Neighbour starting major renovation in lockdown

[GrapefruitsAreNotTheOnlyFruit]

So our neighbours are going ahead with an extension which will be starting in two weeks.

There will be a lot of noise and dust and it will impact on our ability to use our rather small garden.

Pre-lockdown we didn't object to planning and signed a party wall agreement.

But now with three children and two adults all at home with no where to go outside our house and garden except the park we are horrified. I think it will make a difficult situation a lot worse.

They are going to move out so won't be affected. We have spoken to them and they have said they will try and see if they can delay it.

If they can't do we have any legal options we can pursue to try to at least create a delay until some of the lockdown restrictions are lifted.

Not really.

They’re allowed to do works.

They have planning permission.

Your only hope is that if it is very noisy/created lots of dust you could threaten to sue for private nuisance. You won’t win (unless it’s the noisiest dustiest extension in the history of england) but it might make them hesitate or take you seriously.

Your best bet is to agree what hours they will start and stop, agree they won’t do works on weekends etc, so at least you know what to expect.

You signed the agreement and allowed it to happen. Doesn't matter that we are now in a lockdown, it's too bad. You will just have to figure out how to cope with it.

Well I think the government is wrong. To tell people to only leave home for essential reasons but then allow major domestic non essential works to take place. All the rules about noise assume it's possible to be out of the house during the day.

Still if there isn't anything I can do I might look to see if I can get a short let in the countryside for a couple of months. I don't think I will be able to cope with the children cooped up in a noisy environment trying to home school.

Well I think the government is wrong. To tell people to only leave home for essential reasons but then allow major domestic non essential works to take place

It's been risk assessed. I'm sure the government knows more than you do you are just annoyed about the noise disruption, don't try to spin this into a safety issue

I understand your frustration. My neighbour opted to start major internal house building works in March. Knowing full well I work from home as the norm, no notice and continuing throughout the pandemic.

It's shitty.

They're in the legal right. Morally it's shit!

Where did I say it was about health and safety???

Before the lockdown I was not upset about my neighbours having building work because

1. My husband and I were at work
2. The children were at school
3. There were 1001 other places we could go if we wanted to get away from it. Libraries, cafes, museums, ice rinks....

Now I can't get away. I am stuck in a small terraced house. Some one will be building a brick wall in the small garden that has been our lifeline.

And that's why I don't think the government should allow major non essential domestic works whilst restricting everything else.

I was wondering if anyone had any useful advice.....

@SoloMummy thanks for the sympathy!

@SoloMummy Whereas someone being prevented from undertaking planned works on their property because a neighbour didn't want to hear the noise wouldn't be morally shit?