New neighbour has asked us to stop construction on new home until daughter has finished exams.

[Grammarninja]

This is such a tricky one for me. We bought a house that needed a complete overhaul a year ago. We've finally gotten through architects, planning permission and trying to find affordable builders etc. It has been stressful.
We broke ground this week and the neighbours have asked us to stop until dd has finished her exams in 3 weeks.
I really feel for the family and can't imagine how upsetting it must be for them at this crucial time (we had no idea they had a child sitting exams this summer). My husband has offered them an office at his work around the corner to facilitate study. I wouldn't mind postponing if it wouldn't cost us 30k to do so as builders are working to a set time frame. I wouldn't even mind the extra costs we'd incur through having to stay in our current accommodation for another month if it weren't for the builders' costs which we simply can't afford.
I'm worried now that we're going to start off on a terrible note with our new neighbours which would be such a shame considering my current neighbours are like family.
Are we being unreasonable to continue with the build in these circumstances?

Can't believe somebody asked the OP why she hadn't just bought a house that didn't need any work done to it, fs some people really have no clue, talk about tone deaf to the world. And you 7% of people who voted OP should just say "oh well" to losing 30k, what planet are you all on?

Our neighbour just started construction work and we have two students doing A levels now in the street. I'm sympathise with your neighbour as the noise has been hell for them.

In Ireland?
This is not the set-up at any school I know. If they’re not in school for exams they’re studying, at home usually.

Buy her some headphones, or noise cancelling headphones. I'm sure she can survive 3 weeks.

sounds like they're being ripped off and doesn't sound like they are struggling are pure supposition, by you, about someone whose life and finances you know nothing about. You're not Sherlock Holmes.

Yes, you are absolutely right, the auto correct on my app is really annoying.

YANBU The offer of an alternative study space is more than enough. I am sure the school also has a library she could use.

There are plenty of comments on this thread about how much the new neighbours will hate op with no suggestion to the alternative actually.

My comprehension skills are very good. Personally I'm curious why you're so dogged on the costing breakdowns. You talk about how you have experience in the UK, but op is not in the UK as you well know. Housing prices in ROI, especially certain parts of ROI are absolutely extortionate and have been for a long time. There's also been a lot of difficulties with certain building materials being used (to the point some people have been left bankrupt with crumbling homes) so you have no idea of the extent of the work that may actually need done on this property, certain areas are particularly difficult to purchase in and the market moves extremely quickly, so if op was tied to a particular area for work or such i can see how you'd take on a property requiring work in order to get something. It's also very possible op doesn't know anyone to do the work and has had to pick a contractor she trusts to do quality work. She's entitled to choose who she sees fit and their rate is their rate. I'm not sure who you or anyone else would be to question this as if it's relevant to the thread. If op has the means to purchase a property requiring development and renovate then that's a better investment overall. And none of that is in any way relevant to the noise issue at all.

It is objectively a rip off for a extension on a semi, especially if the house is "all they can afford".

@Grammarninja I sense that these neighbours will be difficult regardless of what you do.

It’s really unfortunate timing, but you’re not being unreasonable. Your neighbours were aware of the renovation plans from the planning consultation, and you shared the dates as soon as you had them. Once builders are booked and work has begun, stopping for three weeks isn’t a small favour, it’s a £30k loss. No reasonable person would expect you to absorb that. You’ve already gone above and beyond by offering their daughter an office space to study in. She also has school, libraries, evenings and weekends. You’re not refusing out of unkindness, you simply can’t take a financial hit of that scale. But I can also understand their request.

I'd tell them, or be sending them a message along the following lines:

"We completely understand how important your daughter’s exams are, and we’re sorry about the timing. Unfortunately, delaying the build now would cost us around £30,000, which we simply can’t absorb. We’ve offered the office space to help her study in peace, and of course the builders won’t be working evenings or weekends. We really hope we can all start off on good terms"

I would politely explain "We would love to pause and resume after her exams, but we don't have the extra 30k it would cost to do that"

There are other quiet places to study, plus your husband has already offered a space at his office, that's more than you needed to do.

