To not have told neighbours about building work?

[Ginspirational]

We’re having a patio extension done today - 1 days work. The guys dug up and now they are compacting, so drill level noise for about an hour on and off. It is loud.. but the neighbour just came round to say she’s having a bbq and it’s really disturbing them and I should’ve warned them.

I genuinely didn’t even think to do that.. should I have? The workman said it’s only going to go on for 10 more minutes but now I’m cringing. We all moved in recently and I don’t want bad blood already!

I'd just apologise and say you'll give them heads up on anything else noisy in the future. Then crack on, almost done!

We were having work done on eve and one day was especially dusty and our neighbour complained and asked us to let her know next time - so we washed her car and asked the builders to let us know next time it was particularly dusty day. We also bought her flowers and wine midway after another small thing that had upset her - she's very nice most of the time and we don't want to fall out (ours was a 3 month job though!)

I think it was my fault as I actually didn’t think it would be a noisy job, I have apologised though.

YABU. It would have been polite to have told them.

I always send a text to my neighbours when I’m having work done whether it’s noisy or not - apart from anything they know someone in my garden isn’t a burglar. They do the same. It just seems neighbourly.

I wouldn’t have said anything either. It’s not a big job. Fair enough if you were having a major extension or work requiring scaffolding or something noisy that went on for weeks, but it’s nearly done now. I also wouldn’t bother with wine and flowers, you really don’t have anything to apologise for.

Very rude not to have given them advance notice of noisy work.

Yes I’ve learnt my lesson! It’s also a huge new build area with building work going on literally over the road so I thought it would blend in! Haha

I personally wouldn't be notifying the neighbours of building work that only lasted a few days, and they don't tell us either.

I guess noisy garden work on the Saturday of a bank holiday weekend us a very particular situation though. For the sake of neighbourly relations I'd drop round a small token (wine/small box of chocolates/bunch of tulips) and tell them you'll warn them in future. I'm sure it won't be an issue.

Yeah, we do, our neighbours don't. We're good friends but we work at home a lot and it's certainly challenged the friendship at times!

Manners cost nothing eh.

We all moved in recently and I don’t want bad blood already!

That horse may well have bolted...

It's a weekend so I would have told them, we msg our ndn to say we're having a new patio in a few weeks.

Just remember not to complain when they repay the favour by blasting music at their bbq in the wee small hours...

They can't work after 1pm today in most areas. If it's not noisy work after 1pm I don't suppose it will matter

Her bbq will probably be noisy too! Did she warn you about that….?

Yes. You should've let them know because who wants to spend a sunny bank holiday listening to that?

I would've told them, especially on a bank holiday weekend when people are more likely to have people over to socialise. It would've just been a courtesy, especially if you're new to the area and keen to make a good first impression.

Not the best way to start off with your new neighbours ! Yes I would always let my neighbours know if I am having any work done which will create excess noise and they always let me know - it’s not seeking their permission to have the work done, it’s just being neighbourly. Imagine how you might feel if you had planned an event with guests and the same happened to you - a bit miffed I suspect !

Yes I think it's courtesy to let your neighbours know about something that will be loud. We always try to let our neighbours know and I appreciate the vice versa as it means I know to plan to be out for my toddlers nap. I'd be inclined to call round tomorrow and leave a bottle of something nice in and just say you didn't realise it was going to be as loud as it was and you'll give them a heads up in future.

I genuinely did just think it would be digging noises, I didn’t realise there would be a whole drill situation.. but that’s finished now thank god!

We have let them know every time we have a party etc and they do the same, so I’m hoping all will be fine!

I would have given them the heads up but you can make amends by maybe giving them a bottle of wine for their barbecue.

I made firm friends with a new neighbour when I asked them to let me know when they were having a bonfire, as I had had to bring my washing in. I wasn't rude or confrontational and the new neighbour was so mortified that she brought me a bag of apples from her apple tree to apologise. We became friends after that.

I would have told them. I work from home 3 days a week (not enough room for everyone in the office) and I’ve had next door and over the road have those big imprinted concrete drives done, followed by one of those having a massive extension. I’m on a single track, and the noise and traffic has made it unbearable and so hard to work. If I’d been told I’d have booked a desk in the office on those days. It’s really altered our relationship - I try to have very little to do with either of them these days.

I'm surprised at the couple of posters who wouldn't notify their neighbours. We would and so would our neighbours. Maybe that is why we all get on so well with each other.

Just pop round with a bunch of flowers and apologise. You really can’t go wrong apologising whether it’s necessary or not.

Personally I would have let my neighbours know about buildings work. But you don't legally have to say anything

I have notified our neighbour when we’ve had work done in the past, although they haven’t been as courteous (like having new windows installed when DS was a baby! I would have planned to go out with him if I’d known but that’s another story)!
I will continue to be the bigger person though and notify of noisy work.

You live and learn OP. You’ve apologised and explained that you didn’t think it would be that noisy.