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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:
Charlize43 · 08/12/2023 20:48

Buy a drum kit for Christmas.

HappySammy · 08/12/2023 20:49

Did you tell them it was just one day? Otherwise I could understand why they'd jump up and nip it in the bud. They've been listening to your renovation work for a long time, they probably panicked that you were going to start taking the piss with late hours of constant noise.

Sennelier1 · 08/12/2023 21:40

You don't do that to your neighbours, especially not without warning them and offering them a bottle of wine or such to try and make up for their spoiled saturday!

DontListenToWhatYouveConsumed · 08/12/2023 21:45

You have definitely crossed a line IMO and if you haven't already, offer an apology.

(ps please spare a thought for those struggling with alcohol addiction before giving apologies/gifts of booze, especially this time of year )

Worriedmother123 · 08/12/2023 22:55

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?

I think after 18 months you have tipped them over the edge! I live next to (sharing a drive) a builder renovating his own house and it is LOUD & we’re not even attached! I WFH too and it often goes on late but thankfully doesn’t go on as long as yours seems to have. YABU & should apologise to your neighbours for disturbing their peaceful home life.

Woofie7 · 09/12/2023 02:22

If you are doing large work on an adjoined property then a party wall agreement should be drawn up before the start and both houses sign it . It states times of work and days permissible. most major companies do this .we had subsidence work done and the insurance company made it mandatory. If however it’s the owners doing their own work then I don’t know.

Bubbly8382 · 09/12/2023 07:38

You sound like our new neighbours, they are away to start building and we are dreading it.

our lovely neighbours decided to rip up the shared track to our properties and didn’t even bother to tell us, so we were stuck and couldn’t get out!

we haven’t even had any communication of when works will start or how long they will take, it’s rude and selfish and it’s common decency to at least communicate so folk know what’s happening.

entilted and selfish…… people no longer have any common decency or manners

Blondeshavemorefun · 09/12/2023 07:49

Is it only building work 8-2 on a Saturday and not at all on Sunday

Neighbours have had tree surgeons in sat pm/Sunday

Or someone l professional mowing the lawn

Is that allowed

Dh when Had fencing business did fencing sometimes on a
Sunday so nail gun etx

Was that illegal as in a noise aspect

Eve223 · 09/12/2023 14:31

@EchothatICreated still hasn't told us how they know that the neighbour reported them.

Bireadwhatiread · 09/12/2023 14:33

18 months of building work? Yabu

Skodacool · 10/12/2023 07:03

There’s little point arguing about what’s reasonable. There are rules about the hours that building work can be carried out.

RedToothBrush · 10/12/2023 07:16

SummaLuvin · 07/12/2023 21:54

if it's being going on for 18 months, then I can see why their patience has run thin, regardless of whether you have kept within the 'proper' times on all but one occasion

This.

Our neighbour is up to 4 years. She has taken 4 builders to court. She has been rude and inconsiderate to us. She's complained to us and her other neighbours about the boundaries being in the wrong place. She's had issues that have affected our property which she's not been remotely concerned about and has been difficult in getting them fixed.

And she wonders why we have run out of patience with her.

18months is a long time. I'm sorry but it shouldn't take that long. It's taking the piss.

House around the corner is exactly the same. They started building work in July. They were finishing it off this week. The standard is miles better than the neighbour.

AnneValentine · 10/12/2023 08:29

Did you go round and explain? Before it happened.

Pineapples198 · 10/12/2023 08:45

It’s not about one day where you went past 4pm, it’s about the 18 months they have listened to banging, sawing, hammering etc. my next door neighbours renovated their house and it took 4/5 months. It was hell for me. I was a childminder at the time and had issues with getting the babies and toddlers to sleep for naps because of the noise, I had to try and stay out as much as possible as I was at home all day constantly listening to their noise, they once started removing bathroom tiles at midnight but stopped when I sent them a blunt text. I remember having to beg their plumbers to take an hours break so I could let over tired children take a nap and they weren’t happy about it.
they are probably fed up to the back teeth with the noise. If I were you I would send a hamper or flowers and an apology note saying you appreciate what a nightmare it’s been but all big jobs are finished now.

Abracadabra12345 · 10/12/2023 09:24

AnneValentine · 10/12/2023 08:29

Did you go round and explain? Before it happened.

Edited

OP hasn't returned.

Imagine - 18 months of renovations and of course as neighbours, you get all the pain and none of the gain. A summer you can't relax in your garden, or relax in your home and the OP hasn't returned so we don't know how much (if at all) they communicated with the neighbours. It's even worse when you have no idea how long it will go on

Still, at least they'll have their first quiet Christmas unlike last year. I really hope the OP has told them it's finally finished because otherwise they'll wake up each day, braced for it to start again

AnneValentine · 10/12/2023 09:26

Abracadabra12345 · 10/12/2023 09:24

OP hasn't returned.

Imagine - 18 months of renovations and of course as neighbours, you get all the pain and none of the gain. A summer you can't relax in your garden, or relax in your home and the OP hasn't returned so we don't know how much (if at all) they communicated with the neighbours. It's even worse when you have no idea how long it will go on

Still, at least they'll have their first quiet Christmas unlike last year. I really hope the OP has told them it's finally finished because otherwise they'll wake up each day, braced for it to start again

Show quote history

We’ve been there. On the receiving end. But our neighbours were wonderful. We got regular updates on progress. A monthly wine delivery and they gave the kids ear defenders. They were just great. Made such a difference.

Naddd · 10/12/2023 14:03

You have taken the actual piss and then have the audacity to come on here and expect sympathy?

18 months but just during the week? Only till 8pm on a weekend and a one off?

Did you even bother to tell them? You need to give your head a wobble and think about how your going to make things right.

Loonancy · 10/12/2023 14:32

socks1107 · 07/12/2023 21:48

Having lived next to an extension being built yabu.
It's 1pm on a weekend for work being done

...says who?

Nanny0gg · 10/12/2023 14:40

2jacqi · 07/12/2023 21:48

@EchothatICreated genuinely dont think you have anything to worry about! 8pm is a reasonable time to knock off when you are doing reno work! some people just like a moan! if it is you and friends doing reno then i think that is fine, dont know any businesses who would allow their employees to work till 8 pm on a weekend night! overtime would be too high!

Edited

No it isn't,

Nanny0gg · 10/12/2023 14:42

Behindyouiam · 07/12/2023 22:09

What can the council do now? They won't ask you to pull the extension down!

Fine you

Nanny0gg · 10/12/2023 14:43

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

Did you warn them?

Apologise?

Give them a token for their inconvenience? Flowers? Wine?

Any communication at all?

Cherrysoup · 10/12/2023 14:49

What on earth has taken 18 months? I’m amazed they’ve been so patient. Doing renovations on a Saturday is shit and so is 8am-8pm every weekday. Not everyone works Monday to Friday, you know. Our neighbour has done on/off drilling most Saturdays for the past month. I wish they’d just get finished with whatever random thing they’re doing in one go.

Thatladdo · 10/12/2023 15:36

Could have built 2 houses in 18mths!
They have been more than patient.

ExTheCheater · 10/12/2023 16:12

I could report every neighbour on my road if I really wanted to. Doesn't mean they've done anything I just might be vindictive. Nothing will happen after 1 report you will just get a letter in the post at most.

Vonesk · 10/12/2023 19:39

When you report to the council you are shooting yourself in the foot.
It records YOUR ADDRESS to say that YOUR address has NOISY NEIGHBOURS and reduces the value of your own property for future sale !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A lot don't realise this 😲😲😲😲😲😲