Well it is as the OP themselves stated that it was relevant, they stayed that they couldn't afford a house that was ready to move in to. It seems unconvincing that all houses in Ireland that are affordable at close to a million Euros. Do you not think that Labour costs and materials are just comparably expensive particularly as unlike ROI we no longer are in the EU so have to incur worse supply chain issues.

As someone who lives on the border I can tell you it is considerably more expensive to build/renovate in ROI than mainland UK. You can Google if you don't believe me.

Again, op has clearly had to weigh up the cost value trade off between buying a new build within budget and an older property with such an investment. There's also the issue of ready to move into properties being bought up especially fast, bidding wars and issues with international buyers buying rapidly to let in the midst of a significant housing shortage. You also don't know if the cost of the renovation was guessed accurately at the point of purchase or if more work was found to be needed after purchase. Op has clearly attempted to purchase two prior properties which were a waste of time so it makes sense they decided to take the additional hit on a property that required work in order to secure it.

The average cost of a 3 bed semi in Dublin ranges from between €400k- €700k depending on the part of Dublin and how far out of Dublin you want to be for example. So yes, extremely expensive.

That's not extremely expensive though. Equally, you have just proved the point that they have enough money to buy and probably win in a bidding war if they have close to a million Euros for this purchase and renovation. How can the OP argue they have not choice but to renovate and make endless noise when they do have a choice as they have a big budget. It is up to them but don't be disingenuous with your faux concerns about the noise when really you don't care!

That's how long it takes to get plans, planning permission and an actual builder to come and do the work. Or have you never done an extension?
Neighbours are unreasonable. DD had extension done as neighbours' DC sitting A levels for a place at a famous university - neighbours did not complain once. (Very nice neighbours.)

OP's neighbours' DD can work in the school or public library. She probably won't notice building work anyway since she will most likely have ear buds in.

Who are you to say its faux concern though? Op can decide she wants to work on the property and recognise that this involves noise. She can also be additionally concerned that this falls at a particularly bad time for the neighbour and is worried about the impact on a positive neighbour relationship... my understanding is that it's not the concern of the noise but the timing of it that's worrying her.

she posted that they couldn't afford anything that would allow them to move in straight away. Then states huge budget for a domestic project that sounds like they're being ripped off and then would have paid for the house in addition - doesn't sound like they are struggling. It is called, 'deduction'.
The 30000 was the answer to the reasonable question from the neighbour, can you postpone. The OP can't due to cost so that's the answer. Asking a reasonable question is not a big deal.

@Goldenbear you're just trying to derail the thread by going off at a tangent about property prices and building costs.

It's a faux concern as she has the means to buy a house outright without doing a renovation, just own it!

No, the OP referred to the issue, not a derailment.

It’s not endless noise, it’s six months.

I'm in Ireland and my DD started her Leaving Cert yesterday and the council decided this would also be a great time to replace my boiler and radiators. DD has just had to get on with it, the house is upside down and she's having to sleep on the sofa (with the dog). She would jump at the chance of an office to study in.
Also unless your neighbour is doing every single subject she probably has exams this week (Wed,Thurs and Fri) all of next week and then its a day or two spread over until the 23rd depending on what subjects you chose. DD is in until the 11th then not till the 16th then not until the 22nd.

I'm sure they don't care about the following months but in response to the original question the OP obviously can't do anything as they can't spend 30000, I don't know what we expected of the thread in this regard. I think the neighbours are ok to ask.

What has this to do with anything ? The neighbours are just going to have to suck it up and take OP up on the offers she’s made. I don’t care how much money you have, £30k because a neighbour objects to the noise is batshit.

I’d hate to live next door to you !!

You’re making daft assumptions - not sure why at this point.