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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

REPORTED neighbour to council

135 replies

Brighton5555 · 25/01/2023 17:12

But it seems I may have made it something bigger and now I fear the backlash.

For 9 weeks they have almost daily been doing heavy diy/remodelling/building to downstairs always starting around 3pm to gone past 8pm.

i spoke to them back in November and could see when they opened the door wearing those professional style ear defenders due to the noise from the equipment being used that there was no kitchen and the floorboards were stripped back .. that it was obvious they were doing the work themself and her son in his mid 20’s is a carpenter by trade so explains the work hours being when he comes home.

we share thin walls in a terrace and I’m the only joint house to hers . WhTs pushed me to contact the council was the fact on 4/5 occasions they have used a drill of some kind as late as 10.30pm making my whole
house shake knowing full well I have a young school age child and a Sen young person in my home that they will be disturbing given the time of night..

a few nights ago my patience left me when again on came this heavy drill in short bursts at 10.35pm and I called the council
housing team and environmental health hoping and assuming they would call her and warn her about guidelines for noise .

It transpires she hasn’t applied for any permission to do any changes or work to the property and they are now doing a home visit about the noise and about the breach of tenancy. The noise and duration is clearly not someone changing flooring or replacing a door it’s more than this .

it didn’t even cross my mind about permission and all that I just wanted her to be told to stop making noise after the guideline times …

she will know it’s from me even though they won’t disclose it.

im nervous for the potential backlash but after 9 weeks and having approached them once before I couldn’t accept them being okay with the late late noise …

Should I feel bad now it’s going to be more problematic for her given she’s not applied for any permission to carry out said work?

OP posts:
GaslitlikeaVictorianparlour · 25/01/2023 17:16

I don't think this is your fault.
If they'd got all the necessary permissions and been considerate of their neighbours they'd be free and clear whenever the inspectors came round but they didn't and they won't be and that's entirely their own fault.

gamerchick · 25/01/2023 17:19

They should have followed the rules then if they were going to upset everyone with their racket. Stop feeling guilty.

Maray1967 · 25/01/2023 17:20

On their own head be it.
They are making noise at unacceptable times - they face the consequences. What are you supposed to do, put up with it? No way.

Campervangirl · 25/01/2023 17:20

Front it out if she confronts you.
"Ndn I previously asked you to keep your renovations during acceptable hours, you have ignored me and have been drilling at 10:30pm, this has been going on for xxxx number of weeks / months. You are disturbing my family and making our home life unbearable. You have left me with no alternative but to escalate the issue"
End of, walk away.

EmmaDilemma5 · 25/01/2023 17:21

I'm not sure it'll be obvious is was you as surely most of your neighbours hear the drill at 10.30pm and they'll have seen materials come and go for a while.

However, have you raised the noise with them? Til 8pm isn't a problem. Til 10.30pm is. But I think you should have spoken to them first if you haven't. Unfortunately, when you're renovating, it does make noise and mess.

Don't worry, if they ask, just act completely unaware and say no, you realise everyone does work and leave it at that.

WindscreenWipe · 25/01/2023 17:21

Most internal works don’t require permission from the council anyway… building regs can be applied for afterwards and planning permission is almost always for external works.

gamerchick · 25/01/2023 17:21

Why do you think they'll blame you, are you the only neighbour? You don't know who else has had a word about the noise.

ShakespearesBlister · 25/01/2023 17:22

Keep it in perspective. What you know for a fact and what you suspect, are two different things. They might suspect you said something but they won't know for a fact. Frankly if she's stupid enough to do something like that without permission then more fool her. I certainly wouldn't be loosing sleep over it. So they might stop talking to you and avoid you. Is that any great loss?

Facecream · 25/01/2023 17:28

OP you have not done anything wrong. Even if they are angry they will know you aren’t being malicious. Try not to worry and I Hutchison makes life more bearable for you

Original poster
Brighton5555 · 25/01/2023 17:29

I’m the only joining house to her and I already went and complained in early November . I didn’t even think about permission and all that and where we live you do have to get permission to change doors or fit new kitchens - flooring / and so on. I don’t know what they have actually been doing in there just that it’s been 9 weeks .

tbh we adapted to that but it was the 10.30pm blatant drilling that pushed me over the edge .

we don’t speak. It took a lot of guts to knock her door as she was given a warning for race hate when I moved in years ago. Since then no issues .

anyways I’m not the type to shout and argue in the street ( that’s her way ) and I think she knows if she tries to be abusive that will also go against her .

