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AIBU?

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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:
ReneBumsWombats · 25/01/2023 18:01

If she wants to break the rules of her tenancy, she should at least be smart enough to do it on the quiet, literally. The fact she's doing illegal work isn't your fault.

If you're worried about them knowing it's you, just deny it. Noise complaints can come from across the road or another door down. You can say you didn't think you needed to contact the council after you spoke to her.

If she's already proven herself to be an abusive racist then maybe they'll evict her and you won't have to see her.

Justontherightsideofnormal · 25/01/2023 18:06

It’s not their house to rip apart tho is it?! It’s a council owned house. A bit of diy is different to what this is.

Diedre44 · 25/01/2023 18:08

Not to panic you at all but you should have been informed it may become necessary to reveal your identity to support the Council’s case if formal legal action is taken. Evidence from you to support a case, such as the incident diaries and witness statement, may be disclosed during any prosecution or appeal against an abatement notice.

If your complaint goes on to a formal investigation stage, it may be registered against your property. This then has to be disclosed if and when you come to sell it.

The Council must serve an abatement notice on someone responsible for a statutory nuisance, or on the premises owner or occupier if this is not possible. This may require whoever’s responsible to stop the activity or limit it to certain times to avoid causing a nuisance and can include specific actions to reduce the problem.

user1471538283 · 25/01/2023 18:16

Well they shouldn't have done the work! Or they should have kept you on side. Either way sod them. I would have done exactly the same. They knew it was upsetting you and they didn't care.

Some people do make huge alterations to rented properties. My bf's friend put in patio doors, a new kitchen, fancy flooring, lighting and it's social housing. It's madness!

slowquickstep · 25/01/2023 18:18

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.

I am pretty sure for, what the *OP" says about being in breech of tenancy that the property is council owned. That would hey do need permission.

Winterjoy · 25/01/2023 18:18

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.

If it's council housing then they likely have a secure (lifetime) tenancy. Probably consider it worthwhile to do some improvements and make it how they want if they plan on staying for life.

Inkpotlover · 25/01/2023 18:18

You complained once, in November and you haven't spoken to her about the noise since – which actually now works in your favour, because people who escalate complaints to the council and Environmental Health tend to have made repeated ones before that. So, if she does ask, you can simply say, 'I spoke to you in November and that's all', then walk away.

But don't feel guilty. She's brought this on herself.

airey · 25/01/2023 18:20

She was given a warning for race hate? What a revolting individual. I’m so sorry you have to have this inconsiderate cretin next to you

you've done nothing wrong. They’re horribly selfish and deserve any repercussions.

if they give you ANY grief, report then straight away. Don’t wait. Keep a track of any bad behaviour as it happens (make a list on paper) so you have all the evidence (time and dates too).

people like this are bullying arseholes and you can do some good for the world by standing up to them!

well done, be strong, sending hugs!

LakieLady · 25/01/2023 18:22

Don't feel guilty, OP, they're selfish fuckwits and you haven't done anything wrong.

If they give you any grief, report that to the council as well. Add harrassment to the list of stuff they've done wrong.

BliainNua · 25/01/2023 18:22

You didn't do anything wrong, if they were making changes that need permission then they should have asked.

Sunriseinwonderland · 25/01/2023 18:22

Well it's tough isn't it. If they had been respectful to OP this wouldn't have happened.

Moxysright · 25/01/2023 18:24

Screw them OP. YANBU. You have a right to peace and enjoyment in your own home and drilling at 10pm at night is taking the piss. Stand your ground and maybe next time they should seek permission first the silly sods!

ImmigrantAlice · 25/01/2023 18:24

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.

It does if it’s a council tenancy.

DressingForRevenge · 25/01/2023 18:25

Deny everything.

Housing officers routinely take a stroll around - just say “they must’ve seen the rubble or something, nosy buggers”.

Babyg1995 · 25/01/2023 18:26

When we first moved into our home with our working hours most DIY had to be done at night we went and spoke to our neighbours and said if it gets too loud to let us know both said it was fine and work was done as quickly as possible no problems .
The neighbour Will know it's you but I think they should have let you know the work that had to be done and how long for .

Throwncrumbs · 25/01/2023 18:28

Breach of tenancy? So they don’t even own the house but rent it, they have more problems than you reporting them!

ReformedWaywardTeen · 25/01/2023 18:29

Sorry but if she had of had respect in the first place you wouldn't have needed to. And it's also not your fault the lack of respect had led to her being caught without planning permission.

I was in a similar situation in the summer, a house two doors up was being stripped back to bare walls. They had no masks, nothing on the doors to stop dust and filth. It was constant noise from 7am to 11pm.

After coming out the house to find I couldn't drive my car as it was covered in thick dust, I had enough.

I spoke to the neighbour next to me who said their entire house was covered in it, they'd had their windows open as it was summer and they were home all day. They also couldn't use their garden.

That was it for me, I then saw dust all over my living room after a day inside with my windows open due to heat, and I couldn't use my garden to dry washing either.

I rang the council who sent someone out and they shut the site down. No licenses, no precautions and there was concerns about what the dust contained.

The lead guy came and hammered on my door and started shouting, so I shut the door in him. DH then knocked and told him to try intimidating him instead.

They then got proper people in and the issue was solved.

smooththecat · 25/01/2023 18:31

What the hell can they be doing with heavy machinery in a house for 9 weeks?

Nameneeded · 25/01/2023 18:39

The type of person who drills at 10pm in a terraced house is not the sort of person you’ll have been able to reason with . You’ve done the right thing to go to the council and let them deal with her. I wouldn’t hold out much hope of the council doing anything though, sorry.

iknowimcoming · 25/01/2023 18:42

My DS has an excellent saying which I think is relevant here - play stupid games - win stupid prizes! Don't feel bad OP, you're not in the wrong!

Nameneeded · 25/01/2023 18:44

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.

Because it is essentially their house for life. My friends who have council houses have spent a lot of money and time making them beautiful inside. I would do the same if I knew I would never move.

Soothsayer1 · 25/01/2023 18:46

do not admit it was you, or engage with them at all if you can help it
write down everything that happens, sounds highly likely they are breaking the terms & conditions of the tenancy

WigglyGlowWorm · 25/01/2023 18:47

I’d just say ‘I’m not discussing this with you’. If she comes and asks you anything. You don’t need to say any more than that. No need to apologise or explain.

wizzywig · 25/01/2023 18:50

What was that film, pacific heights with the psycho tenant

Newlifestartingatlast · 25/01/2023 18:50

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.

I’m assuming reporting it to housing, means it’s a local authority house? In which case this isn’t about building regs- it’s about tenants having approval to do works.