from that particular council. There's no actual law and 6pm is hardly feasible especially considering that many people are only just getting home then or have yet to do so.

Other councils have other guidelines. www.northdevon.gov.uk/environment/statutory-nuisance/diy-noise/ Theirs seem more reasonable to me. 10 is ridiculous though. I'd definitely report them.

Talk to them in the day.when it's not heightened by them being mid work maybe?kill with kindness.talk to neighbour.if they also ask kindly it might help.

Seriously if it is more than 30cm off the ground it needs planning permission...

Sounds very annoying - what's wrong with people???

5pm is the cut off time around here

Sympathies OP. Hopefully the price of electric will deter the hot tub starting.

Definitely noise nuisance. Talk to the council.

So his brother has come to help with the job, and they are working until 10:30pm, and it has only been for two weeks.

I wouldn't like it but I don't think it's grounds for complaint really, and I certainly wouldn't fall out with a neighbour over it.

Persistent noise, with no end in sight, or noise that goes on beyond 11pm, maybe.

Noisy work isn’t allowed on Sundays or bank holidays-and today is a bank holiday.

I've just checked and our council says that they accept that people may need to do diy around their work and family commitments, but that they recommend that 'the noisiest of diy activities' are finished by 8:00pm. I don't know whether they'd consider building a deck to be the noisiest of diy activities, but they do say that this is guidance only and not legally enforceable. I would think a calm daytime request would yield better results than a 10:00pm complaint.

No such rule for diy.

You can apply for an abatement notice but will take time, and surely the deck will be finished soon.

It's a shame he didn't tell you in advance of the work. Maybe your conversation last night will see a more considerate schedule today.

11pm to 7am are rhe hours of quiet.

You could theory to the Planning Enforcement team. Once they've finished building, the construction noise will be gone. However, can they then spend their afternoons/evenings sat gazing straight in to your rear windows? The planning department might be able to get an improved outcome for you.

Report not theory?!