OP posts:
Facecream · 25/01/2023 17:31

Sorry I Hutchinson..? Wtf

i meant I hope

TwilightSilhouette · 25/01/2023 17:32

They are improving/doing up the house though. How can they do that without doing any DIY? It won’t go on forever. Would it be better to let the house deteriorate? The quicker it’s done the better I would have thought. It’s a nuisance to live next door whilst they are doing it but it will soon be over.

Irridescantshimmmer · 25/01/2023 17:34

Due to GDPR, the council will not disclose your name or that you made the complaint, its worth more than their lives..

Omg that was wayyyyy toooooo late to set off power tools louder than a toothbrush. I bet you did the landlord a favour by alerting the council to the alterations the new tennant(s)have made.

I reckon they may be forced to repair and replace any alterations they have already made to the property, to restore it back to how it was.

One of my idiot nieghbours has done this to his back garden and the housing officer was not impressed........so he's in the dog house. Another tennant converted his loft to a spare room which they don't know about yet, I am staying out of it so I don't get caught in the cross fire!😁😝

Danikm151 · 25/01/2023 17:38

Tough tits for her. If she’s a tenant she should have permission for any works.

also guidelines say no diy noise after 6pm or on a sunday.

BurbageBrook · 25/01/2023 17:40

Just front it out and deny it was you if she asks. YANBU at all.

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 25/01/2023 17:48

Not. Your. Problem.

ilovemybeachhut · 25/01/2023 17:50

I would deny knowledge of the council visit tbh. Some people are so selfish esp. as she knows your home situation.

BellatrixLestrangesHeatedCurlers · 25/01/2023 17:54

I would have (and have done) EXACTLY the same. Selfish arseholes need to be dealt with. If she is intimidating you, you can contact 101 and get an community order in place. It's best if you keep calm but sometimes it's not feasible. My neighbour is also the "shout and argue in the street" type and I found that shouting back/going toe to toe has actually made them both back off. When I shout... I shout (sing opera for a hobby = fantastic lung power). Bullies need telling. I hope you get a good outcome. She broke the law TWICE and any consequences are on her, not you.

HikingforScenery · 25/01/2023 17:55

WindscreenWipe · 25/01/2023 17:21

Most internal works don’t require permission from the council anyway… building regs can be applied for afterwards and planning permission is almost always for external works.

OP mentioned breach of tenancy so i assume she’s a council tenant.

SlouchingTowardsBethlehemAgain · 25/01/2023 17:56

Deny.

Calminacrisis · 25/01/2023 17:57

To be honest, it’s best that the council know what they were doing if it’s without permission - the next door neighbours of a house we once owned removed a chimney breast in a bedroom (council house) without permission and caused huge structural damage to both houses.

Bekstar · 25/01/2023 17:58

If they didn't want to be found out then they should have kept noise down when asked. They have f*ed up not you.

userlotsanumbers · 25/01/2023 17:58

Deny, deny, deny.
And don't feel guilty, she's a muppet for altering a house that she is renting. It's not her house, she can't do that, simples.

Jenasaurus · 25/01/2023 17:58

Drilling after 10pm and ignoring your polite requests to keep the noise down you were not left any other option, this is not your fault they dont have permission to do the DIY, I wouldnt give it another fault.

In contrast, my DS lives in a top floor flat in a large converted Victorian building, has had no issues until recently when someone knocked on the door and said the neighbour below had complained about them singing hymns at 5am! Now that is an insane complaint! with absolutely no substance, but the lady then said that the same person has made complaints about all the other neighbours too, all untrue so not the same as your situation. (My DS and his GF are sound asleep at 5am, unless they are singing hymns in their sleep!)

Bluekerfuffle · 25/01/2023 17:59

Why on earth are tenants doing expensive alterations like new kitchen or converting a loft to a spare room as PP said. Madness.

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