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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To have a rant at my neighours about NOISY building works?

14 replies

Daffodilly · 01/04/2008 14:03

Next door are drilling and hammering out a concrete patio as I write and the noise is pretty bad as you can imagine. DD is upstairs trying to have her lunchtime nap. We are in a terrace and their garden is basically under her window.

I knew they had this work planned and I specifically asked them to give me some warning so I could arrange to be out for the day or go to a friend's house for her nap. They didn't even bother to tell me - first I knew was when they woke her this morning starting work (though that was at 8:30AM so I wasn't too bothered about the waking).

Grrr - it is giving me a headache too! And at this rate I will have a very grumpy, tired toddler for the afternoon.

OP posts:

frazzledbutcalm · 01/04/2008 14:06

I think you're being a bit unreasonable - building work is noisy and 8.30 is not too unreasonable to start, luchtime is definitely not unreasonable.
However, i do think your neighbour should/could have respected your wishes and warned you it would be today.
Hope its over soon.

MotherFunk · 01/04/2008 14:07

Message withdrawn

OrmIrian · 01/04/2008 14:08

It's quite possible that the builders only told them they'd be here this morning. If it's a small job they will have fitted it in between bigger ones when they have time.

With luck it will be over soon.

ArcticRoll · 01/04/2008 14:08

I think one of the disadvantages of living in terrace is noise levels.
Don't think it's worth falling out with your neighbours about tbh.
Having said that I remember being annoyed if my toddler was waken up by outside noises but think just have to grin and bare it.

catzy · 01/04/2008 14:09

I think you are being unreasonable. I know its annoying and frustrating but can you not go out for bit if its getting to you?

Jackstini · 01/04/2008 14:14

If you specifically asked them to tell you when it was going to be, yanbu to be mad they didn't. If they only knew this morning, they could still have knocked or called.
Y would bbu if you had a rant as they need to have the work done.
Am confused as to why you have stayed in though once it started - I would have been out by 9am for the day!

Jackstini · 01/04/2008 14:19

oops!

chamaeleon · 01/04/2008 14:20

even tho i have a similar thread on here atm, yabu. our neighbours have been doing up their house for a while and i am annoyed that they are doing stuff at night, but daytime stuff i put up with, sorry

Original poster

Daffodilly · 01/04/2008 14:41

Fair comments - I probably am being a bit unreasonable. Don't mind the start time at all - totally fair - or even lunchtime noise. It is really that I had asked for some warning so I could go out or make other plans and they ignored what seemed a very reasonable request. Though as you say they might not have known in advance themselves. I was out all morning and came back to give DD her lunch and nap - by the time I realised that they were actually doing the drilling today it was a bit late to head out again.

Chamaeleon - I feel for you. Last summer the same neighbours were doing up their whole house. It went on for months and was so intrusive. I know it has to be done but it was such a pain to live next door to. I think that is why I'm over reacting today - I feel like "here we go again".

Oh well DD seems to have nodded off despite the noise and it has quietened down a bit (extended tea break with any luck).

Feels better to have got my moan off my chest. Ta for making me see sense before I fall out with the neighbours!

...Off to make a cup of tea myself and dream of a large detached house with no neighbours for miles around...

OP posts:

lizziemun · 01/04/2008 15:17

YANBU

You asked them to give you a warning so you could out and they didn't.

I got annoyed two weeks ago when a neighbour was tiling (i think it must have been the whole house) and spent a week cutting up tiles with a grinder ever half an hour from 8am to 10pm. It was like living in a dental surgery.

MsDrMonkeybird · 01/04/2008 15:20

A bit U. They should have sheepishly knocked and said 'it's today' but the builders may have come at short notice.

When you need to have noisy work done, you'll be needing their support too, no?

Highlander · 01/04/2008 16:15

DS1 was a very light sleeper so I truly symapthise. When we had our extension done I wrote to all the neighbours and told them to feel free to approach the builders and ask them to stop if the noise was preventing kids sleep etc (we moved for the build).

All the neighbours had my number, the builder's number and I made it clear if there was anything that was infringing on their privacy to let me know. I had to deal with a few complaints about various things, but I was very happy to do so because it meant that when we moved back there was no bitchy feelings in the street. It was actually a nice way to get to know people!

I would approach your neighbours - NICELY! 10 quid says they'll be happy to accommodate you, especially if they have their own kids.

LilRedWG · 01/04/2008 16:18

A bit unreasonable of your neighbours not to give you the warning you requested, but not unreasonable to have the work done. Why can't you put the LO in the buggy and go for a nice long walk?

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