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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Building work next door over the Easter holidays

53 replies

Sammy900 · 07/04/2023 15:19

Hey up Mumsnetters

I've got a bit of a dillemma / annoyance, see what you think...

The new neighbour next to me has been working on his property for months and months now, massive loft conversion and extention into the back garden. I live in a three bed Semi and our gardens are right next to each other. Now I have had no problems what-so-ever with all of this (apart from it annoyed me on Chrsitams day a bit, but we were hardly out in the garden then so it was just mildly annoying).

As you can imagine it's very noisy, building, banging, drilling, having fires, stuff blowing into our garden (albeit accidentally) and when all the crew come round they are all shouting to communicate with each other and basically we have just put up with it as understandibly it is going to be very noisy, fair enough.

Now the weather is warming up a bit I feel that it's invading on my privacy in the garden as they are all on the roof and it's just really disruptive. I know I need to bare with it and it will be much better when the work is completed. However, I'm worried about Easter Sunday. I've got family coming round and want to do an Easter egg hunt in the garden and have happy vibes, not shouting over the noise next door!

I've been toying with the idea of going round and just asking politely if they can give it a rest for one day on Sunday. I was sitting in the garden earlier trying to listen to the birds tweeting, haha and I can just feel myself getting wound up! My other half has said noooooo don't go round, we'll just make as much noise as we like and get on with the day and I don't want any beef really either - It would be an awkward conversation.

I know I'm a bit naughty but earlier on I was singing and whistling, to try and overcome the noise (yes I'm getting passive agressive now) and then my other half said quietly...."babe put a bra on everyone will be getting an eye-full" for context I have a long comfy dress on nothing revealing and I just said loudly - "what If I wanted to sunbathe in my bikini on a lovely day like today?"

Anyway I have now gone in the kitchen and turned up classic FM with the patio doors open (it's not massively loud) haha baddie me - still sat here wondering if I should go round and say something about Sunday (one day of peace and then they can crack on).

Am I being unreasonable?

OP posts:
concernedalot · 07/04/2023 15:26

how do you know they'll be working on the Sunday? Being passive aggressive about it certainly won't have done you any favours - if anything they're more likely to keep on going with it. Couldnt you do the easter hunt in the house instead? I get it's annoying but there really isn't an awful lot you can do about it

Hellocatshome · 07/04/2023 15:33

Will they be working on Easter Sunday? Did they really work on Christmas Day? Where is he finding these workmen willing to do this?

Original poster
Sammy900 · 07/04/2023 15:41

I know I can't do much about it and have just put up with it. Yes they worked on Christmas day, maybe they don't celebrate it?, maybe they don't celebrate Easter? - I don't know for sure as I don't know them - I'm just worried about it in advance and not sure whether I should say anything or not.

Agreed being passive aggressive isn't helpful but I have been getting annoyed today, no other complaints from me for the other millions of months it's been going on

If I bottle out of saying anything, at risk of causing any tension, then I will just have to put up with it on Easter Sunday too (sigh)

OP posts:
NameChangedToAnswer · 07/04/2023 15:43

Are you in the UK? Most LA's have byelaws about the hours "noisy" construction work can be carried out - either as DIY or paid for.
Typically they are Mon to Fri 8 to 6, Sat 8 to 1 with no "noisy" work on Sundays or bank holidays.
If they haven't been keeping to that I would have a word. I think its one thing for them to work outside these hours on an occasional basis, but to do so on a regular basis (as seems to be happening here) seems anti-social.

Hellocatshome · 07/04/2023 15:43

Why not just pop round and ask them if they will be working on Easter Sunday as you are planning on having a family gathering in the garden. This way you will know rather than just worrying abiut something that might not even happen and it will also give them notice you are having a family event and then if they are decent people they will keep the noise down.

Original poster
Sammy900 · 07/04/2023 15:45

I guess my question is - should I say something or not about just leaving it for one day, Easter Sunday as I will be having family round and hoping to enjoy my garden? What do you guys reckon?

Leave it (I am being unreasonable) or go round and ask if they can have a break for one day (I'm not being unreasonable)

OP posts:
TheyIndeed · 07/04/2023 15:52

Just ask 🤷‍♀️

Original poster
Sammy900 · 07/04/2023 15:53

Thanks guys, yes in the U.K - I didn't know about the regulations for noisy work on Sundays, etc - that makes total sense and it is a bank holiday today and they are all round here working

O.k, I haven't spoke to him yet but I might get some big girl pants on and go round and ask -rather than blasting out Classic FM haha (I'm not anymore, my patio doors are shut now) -I was just feeling a bit annoyed earlier on in the garden and wondering if they knew how the noise travels in the garden when we are literally next to each other

OP posts:
NameChangedToAnswer · 07/04/2023 15:53

Yes I would have a word. If your LA has restrictions like a lot of them seem to have I would use this as ammunition to strengthen your case.
IF this is the case, I would actually be telling them that you've been very patient so far but the work has carried on so long that its impacting on your family. Therefore in future you expect any noisy work to be restricted to the hours set out by your LA - which aren't exactly short.
Do you have a party wall award? As this will also frequently set out the hours the site can operate.

