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...!)

Personally I would just kept quiet to keep the peace and hope they are finished soon, it can't go on forever. If going to the office is so expensive, maybe look at hiring an office space short term to work from, or find a nice quiet cafe that don't mind you occupying one of their tables for hours on end.

If there is construction work outside permitted hours, you can report to your local council who should have a word. The hours are:
Monday to Friday - 07:30 to 18:30-hrs. Saturday - 07:30 to 13:00-hrs. At no time on Sundays or Public Holidays

Check your councils “reasonable hours” policy- most state no noisy work before/after a certain time and on certain days not at all. My mum had this issue with a neighbour constantly doing noisy work- 7am until 10 every day and she neatly had a nervous breakdown. Those people saying oh they can’t do renovations without noise etc- never underestimate just how awful it can be and 3mths is plenty of time to have got the very noisy work done

I wish you were my neighbour - you've been so patient! And I think your neighbours are being rather unreasonable. But I would bite your tongue and keep things cordial if you can. I asked my neighbour a couple of years ago if she could smoke a little further down the garden (we share steps to it) rather than outside my back door as the smoke was blowing into my house once an hour, every hour. I was really nice about it but since then things have gone rapidly downhill, neither of them now speak to me, and she still smokes outside my backdoor (she was pretty hostile before I'd spoken to her TBH). So, based on my experience, I would say it really isn't worth upsetting your neighbours - you've been so patient this far that they must think you are an angel, and having hostile neighbours is really unsettling. Asking for a rough idea of the schedule sounds like a good idea- if they can provide one -so that you can work around this.

a few years ago I used to work only occasionally in the office the train was a 50 minute journey and would cost £117 a day . Don’t make assumptions when you don’t know others reality

My council noisy work hours are 8-6 M-Fri, 8-1 Sat, no Sundays or bank holidays. It can't be just you they're inconveniencing, so I'd phone the council helpline and ask them to intervene. It won't show as coming from you. You're entitled to weekends off, and if the neighbours want to crack on, they can do painting etc non-noisy stuff after hours. Fair's fair!

Find out from your local council when noisy work is and isn't allowed. It's generally something like 8–6 weekdays, shorter on Saturdays and nothing on Sundays.
Why is going into work so expensive?
Would a workspace or a cafe be cheaper?

Some proper Victor Meldrews about today.

Tbh why not ask for £500 a day and say you have to work out of the Floria office? Worth a crack.

My commute is @ 30mins. It's >£36.

If in UK contact council. Round here no building work (even DIY) before 8:30 or after 17:00 Monday to Friday, they can work Saturday am only, no work Sunday or bank holidays

Please provide a link to you Councils rules on this.

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

Oh how embarrassing.

I would find out what the rules are in your area. Once you have that information go and talk to them and come up with a compromise. Maybe you go into the office to work and not worry about the noise in the evening, but insist they are quiet on Sunday assuming that is part of the requirements your council has. If they won’t compromise I would go to the council and ask for assistance.

There’s nothing you can do. Exactly the same thing happened to me (twice). You can either say nothing - or go and complain. If you complain that’s you finished with your neighbours and you still have to live there. You have my deepest sympathy.
Why oh why do people move into a house then proceed to practically rebuild it? It drives me nuts. Why not find something more to their liking in the first place?🙄

lots of people buy a project. I did. There often isn’t exactly what you want in the area you want. If you live in suburbia you are
likely going at some stage to experience a neighbour building an extension or converting a roof space or building a garden room.

yes those builders should be considerate but there will always be the occasional loud building and loud DIY project in an average street. I actually find my power hosing obsessed neighbour louder than the building work!!!