REPORTED neighbour to council

[Brighton5555]

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?

Nothing wrong with them doing the work themselves if they skills but if it really was going in until 10.30pm then this us unreasonable. They don’t need planning permission to change kitchen or flooring so unless they’ve removed structural walls without an RSJ or built a huge extension, no problem.

Totally agree with this^. Just deny calling the council, there must be other houses/people nearby. They are mad anyway spending on a rented house

Planning professional here - this is true.

Do you live in a listed building? That would be the only reason you would need ‘permission’ - and it would be listed building consent rather than planning permission. (I’m a planning professional).

No it’s council. In your council tenancy for this area at least you have to apply for permission for many things , for
example if you wanted go
install a shower , fit a new kitchen, fence a garden, change internal doors ,

from brief look in it appeared the kitchen had been torn out , the floors were stripped back and possibly some kind of wall work ( not knocking walls down )

The council said she hasn’t applied for permission to do any changes hence the visit plus the noise

A planning professional unaware of council tenancies?..

I would deny it.

Can't beat a good old grass up eh!

The clue was in the words ‘breach of tenancy’.

It's after 11pm your not allowed to make that kind of noise, bloody stupid but 11pm-6am is the observed quiet time and when people will get into trouble. If it wasn't for them not having the correct documentation in place the council probably wouldnt so a thing on a complaint from one person, now of others have complained maybe

I live in a council house and you need permission for any major alterations, such as replacing a kitchen, removing walls or putting up new walls. Even need permission to put up a fence outside or remove hedges.

Why is it mad to improve the home that most people will live for the rest of their lives if it's council?

More fool them for starting major works without the landlords permission. I think just about everyone whose ever rented property either private or council knows you need permission first before you start work?
I'd front it out if she starts on you and not hesitate to report any harassment to your tenancy officer and the police. She's currently skating on very thin ice with a major breach of her tenancy agreement...

Serves her right tbh

I don't think that it's their property to renovate.....they are renters

Well yes, the only people who think it’s wrong are those like the unpleasant neighbours in this story.

The whole concept of being a “grass” is incredibly “underclass.”

Oh golly gosh and balderdash, has one had one's touchy 'stuck up' feathers ruffled?

No, I’ve just got no time for those who think there’s some sort of honour in helping criminals get away with things.

There’s nothing stuck up about being a decent citizen. There are people like you rich and poor, educated and not, and all deserve derision.

Me neither, but making a noise with a drill late at night temporarily whilst doing home improvements is hardly crime of the year. And don't start about the other alleged crime about unauthorised house alterations, these were internal and fall outside of that scope other than possible but unlikely building regulations which can be approved retrospectively.

@Zax noise nuisance and lack of sleep can actually be torturous and deeply upsetting. OP said she has a child with SEN, chances are said child cannot cope with drilling any time of day, let alone being awoken by it at night.

Who in their right mind starts to make changes to a property that doesn't even belong to them without getting permission 🤯 they must be bonkers and could well lose the tenancy plus have to pay to have it put back as it was

It's all very well saying that temporary noise while going home improvement is hardly a big crime, but noise from a drill or building work every evening until late for a few months, massively impacts on the OPs ability to live in her home and get on with her own life. She shouldn't have to put up noise late at night and anyone who thinks she should have to put up with it is a selfish arsehole.

Have never dealt with council housing or council tenancies within my career. What makes you so knowledgeable? Are you RTPI?

She'll definitely be evicted so I wouldn't worry too much. You absolutely cannot do that amount of work to a council property especially without permission. You're a tenant not an owner. You sound very kind and patient for even waiting 9 weeks, I hope it works out for you and you get some nice peace time now.

It’s not their house. They are tenants.