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Nightmare building work during lockdown

5 replies

runningpram · 04/04/2020 18:32

I'm not asking for me but for a friend who is at her wits end.
She has a baby and a preschooler and she and her partner have demanding full time jobs - in which they are under huge amounts of pressure due to their respective businesses really suffering due to Covid
She lives in a terraced house. The house next door was empty for a couple of months but has just been bought by someone. They now have the builders in before they move in. The purchasers say the work will be a minimum of four months and is banging all through the day when my friend and partner are trying to get children to nap and to work. Obviously this would be ok in normal times but it is hugely affecting their mental health. They have spoken to the owner who doesn't live there but says they need the work to continue so they can move in in a few months time. The owners currently living in a nice house nearby, so not stuck in a hotel room or tiny flat. Do any kind M-netter's know whether there is anything my friend can do to delay/limit the work noise given the current unprecedented situation. They are aware that there are probably other people in a similar situation. Are there any advocacy groups they could speak to who could highlight this kind of issue. It's clearly an unintended consequence of the lock down/loophole that allows building work to continue

OP posts:
runningpram · 04/04/2020 19:42

Anyone?

OP posts:
DeRigueurMortis · 04/04/2020 20:01

What a difficult situation OP.

I appreciate it must be very hard but assuming the builders are observing social distancing business I am not sure what can be done.

If the builders stop they will lose their income. The owners in turn might not have the funds to furlough the build (for example if they are renting whilst the work is going on they may not have the money to rent for an additional 3 months).

I think if the owners aren't will to stop the work all they can do is speak to the builders and see if they can try and contain noisy work to certain times.

That said it might be counter productive. If the work is due to take 4 months they need to consider that all of it won't be super noisy (as builds progress the noise tends to reduce dramatically). If the builders ration the noise to certain times you might find out that whilst it helps initially, the downside is that it might last longer.

I'm honestly struggling to think of a solution here.

Raffathebear · 04/04/2020 20:12

Nature of having neighbours. Its very shit.

Aleena1968 · 04/04/2020 20:16

This reply has been deleted

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Distressingtimes · 04/04/2020 20:33

Similar problem here that there may be some suggestion on?

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3871224-Neighbours-extension-during-lockdown

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