To ask my neighbours to ask their builders to change their radio channel

[HerveLeger]

Even though it’s a bank holiday, my neighbours are having building works done. They are lovely neighbours and generally very quiet. They let me know there would be work being done and it might be noisy. No problem. But… the major noise is the builders’ radio. It’s churning out some RnB-lite shite. I find it intrusive. They had a shed built about a year ago, and those people played Radio 6 or Magic Radio or something. I was fine with that. I am not objecting to the noise, I’m tolerant like that, but just the choice of station. Or they could turn it down? It’s booming out. It is bank holiday, it’s sunny, I’d like to sit in my garden. But I really can’t listen to this. Happy to listen to something else.

I’m sounding a bit precious, I get that :(

You can ask them to turn it down to a reasonable level but you can't dictate their listening choice.

You don't get to dictate what station someone listens to.

Fine to ask them to turn it down a bit but you cant dicate their music taste.

YABU - maybe another neighbour hated Radio 6 and Magic Radio and is enjoying the R&B. Either the radio is ok or it isn't, it doesn't matter what's playing unless it's something actually offensive.

Put some earplugs in/headphones on and put up with it

I'd ask them to turn it down.

Have you considered if you let trades listen to what they want they are more likely to finish quicker?

That's why I never say anything when neighbours' trades play crap like Magic Radio or Radio 6.

Why make your neighbours embarrass themselves by coming across as batshit crazy?

Why don't you tell them the other builders played 'Radio 6 or Magic Radio or something'?

No, thought not 🙄

I get that it’s irritating but there is literally no way of asking this without coming across like an absolute arse. I’d just suck it up.

OK, I am probably being UR. I live in the middle of nowhere, so any noise is surprising. But I still object to shit music. Music yes, the kind of anodyne bland shite that I am being subjected to; no. I’ll shut up.

Lean over the fence and ASK them for 90s dance or rock ballads country or whatever it is you fancy. They can only say no! I wouldn’t have a problem with asking.

But it's just your opinion that it's shit. They may well feel the same about the music you enjoy.

Given it’s a bank holiday and actually decent weather I would think it’s reasonable to ask them to turn down the volume. It would be unreasonable to ask them to change station though. Maybe you could check if your council has any guidance about times building work can be carried out, around here bank holidays are treated like weekend days so a later start early finish on Saturday and none on Sunday. It might strengthen your argument as you are tolerating the disruption of the work when it shouldn’t be taking place etc.

I think dictate is a bit strong

Try bribing them with cold drinks and chocolate biscuits in exchange for an hour of the music you like. Have cocktail umbrellas,maraschinos and Snickers to hand for negotiating.

Op it would drive me crazy listening to that at full volume. Maybe ask them to turn it down but changing stations probably would not go down too well.

I have sucked it up. The afore-mentioned might have made me sound like an arse, but I have retreated into my house, playing Belle and Sebastian in a rebellious way ;)

Stick some noise-cancelling headphones in and listen to whatever you want?

That no-one else can hear. I have good soundproofing.

YANBU it's bank holiday and you should be able to relax in your garden.

Surely they can listen to something with headphones in?

Yeah there seems to be some kinda unwritten rule that builders can play any music they like as loud as they like, pretty inconsiderate

Haven’t read the full thread but in many places in the UK it is actually against the law to do building work on Sundays or Bank Holidays. I would be contacting the emergency public health inspector.

If it’s overly loud you can ask for it to be turned down. But no, you absolutely cannot expect them to listen to your preferred genre of music rather than they music they like. Some people would hate your preferred music, OP. It’s just a matter of personal taste.

Builders shouldn’t be wearing headphones at work - they need to be able to hear each other for safety reasons. Playing music through a speaker means they can hear their surroundings as well, but that’s not the case with headphones.

I think people can reasonably expect to hear music or whatever from a neighbouring property in summer, sometimes - whether that’s builders or someone having a barbecue or whatever. If it’s really excessive or late at night, that’s different, but I don’t think people can be expected to do all their outdoor activities in silence.