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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbour reported us to the council

216 replies

EchothatICreated · 07/12/2023 21:45

We moved in 18(ish) months ago (semidetached) and we’ve been renovating the whole house. The last weekend we had builders in who worked until 8pm.

They worked that late as this was the last day of completing all the big jobs in the house. Apart from that one day we’ve only had work done between 8am and 4pm. Just one night we didn’t and she reported us. Aibu?

OP posts:
YetMoreNewBeginnings · 08/12/2023 07:43

i previously reported a neighbour the first time their builders were mega noisy working on a weekend.

we’d had months and months of them being noisy “just” an extra hour at night, “just” a wee bit early in the morning, “just” blocking the street for ten mins, “just” having loud deliveries sorted by the builders on a Saturday that they claimed didn’t count as them working…

No chance was I risking weekends of banging and drilling becoming a regular thing

Startingagainandagain · 08/12/2023 07:43

You can't see the issue with spending 18 months having ongoing, loud works including late in the evening at weekends?

What is wrong with you?

The hours that work is allowed to take place are:

-Monday to Friday 8am – 6pm. Saturdays 8am – 1pm.

If I were your neighbour I would have complained a long time ago.

Selfish and inconsiderate.

To add to this I had a lot of work done in the past two months after buying an old house, including rewiring, floors, one ceiling being cut and replaced and a lot of plumbing work.

My tradesmen/builders only worked during the week and finished by 4pm.

I also made sure that I wrote a letter to each neighbour early on to explain what I was doing (essential works needed to make the house safe and habitable) and to apologise in advance for the noise.

Liverpool52 · 08/12/2023 07:45

Our neighbours have done lots of building work over the last couple of years and we've gritted our teeth and put up with it until the day their builders started up at 8am on a Sunday in their attic. Their excuse was that they were behind schedule due to rain. I reported them to the council.

Your reasons for breaching the noisy building works regs are irrelevant. The regs are there for a reason and you sound ridiculous getting indignant at the fact you've been reported for something that you shouldn't have done.

muddyford · 08/12/2023 07:49

piscofrisco · 08/12/2023 07:42

But you have no idea what your 'one day of works til 8pm' had an effect on for the neighbours op. Maybe they had people round and their evening was hugely disturbed? Maybe they are poorly and needed to sleep and couldn't due to the noise? Or maybe they are just sick of 18 months constant banging from
Next door. Of course YABU. Did you even tell them this would be happening?

For context our next door but one neighbour has constant work done on his house. It's loud even from one door down, and he has workman's trucks parked all down the road often making it very hard to get out of our driveway. We are constantly having to ask them to move. Not once has he given us a heads up or apologised. Yesterday I couldn't out of my drive when I needed to get somewhere in a hurry, and I finally snapped and lost my temper with his plumber who is a repeat offender-and I'm pretty close to reporting the neighbour to the council too, so I can see how your neighbour has done the same. It's nothing to him and he would see it, as you have done, as the neighbours being fussy. But from our point of view, it's been bothering and inconveniencing us daily for months!

We've got this, next door but one. Bloke turns up one weekend a month and starts with power tools about 7.30. But as he isn't exactly committed and bogs off by lunchtime, mostly, I don't think anyone has said anything. He didn't say what was going on either, before it started back in March. Arrogant tosser.

maddiemookins16mum · 08/12/2023 07:56

18 months, flippin eck Benny that’s ages. The weekend must just have been the last straw.

ohdamnitjanet · 08/12/2023 07:58

I’ve done up a lot of houses ( tried very hard to not be a pain in the arse ) and have had plenty of neighbours doing renovations. But 18 months? I’d hate you and no amount of wine or flowers would help.

user1471538283 · 08/12/2023 08:00

Your poor neighbors! I lived next door to renovations all summer and it drove me mad. Every second of the time they are at home was either noise or dreading noise and now you're complaining because they've reported you!

With noisy neighbours I wish they experienced the noise in return!

NigelHarmansNewWife · 08/12/2023 08:00

Clearly it was the straw that broke the camel's back. After 18 months I think most people would be pissed off that their weekend was affected too.You wanted the work finished for Christmas - it's not all about you.

Keepingthingsinteresting · 08/12/2023 08:07

EchothatICreated · 07/12/2023 22:16

I didn’t sag that. The renovations have lasted 18 months during the week. It was one Saturday they lasted from 8am-8pm as a one off as it was the last day and we wanted it done before Christmas. Any housing/plumbing/plastering etc is now over/complete.

