Inconsiderate neighbours renovating

[SareBear87]

Next door neighbour is doing renovation of their existing loft conversion. The work is primarily going on from 5pm to around 9/10pm. It's typical construction type noise, drilling, banging, sawing, etc.
We have a baby who goes to bed around 7pm. She is constantly woken by bangs and random thuds (so cries). We soothe her, only to have her woken again.
We've spoken to the neighbours so many times. Their attitude is very much that they want the work done, so that's that.
My mum reported them to the council for noise nuisance. Someone came out but neighbours told a pack of lies (by their own admission) so no help there.
The part that's got my biscuit this time is that after been woken for the millionth time I went to talk to them again. Apparently because the baby wakes them up, and they don't complain, I shouldn't either, as it's not neighbourly.....

AIBU to ask them to stop at 7pm?

I feel like I'm loosing the plot, work has been going on for months now! I can't move the baby to another room as both bedrooms are effected. Her white noise machine just adds to the chaos and makes things worse

I don’t think you can ask them to stop that early, and I think complaining to the council will have fuelled the fire.
Just hope that it’s done soon.
Would it be quieter to settle her downstairs for now ?

So they shouldn’t be going on past 6pm Monday to Friday.
However I suspect your child does wake then disturb them too. Give and take…
Could you be more flexible while this is going on? Perhaps a later bedtime… 8 o’clock?? To be honest lots of things make a baby grumpy at bedtime. Mine were miserable at that time whatever I did. I wonder if you are putting your baby’s discomfort down to the noise when maybe they would be grizzly anyway.

In our last house (terrace) my neighbour had a baby in the room adjoining our bedroom and I don’t think we had one solid night of sleep. So I am inclined to believe them on that. (Obviously we never complained because wtf can anyone do about a baby crying?!)

I think maybe try to diplomatically negotiate a definite finish time and fit baby’s routine around that? Not sure you have many other options tbh. I know it’s frustrating but the renovation will get finished so it’s not forever.

Hi @SareBear87 omg YANBU! I would report them again to the council.
Hope it gets sorted x

Can you get an idea of what exactly they're doing and how long it's likely to take?
Are they doing the work themselves?
I imagine if you make them stop work earlier it will just drag on longer unfortunately.

I have a baby. Our neighbours are doing a huge project (8 months and counting). Yes the noise has been annoying especially during the summer when we want to go in the garden/ baby is napping but he’s learnt to sleep through it. I’m 100% sure he’s woken them up a lot with crying so like pp says, it’s give and take. Technically they shouldn’t make noise after 6pm but maybe would have been better to talk to them rather than going to the council….

Now I would suggest either just waiting and accepting the noise, or go round and apologise for getting off on the wrong foot and go from there. They are much more likely to be reasonable (eg no drilling after 6pm) if you are nice rather than on the attack.

I think YABU. Annoying for you, yes, but I’d it stops at 10pm then not unreasonable of them. Assuming they work during the day, they have to do it at some point!
Baby will learn to sleep through it.

I am having my loft done and there builders don't start until 8 as per the rules and are knackered by 2, is yours solid?

Can you record with the time a couple of times and go back to the Council, I understood they're meant to take it very seriously . .

Most councils specify the hours within which renovation noise can take place, so you’re within your right to complain if it’s beyond those hours. They do not have the right to complain about your baby. But I’m not sure there’s much else you can do - can baby’s bedtime shift later for now?

We've tried later bedtimes (last night was 10pm but she cried from 8pm), extra naps during the day, settling her downstairs then taking her upstairs, keeping her downstairs (bad idea, we then inadvertently kept waking her), nothing works.
On weekends they don't have workmen in and she sleeps well, then isn't grisly, which in turn means she sleeps better.

I didn't want to report them but mum felt the noise was excessive and workmen shouldn't be coming in that late. The houses are small terraces so noise and vibrations carry annoyingly well.

Apparently the work will take as long as it takes but it's already been 4 months. It seems the workmen can't come during the day as neighbours WFH and the workmen have other jobs.
I don't know what they're doing as they won't say, but a toilet arrived the other day so I assume they're installing an en suit bathroom.

I just feel so frazzled :(

I have to admit that as they are prioritising quiet during the day to facilitate WFH I would be as noisy as possible during the day

We had also spoke to them several times about it before mum reported them (asked if we can know what days work is being done, etc.) as work just suddenly started. We were told to mind our own business and things will be done when they're done.

I just feel like because I've let previous issues slide (parking across our drive, burning waste, letting themselves into our garden to "trim" the trees) they feel it's now ok to do what they want

I can’t believe your mother reported folks who weren’t even her neighbours, why was that not your decision and you reporting if you chose that way?

Well, you have two options:

1- Extreme charm offensive to diplomatically get what you want.
2- Mega reporting offensive to force them to do what you want.

Both have pros and cons, and you know your neighbours best. Do you own your home? Number 2 likely to lead to ongoing stress tbh.

If you’re in the UK then 8am-6pm for construction work Mon-Fri.
They however cannot report a baby for crying, even if they are woken every night. Babies cry, there’s no law against them crying. Can’t believe people are even comparing the two.

As your DM has already reported them, you may as well give the council evidence of the work going on late at night

Parking across your drive is annoying - but was it a one-off or occasional incident with the builders? If so, I’d overlook that. But letting themselves into your garden - I would have gone ballistic.

Record the noise and log the times and report again, emphasising that it’s happening outside permitted hours.

Noisy construction work at 9pm is completely out of order, I think they're being incredibly cheeky. Especially if they're avoiding doing it during the day so they can have quiet to work. I'd be inclined to pursue the complaint and record the noise at night.

Sorry but you are being unreasonable. They DO need to get the work done, and 7PM is ridiculously early to stop. They’re not breaking any rules or laws by doing their work at this time. The world doesn’t stop to fit your baby’s bedtime routine! I’d suggest giving the baby a later bedtime! She’s a baby, it’s not like she needs to be up for school in the morning?

Mine would never have slept through it. Everything woke her up.

She was later diagnosed with ASd.

I'm amazed at these replies - normally everyone is 'no work after 6' and 'report report'!
Your child crying is irrelevant.
Rule is no work after 6pm.

Have you signed a party wall agreement? If your properties are joined, they need one. Without one, you can have the entire project shut down - although it may require legal action, which of course does cost money. If you have got one, speak to the surveyor you used (if there was one) for advice.

keep complaining to the council - there are rules about construction noise hours.

Sorry, should clarify that if they are doing work on the boundary - if they are just renovating the loft it may not be necessary, but if they are building a new room, it will be.

@Maray1967 no it's been going on for years. They basically use my drive as an extra space for their cars (they don't have a drive). I've always just put up with it unless I've needed to go out.

No new building going up, just sounds like they ripped everything out of the old one and are replacing (interior wise).

Lots of mixed views here, I guess that's where the problem lies!