Letter from neighbour

[CrispsAndChoc]

We’ve just had a letter saying that residents of my street are fed up with us and the disruption our work vans are causing. There’s no name or door number (it was delivered by the postman) so we can’t knock and apologise. It’s made me feel awful in our new home and I don’t know what to do!

For background-we moved in earlier this year to a very run down house down a road of lovely houses. Since we moved in, we’ve had lots of work done but it’s only been one van outside and no skips. A few (maybe 6) neighbours have commented on how lovely the house is looking and that they’ve never seen anything be done to it in years.

During The last few weeks, a few jobs have accidentally overlapped and there have been more vans and a skip on the drive meaning we can’t park on it. The vans are never parked over driveways but have occasionally been opposite one which can make it difficult (but not impossible) for people to get in and out of their drive. A couple of weeks ago, a neighbour had a go at me for parking opposite her driveway and I haven’t done so since despite it being a legal parking space that others have parked in since.

The majority of the work is now finished meaning there is only one van most days but the skip is still on the drive for a few more days.

I appreciate that it’s annoying when work is being done somewhere but my thoughts are that people should realise it’s only temporary and speak to us about problems they may have so we can rectify them rather than shout or send anonymous letters. AIBU

She doesn't know who it's off, is she meant to send a gift to every house on the street

This reply was to Wisteria

How is the OP to put a nice note and some chocs through the door when they don't know who the anonymous (clue there!) letter sender actually is.

Further, the anonymous sender claims to speak for the entire street - so the only logical solution is to send a note to the entire street letting them know whats happening and when it will be done, obviously with a copy of the original letter (because I know if someone is writing to others on my behalf, I want to know what was said!).

Do nothing. The house needed renovating. You did it. It's annoying but perfectly legal.

Take no notice, they have not got the balls to say it to your face, ignore them. This is your house nor theirs, clearly they have nothing better to do.

Whoever moved there would have had to renovate the house so not sure what you can do really. Just ignore it I would. At least you know it'll be finished soon.

Exactly!

Thank you to everyone who has offered advise. I’ll speak to my husband when he’s finished work and decide if we should do anything (I’m guessing his opinion will be to bin and ignore as it’s anonymous).

I know next door works from home so I did mention to him to let me know if it was too noisy or if people were parking inconsiderately and I would sort it. He didn’t seem too bothered though and was telling me about the renovations he has done over the years.

Well you know exactly which spineless neighbour sent the passive aggressive anonymous letter. Obviously the one who had a go at you before. Personally I'd completely ignore the letter u til they stop being gutless doing it anonymously and speak to you in person like a grown up. Fuck them.

Even if you are causing a bit more disruption than you should, this person is a total knob.

If you have something to say you need to own it.

So just ignore Op, and try and avoid any overlaps for the remaining period.

I wouldn’t photocopy the letter honestly. It’s childish and I would think it odd if someone did that.

Bin. Ignore. If they can’t be arsed to own their complaint and deal with it like adults why should you give it any headspace?

You get some right grumpy shirts around.

I bet it was delivered by my PIL.

• they are always bored and love complaining about locals having building work done.

I think the photocopy reply is the best but otherwise dont give it a second thought hey can get over themselves. I live on a new build estate where roads/driveways have not been completed and the finishing of this has been off and on for 3 years. So 3 years of road disruption, dust everywhere, woken up early by loud builders, loud digging up of roads and all sorts and we have all just had to deal with it, uours has been going on for a month which is sod all. That's life unless you love in the arse end of nowhere and dont have neighbours

Ignore the note.

If you can next Summer have some sort of party/bbq and make sure you invite the 8 neighbours who live nearest e.g. next door and across the road. Then mention the building work in polite conversation, and say you sorry it took so long.

I’d bin the letter and not think about it again. You bought a house that needed work and are perfectly entitled to get the work done.

Meh. You know it's been more than one van more than once and you are bound to puss people off with that.
If you're really finished ignore it.
If there will be more work be more considerate

My next door neighbour complained as her cat had walked in our builders sand (which was on our drive) and trod it all into her carpet Confused luckily it wasn't to me, I don't think I'd have kept a straight face.
I'd have said 'I hope you asked him not to do it again'.

All complaints about DCat are answered with 'I'll have a word'

I agree with @Wisteriaroundthedoor

A friendly note thanking me for my patience - I'd appreciate that

A note which includes a copy of the letter from another neighbour - I'd think you were an idiot trying to stir up trouble between residents of the street. Or that you'd been spending too much time on Mumnset where people can be aggressive keyboard warriors at times, and a disproportionate number of them hate their friends, family and neighbours

I wouldn't send a note until the work was actually finished.

Cowards, just ignore them!

Good luck with the renovations!

This. As long as you’re being considerate in terms of noise and mess, it’s a given that you’re going to do work.

if you get the chance to talk to your neighbours, tell them about the note and see what they think, go on charm offensive as and when you see people. Put a note in to Christmas card

don’t lose sleep. This is your house, your life and the sooner you get it finished, the sooner you’ll be able to enjoy the peace and quiet

What is the point in keeping an anonymous letter?

I'd write a reply on the bottom of the letter apologising, outlining what works are left to do and how long you expect the disruption to last.

Mention you are sorry to do a mass reply but unfortunately the sender didn't put their name on their letter and you want to make sure they get your response and that if they want to ask more questions, please feel free to come over for a coffee.

Finish off with some bollocks about hopefully when it's all done you can get to know each other, that it's a lovely street and you're looking forward to settling in, add some shit about inviting people for drinks or something and sign off in the friendliest way you can think of.

Make enough copies to put through the door of every house on the street and go put them through letterboxes.

Fuck em.

It is a bit frustrating when neighbours are having work done - people opposite us are having an extension built at the moment. The work started in July time and is clearly going to be carrying on for a while yet. It's noisy and there are additional vehicles on the street. Their builders park right up to the edge of my dropped curb which makes getting in and out of the drive annoying. But by renovating their house our neighbours are making our road more attractive overall, and it is only temporary. I think ignore the letter but have a word with the builders about parking as considerately as possible.