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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Neighbour has complained about Portaloo

265 replies

Helenwalker2 · 10/11/2025 17:24

We are having some work done on our house which has required a portaloo to be placed at the front. This was a requirement of both parties who quoted if we weren’t to allow access to a toilet indoors for the various trades who will be on site (absolutely no chance with the horror stories I’ve read on here and from a couple of friends).

Our property is at the end of our street so we have only one direct neighbour. When it was first delivered the woman who lives next door made a comment about it being unsightly and hoping it won’t be there for too long - I confirmed the works are going to take up to 3-4 weeks but would keep her updated.

We are 2 weeks on, and this morning our neighbours husband knocked. He said they are unhappy with the smell and want us to move it to the back of our house in the garden. I confirmed we had previously asked and this wasn’t possible. Note we don’t believe there to be any smell albeit were away this weekend.

The woman then knocked this afternoon. Moaning about how bad it smelt at the weekend and how we are unreasonable to have placed it outside the front of our house and so close to their windows.

I said the work is still on plan and it will be gone in the next week or two. She then said she is going to complain to the council as they’ve had ‘advice’ that it isn’t permissible to place portaloos at the front of houses where there’s an attached house (as both ours is being semi detached).

AIBU to stand firm? We don’t believe there’s any truth in what she’s said and by the time the council get round to doing anything, it should be gone.

OP posts:
murasaki · 10/11/2025 17:25

My sister had a portaloo at the front of hers when work was being done, albeit quite a few years ago, you'd need to check with your council but i think she's talking rubbish.

Robertsmithsnan · 10/11/2025 17:26

Is it beside her window?

Helenwalker2 · 10/11/2025 17:27

Robertsmithsnan · 10/11/2025 17:26

Is it beside her window?

It’s not physically possible for it to be, as our drives have a wall in between them. It’s by the wall but placed away from the house near the front pavement (behind a wall). It cant go anywhere else due to a skip and where work van is parked.

OP posts:
caramac04 · 10/11/2025 17:27

Maybe the workmen should pee in the front garden along the border. Discreetly of course.
Its not great for either of you to have a portaloo on the front but it’s temporary and sometimes we just have to put up and shut up.

AgnesX · 10/11/2025 17:28

Check with the Council yourself to make sure she doesn't have a legitimate gripe and then (hopefully) you can tell her to bog (!) off.

Vaxtable · 10/11/2025 17:29

I had one in my front garden a few years ago when I had work done, am in a semi detached, me neighbours thought it was funny (as in ha ha) to see a toilet in someone’s front garden

to be neighbourly could it be moved to the side away from them?

NovemberMorn · 10/11/2025 17:29

If it stinks, and presumably if it's being used continuously by several workmen it will...I wouldn't like it either.

MidnightPatrol · 10/11/2025 17:30

How close is it to her house in metres?

My neighbour placed one c. 1m from my front door, and I have to say it was pretty unpleasant.

I don’t think she can actually do anything about it however.

dynamiccactus · 10/11/2025 17:31

Does it really stink? My neighbours are having work done and they have a portaloo outside their property. They are down the road from me but I walk past every day and I've not smelt anything.

If it smells there is something wrong and it needs fixing.

If it doesn't, she's just being silly.

Whereismyfleeceblanket · 10/11/2025 17:31

Just tell her you'll stick an air freshener in there..

Sofaflop · 10/11/2025 17:32

Personally, if I was doing something that made my neighbours unhappy and there was a reasonably straight forward solution, I'd fix it.

Unless the dripfeed is going to be that they complain all the time.

Fundays12 · 10/11/2025 17:32

Thats pretty grim and they so stink. Why cant it be at the back of your house?

Kiwi09 · 10/11/2025 17:32

If it is the smell that is the issue then get it emptied. We had a portaloo for about 5 months during renovations.

Feelingsunny · 10/11/2025 17:33

It was warm at the weekend, it probably did smell. How many workmen are using it? If there are 5/6 using it then it should have been changed over or emptied after 2 weeks. If more of them then you should be getting it emptied weekly. Usually the company take the used one away and leave a clean one.

AmberRose86 · 10/11/2025 17:34

Out of interest, how much extra do you have to pay to keep the riff raff from using your toilet for the use of a portaloo?

BettysRoasties · 10/11/2025 17:34

Firstly you need to check location wise with the council and also check out the smell issue.

Nothing worse than sitting and getting wafts of a porta potty. I don’t even like using them as they always have a smell let alone living next to one for 4 weeks.

Helenwalker2 · 10/11/2025 17:35

AmberRose86 · 10/11/2025 17:34

Out of interest, how much extra do you have to pay to keep the riff raff from using your toilet for the use of a portaloo?

It’s only £40 a week which I’m more than happy to pay given the alternative wouldn’t be worth thinking about with the stress etc.

OP posts:
Redpeach · 10/11/2025 17:36

Wouldn't it be cheaper and easier to let them use yours and employ a cleaner? Have you never had a party? Same difference

Helenwalker2 · 10/11/2025 17:36

It definitely doesn’t smell. DSIL has also verified that today.

OP posts:
WallaceinAnderland · 10/11/2025 17:37

AIBU to stand firm? We don’t believe there’s any truth in what she’s said and by the time the council get round to doing anything, it should be gone.

It will be gone in two weeks. There is no way the council are going to move faster that that and even if they investigate all they will do is advise you on where it can be placed. Cross that bridge if you come to it.

Swissmeringue · 10/11/2025 17:38

YABU for not letting the workmen use the inside loo if you've got a functional one during the building work.

As for the portaloo, without knowing more about how close it is to their property and how regularly you're having it emptied I couldn't really comment. Do what you can to be neighbourly but needs must sometimes.

MyballsareSandy2015 · 10/11/2025 17:38

Ignore her! Silly mare. My neighbours have had one in their front garden since May and I’ve never smelt it … even during our long hot summer so I doubt she’s smelling anything in Nov!

Bananaandmangosmoothie · 10/11/2025 17:39

Helenwalker2 · 10/11/2025 17:35

It’s only £40 a week which I’m more than happy to pay given the alternative wouldn’t be worth thinking about with the stress etc.

Falling out with neighbours is more stressful
in my opinion.

Tammygirl12 · 10/11/2025 17:40

We had a neighbours portaloo as the view from our kitchen sink for about 6 months. All I could see as I washed up was the poor chaps going in and out. It was summer too!
we didn’t complain because A it’s allowed and B it’s only temporary even if it’s not pleasant

Feelingsunny · 10/11/2025 17:41

MyballsareSandy2015 · 10/11/2025 17:38

Ignore her! Silly mare. My neighbours have had one in their front garden since May and I’ve never smelt it … even during our long hot summer so I doubt she’s smelling anything in Nov!

If it's been in use since May it will have been emptied or swapped regularly.