Show quote history

So they’ve had moise for 18 months then 12 hours straight on a precious Saturday because you wanted it done before xmas, and you think the neighbour is petty.
If it was me you’d have got more than reported to the council. In case it’s unclear YABVVVU and are selfish and a horrible neighbour.

Gcsunnyside23 · 08/12/2023 08:14

18 months of it? Get a grip op, I'd say you've a good bit of apologising to do if you ever want to have a decent neighbourly relationship going forward. Are you living in your house while renovations are going on?

NotmySundaybest · 08/12/2023 08:29

Ilovegoldies · 07/12/2023 22:46

I'm an Environmental Health Officer. It's 8 -6 Monday to Friday, 8 - 1 on a Saturday and diddly squat on Sunday in my area. I think you'll find most LAs are similar. So pipe down!

As an EHO you'll know that those times are guidance not actual law.

OP if it's been going on for 18months, including weekends & then the last one is very unreasonable.
To be fair the local council could have pursued a noise nuisance investigation before Saturday.

LlynTegid · 08/12/2023 08:30

I think if you had spoken to them and said it was the final weekend and no more work afterwards, it might just have been OK. I doubt the Council will do much unless you are noisy in future, but don't blame your neighbour.

Tortiemiaw · 08/12/2023 08:31

Our next door but one neighbours have been renocatong their house for 3 years. We've become quite pally with the builders, and even they have had enough...

Sunshineandflipflops · 08/12/2023 08:34

I agree with others - the late finish was probably the final insult after 18 months of renovations on a house joined to them. If they are around during the day and/or working form home this will have been a nightmare.

Did you at least let them know how late the final day of work would be continuing for?

TheKnittedCharacter · 08/12/2023 08:39

What work was being done? The restrictions that state up to 1pm on a Saturday and none on a Sunday are for noisy works, not building work in general.

PurpleBugz · 08/12/2023 08:43

Notice really helps.
My upstairs neighbour/the landlord if doing loads of loud works between tenants currently. It's been 8-8 for days now and I'm pissed off. If I'd been told it was going to happen and how long for I'd not have been pissed off.

Hiddenone123 · 08/12/2023 08:44

It’s in your home, not on a public site or construction site therefore the restrictions do not apply. There are no legal restrictions for this.

I would have hoped that my neighbours would tell me if they were working till late though as a common courtesy.

Zebedee55 · 08/12/2023 08:45

Building control Dept of our council insists on 9-5 weekdays, 9-1 Saturdays, and none on Sunday. YABU.

Hiddenone123 · 08/12/2023 08:46

For those who are saying 18 months is a long time, it’s not as if it’s constant noise. That’s the average time period that a home owner takes to complete self managed renovations.

Wobblywibblywoo · 08/12/2023 08:59

wow that is incredibly selfish! 18 months and then 8am - 8pm on a Saturday! I would have lost my shit along time ago!

Pookerrod · 08/12/2023 09:08

I’d have reported you too. They didn’t know it was the last push. My next door neighbour has been renovating his house for a year. I don’t begrudge him because obviously he’s entitled to do whatever he wants to his house but fuck me it has driven me mad. Banging and drilling from 8am every sodding morning. I work from home and honestly, it’s a form of torture. I’m so so so pleased he’s finally finished.

TheKnittedCharacter · 08/12/2023 09:10

Zebedee55 · 08/12/2023 08:45

Building control Dept of our council insists on 9-5 weekdays, 9-1 Saturdays, and none on Sunday. YABU.

Edited

They may ‘insist’ but they have no powers to enforce. The Acts that could enforce this are actually environmental ones (and it’s 8am to 6pm, not 9 to 5).

DottieMoon · 08/12/2023 09:17

YABU

I would be pissed off after 18 months of renovation to then have them work until 8pm. Regardless of it being being the last push, you are taking the piss and are really thoughtless.

privateano · 08/12/2023 09:17

YABU, your neighbours have obviously had a lot to put up with over the time you have been working.
We live on a private estate and there is no no noisy weekend working allowed at all, even DIY. Weekdays it is 8.30 - 5.00, though most finish at 4.30. Working outside these hours results in Security calling round to the house.

Laffinalltheway · 08/12/2023 09:37

SecondUsername4me · 07/12/2023 21:50

Where is that restriction? Have you got a link?

Show quote history

It differs from council to council. Ours is 8-12 noon on a Saturday, no work at all on a Sunday and public holidays.