Slushynana · 07/04/2023 15:55

Check your local authority website, ours says:
General construction work should be restricted to the following hours: Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm. Saturdays 8am to 1pm. Noisy work is prohibited on Sundays and bank holidays.
if they are ignoring this then you can maybe ask them to keep in line with these hours

Eann · 07/04/2023 15:56

It’s illegal on a bank holiday (assuming you’re in England). If they’re doing it on bank holidays contact the owner and ask that they stop and politely point out it’s breaking the law.

Original poster
Sammy900 · 07/04/2023 15:58

Thankyouuu! Nice one for the advice

I'll just ask politely first, and then if there are any issues I can use the regulations as back up - maybe they just haven't considered how it disrupts everyone else

OP posts:
Eann · 07/04/2023 15:58

Ps I was living offsite when I had builders who chose to do really noisy work on a bank holiday and I was very glad the neighbours complained to me directly as I had no idea the builders were even on site, I’d assumed they weren’t working bank holiday. So I called the builders manager and he told the builders to down tools and leave immediately. So the conversation might go better than you think…

OutDamnedSpot · 07/04/2023 16:03

I think going round to ask nicely if they’re planning to work on Sunday, and if they are, would they mind prioritising quieter things that day would be perfectly reasonable. Also perfectly reasonably to wear whatever you want in your own home/garden.

Passive aggressively playing Classic FM is just weird though.

It sounds like an MN adage: “cancel the check”, “play classic fm at them”

Ozgirl75 · 07/04/2023 16:08

How could plying a radio in your own house ever be seen as being passive aggressive at someone else? Like, how would they know that it was directed at them? That really is totally nonsensical.
If you want to find out if they’re working on Sunday, just go round and ask them.

Original poster
Sammy900 · 07/04/2023 16:26

The classic FM (aaaah nice relaxing music) was me really just being childish as I was annoyed at being disturbed in my own garden earlier on - it's not happening now I maybe left two songs on, on purpose, but you know hormones (me) and they are SO LOUD and I thought, do they know how far sound travels?

As a more mature response to my annoyance..... It's ok now as my other half has taken over the situation and more amicably messaged the owner. Like a poster said above the builders are seperate to him (not him and his family, but I wasn't sure of that) and has confirmed they are not working Sunday - PHEW, hopefully he will have also got the message to be a little more considerate now we are wanting to enjoy our garden in the sunshine at the weekends and bank holidays.

The builders are still here shouting and banging away but hopefully they will bog off soon - can't wait for it to be finished now, nearly there.

Anyway thanks for the helpful advice :)

Situation resolved

OP posts:
deplorabelle · 07/04/2023 16:30

They should not be having fires at all. I would really object to that.

CherryCokeFanatic · 07/04/2023 16:33

lol

Original poster
Sammy900 · 07/04/2023 16:36

IKR and they light the bonfires right at the top of the garden near the back door / patio doors....

I think it's just bothering me more now that I want to use my garden, I've not been too bothered before as it was cold and we weren't really in the garden much just mild backgound annoyance, but it has been going on and on forever... It is nearly at the end of the project to be fair - they are just building the roof to the extention now

OP posts:
PuppyMonkey · 07/04/2023 16:36

You, you… turned up Classic FM??? Shock

Original poster
Sammy900 · 07/04/2023 16:52

haha yes to drown out the sound of drilling and banging and builders shouting....oooh get me hehehe

I realise how daft this sounds

I'm just happy they won't be working on Sunday thank god :D

OP posts:
Original poster
Sammy900 · 07/04/2023 16:56

They probabaly liked it! grrrr haha

OP posts:
nomoremerlot · 07/04/2023 16:58

@Sammy900 classic fm, up loud? A step too far I feel! Be careful of repercussions

Original poster
Sammy900 · 07/04/2023 16:59

hahaha I feel like a right twat now - I should've put some hardcore rock on, something offensive

OP posts:
londonloves · 07/04/2023 16:59

I'm pretty sure it's illegal to burn building waste on domestic properties.