Neighbours building work (long term)

[lemonsaretheonlyfruit]

I live on a row of terraced houses. I have a great relationship with both of my immediate neighbours left and right and have done for quite a while.
2 doors down a couple moved in about 18 months ago. They have lived away from their home for at least half of the time as there is so much building work going on.

We had a break for 6 months or so but now work has started again. I am on teams / zoom meetings for much of my day and the constant noise from the tile cutting machine (weekdays and weekends too) hammering and other building noise is really disruptive, annoying and stressful.

I mentioned it politely to the owners 2 weeks ago and he has a tendency to minimise everything as he has done with my neighbour who lives directly next door to them and says her flat shakes as well as having to put up wit the noise. 'The worst is over now' etc

I had work done a few years ago and it didn't last nearly as long, but but I gave everyone notice within 2 houses left and right that it would be happening, apologises in advance, made sure the builders didn't work at weekends and bought my immediate neighbours a bottle of wine/ card to show I understood it would be a bit annoying for 6 weeks. ,

I think it's their lack of understanding.as to how disruptive it is for everyone else in our row of houses (4 of us have all commented and told them) while we are much more likely to be wfh than it is even the noise. If they had been more decent then the noise might not grate so much!

AIBU?

Btw I'm not someone who has nothing better to worry about. I have a teen DD with severe MH issues, a 12 year old DS and am a single parent.

I'm not being petty about this in a 'you should have better things to worry about' way. It's really affecting my day to day. I am known for being the most laid back 'live and let live' person ever to the point where friends tell me I let everything wash over me too much!

I have building work for an extension in my house and DH and I both WFH and have teams meeting. Do you use a headset with a mic? I have asked over teams and my team can’t hear the builders. It’s annoying they are there everyday but it doesn’t disrupt meetings.

I turn my mic off for most periods in meetings when I don't have to talk. Bit I lead a lot of them so even with earphones this doesn't work

Headphones for meetings.

You haven't a choice here but just to get through it unless the work is starting either very early or very late and breaking the law . Check with your council to see what local regulations are.

It's a pain but this is one of the realities of living in close proximity to your neighbours.

I work in a very busy environment and lead meetings daily, use noise cancelling double headset, they do work!

Nothing much you can do with the building works, hopefully it won’t take much longer.

I'm probably an annoying neighbour at the moment, as I am having intermittent work done. I'm living in the house and the work is being done floor by floor, I have apologized to neighbours who have been really good about it. However, I am limited by two things, money to do the work, so it is taking longer than I would like and the availability of trades. If I can get a workman in, I am snapping them up, no matter when. None of my neighbours works from home, and I think that also makes all the difference, I think all you can do is grin and bear it. The work will stop, and you will be back to peace and quiet.

It sounds like they're nearing the end. Sometimes houses need complete gutting depending on the state they are in and better to get it all done at once. I have never had building work done BTW, so just stick it a little longer and will end soon. My sister bought a house with plant to renovate slowly but all the electrics needed replacing and central heating. Floors had to be dug up and fireplaces opened up. There's nothing you can do

We've had a right nightmare of it building wise we didn't want it done but had a water leak everything got ripped out and redone. I always apologise to immediate neighbours but in reality what do you want the solution to be?

Oh and opposite had building work done for 2.5years, they've moved in but still have loads to Do. Always vans, skips etc no place to park so we have had to endure it too. Hang in there I can imagine how stressful it is even with headphones even a lunch break you hear them x

www.amazon.co.uk/Jabra-Bluetooth-headset-optimised-Microsoft-Black/dp/B00ODRSGX4/ref=asc_df_B00ODRSGX4/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309953091299&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6164037068837229266&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006624&hvtargid=pla-405661346768&psc=1&th=1&psc=1

these are really good- I have them (but work got them for me). They seriously block out all noise. My OH was sanding our landing and I was on the other side of the door in my study and no one could hear!

not sure what you expect them to do OP. The work is noisy but it has to be done sometime. I’m sure you would complain equally if they were doing it outside working hours.

You are unreasonable, it’s not their problem that you work from home.

I think a large part of this is about consideration and being polite. I suspect if they proactively / preemptively spoke to you , apologised in advance and gave you some time scales you wouldn't mind so much. The noise would be frustrating but you'd be resigned to it.

We have neighbours who had building work every weekday for a year. Noisy and dirty, required access etc and not once did they ask for access (sent builder round- he was nice and apologetic) or apologise and it really does wind you up. Its massively inconsiderate. Not the work- we all need work done sometimes, but not bothering to speak to your neighbours about it.

I feel your pain op. Neighbour has taken up 2 permit spaces with bags of building materials and the noise daily is grim. Easter Sunday at 8 am ffs. I very aggressively slammed our bedroom window shut and they scuttled inside!! Skips coming and going blocking the road and the mess!! Urgh.
Been well over a year now.