To confront my neighbours

[neighbourhoodhell]

So, would love opinions on how to deal with this situation.

Neighbours moved in 3 or so months ago and when they moved in, I went over to introduce myself and say hello and welcome etc etc. They seemed friendly and apologised about the upcoming work they will be having done, asked if I WFH to which I said yes, hybrid but majority at home.

For the past 3 months, every single day there has been drilling, hammering, shouting etc that has been pretty unbearable however, I have just let it slide and put my headphones in... I should also add that the work starts at around 7am and finishes about 9pm... and goes on over the weekend on both Saturday and Sunday!

Last weekend we got a card through the door apologising and saying thanks for the patience etc, and that they were nearly half way through... I thought oh god another 3 months of this hell, but again thought they are doing what they need to do, keep shtum and say thanks for the note.

Until today.... my whole house is shaking, the noise is unbearable and my colleagues and clients can no longer actually hear me on calls (with or without headphones) and no matter what room I work in, it is the same! I had a peep in and it looks like they are completely knocking down walls and building a brand new kitchen

SO WIBU to go round and ask for clarity on what work happens on what day so I can plan accordingly and let them know I can no longer WFH because of them... or should I just grin and bear and try and go into the office more (although this costs me £50 a day...!)

Wtf are they doing that’s been so noisy for so long? They could have knocked the whole house down and rebuilt it in that time.

I would ask them how much anymore noisy work was to go on and if longer than a month, I would request they dont do it for one day a week, to give yourself a break.

I would also say to them if there is another 3 months to go, you would like x amount of days, were you are not woken at 7am, by drilling, hammering or yelling

Are they living in the house?

It can't be helped but I would try and let people know - we had an extension done and on some days the noise was awful and unbearable here - like pp have said this shouldn't be the case for the latter part of the build though.

I think it's entirely reasonable to ask cooks they let you know in advance if any work is going to be very noisy to allow you to plan accordingly- if they've put a card through they seem to have an idea it's a pain for you.

Oh dear, if you are going to be aggressively patronising it's important to check you are definitely correct first'

Yep I think you can defo ask for a schedule and a bit more consideration!

We're having building works at mo, but when something majorly noisy is going on, the builder pre warns us and the neighbours!

where did I say confront...? Maybe read properly before accusing lovely...!

😂😂 Excellent!

Dp is a builder and is regularly asked for schedules as people wfh. He happily tells neighbours and also updates if there are changes I.e. materials haven’t arrived so a job has been pushed back and so on. Keeping up neighbourly relations and all that!

"@LemonLymanDotCom where did I say confront...? Maybe read properly before accusing lovely...!"

🤣🤣🤣🤣

I suggest you read the title of YOUR thread OP
.

Thanks all

@ethelredonagoodday that is super considerate of you, and I would have hoped they would have done the same.

They seem like nice people and I assume they are probably just in the midst of it and not thinking about the impact on others..

I think I will knock later on and ask for a rough timeline to see when the big days will take place so I can make sure I go into the office on these days... and also see if they can start later than 7am!

Yep also they don't start anything noisy before 8am! And are generally done by 5, latest.

I don't think a conversation would go amiss. Do you have a mobile number for them? I'd specifically call them when the work is going on so they get a sense of how disturbing this noise is...call them to arrange a time to meet and talk. It might be possible that you could liase with the work men and ask eg could you hold off (have a tea break) around 10:30 tommorow whilst im on an important call. There's nothing wrong with asking their schedule too so you can plan your work. I do think though than 7am is far too early for building work. Speak with your council and find out the local bye laws/regs for works/noise.
Unfortunately though, people are entitled to work on their homes.

Much better idea than going round all guns blazing. From their behaviour so far it seems like they will try and be more considerate. Building is noisy, but not never-ending so hopefully the loud bits will be done very shortly and you will get some peace back! My absolutely lovely neighbours had a new roof last summer so I spent weeks with men staring into my garden and my office (glass roofed). It was really off putting and annoying but I'd take a while of that over shit neighbours any day of the week.

Typical - check with your local council - permitted building work hours are:
Mon-Fri 8am-6pm
Saturday 8am - 1pm
Sundays and Bank hols - none

These sound like major works - do you know what they are actually doing? You can check whether planning permission or building control was applied for on your council's website, and if so there will be details of the proposed works.

If they are inserting steel beams e.g. for a loft conversion or to extend at the back of the house, these often need inserting into the party wall, in which case you should have been notified and had party wall surveys carried out at their expense.

I don't think you need to 'confront' them, they are being fairly good in that they told you and sent the card. Just ask them if they know specific days when it will be that loud again. The early start/late finish and Sundays would annoy me - most council specify you can't make renovation noise early/late or Sundays. We are renovating and only do quiet jobs in evenings or Sunday like painting.

Does anyone know if acoustic barriers are too expensive for building contractors to use when working on projects like the OP's? (There seem to be several types and it seems like a basic courtesy for long projects.)

https://leachs.com/products/noise-defender-acoustic-barrier-1-2-x-2m-pack-3

Good grief, ask them where they found these amazing builders that work early morning to night, 7 days per week?
In my experience they turn up the first day and then don't see them for dust for the next 5. 😂

It couldn’t hurt to ask for a schedule of works so you can work around it (ie go into the office on very noisy days)

There isn’t any point moaning about the hours, they’re doing long days presumably to reduce the amount of weeks / months it’ll take. Again with weekends, they could stop working weekends but it would add weeks to the length of the project overall.

They’ve apologised and they are aware of the inconvenience. What more can they do?

nb. I had this when DD was a tiny baby, for months and months. Yes it was very hard with disturbed naps etc. But they were nice neighbours generally, and just it’s got to be done sometimes.

I would say that that is your problem - and I work from home almost full time. Provided the neighbours operate within the legal guidelines about noise, then what they are doing is entirely reasonable. They want their home looking and feeling a place for them to live in, and that sometimes involves work or renovations that are noisy. The fact that someone is working from home does not trump other people's activities unless those activities are breaking the law. How the hell do you think walls / major works can be done quietly?

Thanks fellow mumsnetters.

All I can say is good luck to the neighbours! And drill away... (Hint: drill LOUDER OPs neighbours) 😆

To confront my neighbours

where did I say confront...? Maybe read properly before accusing lovely...!

Ohh how embarrassing for you… lovely.

It would be good for them to understand how hard it is for you. Where are they when these works are happening? Can you bring them into your house to see how it is for you?

Much better idea than going round all guns blazing.

I think by OP's reply to @LemonLymanDotCom , that OP is the sort to act first and think later 😂

I feel your pain. My neighbour built a huge extension that looked completed - blinds up and painted 3 months ago after 18 months of my nerves being on edge and workmen on the garden swearing every day all day / radio blasting and blocking my drive. I asked the other day how much longer as it’s been 18 months and she said they still have the drainage and drive etc to do and gates etc - I’m back to work in the office now! It’s shit and I haven’t been able to sit out all summer either …..

Sympathise, we've been through exactly this and felt there would never be an end to it. I'd see if they can give you an approx schedule, once the heavy labour is done the plastering etc shouldn't be too intrusive and less problematic to you.
Better to try and keep relations amicable especially if you have no plans to move yourself.

Building work until 9pm is an absolute piss take.