Neighbour has complained about Portaloo

[Helenwalker2]

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.

It might not be very nice, but it's useful. And much of life isn't 'nice', your neighbour, providing that you're not breaking any council regulations, isn't entitled to fabulous loveliness at all times. Shit, as they say, happens.

And it's a lot better than having people traipsing in and out, letting the dog out, trampling mud through and this goes double if they have to go upstairs.

I think by the time the council decide to get involved it will be gone. Just ignore.

As long as its on your property she doesn't have a leg to stand on.

If it had been their years as a permanent feature and/or is attracting rats etc... she might under environmental health but for a 2 week job etc... nope.

Her 'advice' is probably just a friend or family member who agreed with her who told her she can do that.

There's one down my street since August; people had a fire (on the day they were to move in!) and the interior is being gutted and renovated. It's unsightly but what can you do?

Ask for it to be emptied and perhaps get an industrial fan set up to blow the "smell" away.

It is pretty unsightly and gross when you think about it so I can see why they are pissed off. I’d be extremely apologetic and tell them it’s not for too much longer and you appreciate their patience. I’d take chocolates round tomorrow and a couple of bottles of wine when the work has finished. Just nice to keep the peace and you never know when you might need them.

Looking out your front window and seeing a porta loo with human waste sat their for weeks is rank and on a blowy day I totally believe you could smell it.

Yeah they do smell.

My next door neighbour put theirs next to my house, as far away from their house as possible. I was pretty annoyed as it was right next to my bins and garage, and a few feet from my door....but several metres away from theirs.

It was there for several months while they built an extension. And they moved out.

I would explain to your neighbour that you could not put it anywhere else if true and apologise. Tell them when it will be gone.

We had one for a few weeks. No smell. And it's not as if it's hot at the moment.

They don’t smell if they’re emptied and cleaned which the hire company should be doing every week or every 2 weeks. When was it last emptied?

I’m not sure, and don’t fancy physically checking!

NDN has one right now, 6 feet from our front door. It's been 7 weeks so far.

It doesn't smell, it's a practical solution with a full building crew working on a house with only one toilet and a young family in residence, and we wouldn't dream of objecting or protesting.

YANBU and your neighbours are moaning fusspots.

Ignore the stupid woman.
My neighbours did a huge job and had one in front of their house for 12 weeks.
I honestly cannot imagine complaining about something like this.
It seems a perfectly reasonable accommodation to provide to men working on site.

I feel like there probably is some sort of smell... whenever I have walked past a portaloo they either stink of human waste or have a weird chemically/plasticy smell.

I do feel a bit sorry for your neighbour.

You have chosen the option that doesn't bother you but is clearly making your neighbours unhappy. Neighbours always draw the short straw when it comes to their direct neighbour having work done, with none of the lovely benefits once the work is completed.

Obviously, you are free to do what you want if permitted by the council, but I do have sympathy for the neighbours and would personally want to minimise the unpleasantness for them, even if that negatively impacted on me (by getting rid of the portaloo and letting workfolk use my toilet)

I'm disappointed at the lack of diagram thus far

Just keep repeating that it will be gone soon.
If you want to calm the situation, you could put up some temporary screening to hide the look of the loo...obviously won't do much about any smells, but I can't imagine it's that bad if it's being emptied properly and regularly?

You need to check with whoever you hired it from? If it’s not been emptied for ages it will stink .

If there are more than 7 workers onsite & the OP has only one loo in her house she's legally obliged to cover provision of the portaloo. See; Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, & HSE regs.

This

we had a complaint from a neighbour about building work, via the council, the letter has a 10d window to reply, we left it until near then end of this, by which time the job was finished. the council cheerfully closed the case.

Request to get the portaloo emptied

So you don’t want the builders accessing your home to use the loo but you think it’s fine for your neighbours to see and smell the toilet outside of their home?

I would move it. It sounds as if it is right by their house. Or just get rid of it and let the workmen use your toilet. Not sure what horror stories you have heard about that.

Kindly, have you seen a portaloo before? Nothing is visible, anyone using it is obscured.

Get it emptied/changed for a new one.

Festering pee and poo isn't nice (and I speak as someone who has visited a fair few sewage treatment works in my working life!).

Is the work being done to the inside/outside only/ or both? Are you living there while it's being done? The answers would colour my answer about you using the port a potty in your front garden and not allowing the workment indoors!

I often think that people who complain about their neighbours are actually envious of them getting work done, also - if you have not long moved in, they are asserting their rights to rule the road!

Either way, I'd go in and explain that it can't be moved and it will not be there for much longer and say I hope you understand. Then when works are done go round with a big box of chocs and a nice bottle of vino. Stay friendly if you can, it's not worth falling out over.

Of course I have. But I don’t think I’d want one outside of my house for weeks either. It’s just a bit grim isn’t it?
My point is that you’ve chosen not to allow the workmen into your home but now you’re expecting the neighbours to deal with the fallout from that choice. Rightly or wrongly it’s clearly bothering them and the work on your house is of no benefit to them.

Edited to add…the ‘kindly’ wasn’t needed, it sounds a bit like you think I’m a moron for having a different view 😂

The workmen are in the house when needed - they just aren’t using the toilet.