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Original poster

Help please! Neighbour building works - can’t use our toilet

71 replies

planner10 · 05/08/2020 13:53

Hi, it’s a bit of an unusual one so wondered if anyone had dealt with similar previously and if you had any advice. For context, we live in a Victorian terraced cottage, and we rent.

A couple of days ago, our neighbour had builders in on the roof. We had no prior notice, and they started drilling etc at 8am. So far, not any real issue other than would have appreciated the heads up. However, we have a skylight/window in our bathroom on the roof - it’s the only window the bathroom has. Therefore we have no privacy when needing to use the toilet (or bathroom generally). Clearly my daughter and I don’t want to use the loo when random men can look in and have full view. It’s extremely high up and has no blind. We can’t see a way of covering it up.

On the first day, they agreed to have a break 3 hrs in so we could use the bathroom. Then we decided to go out as they promised it was only that day.

Well, they’re back today, here again tomorrow apparently. We tried speaking to our neighbour and was fine at first and agreed after 3.5hrs his builders could have a short break so we could use the toilet. When this didn’t happen, my OH went over to ask about it, and the neighbour got rude and very abusive to him - so my OH decided to walk away. He has previous form and has been rude and abusive to myself and My daughter before so we avoid him.

I am pregnant, therefore I need to use the toilet fairly regularly. I don’t think I’m being unreasonable asking for a short break every 3/4 hrs to use the loo - especially when he started the works early at 7.30 this morn (against council regulations), they are drilling and banging all day and we haven’t complained about the noise, they have trespassed to our roof constantly without asking if we were ok for them to do this during the works. To top it off, when my OH took me to town so I could use a loo, we came back and our entire top floor stunk of smoke - they had been smoking on the roof.

We have called the council who have been sympathetic and waiting for a call back, but any other ideas? I can deal with everything but would like to use my loo a couple of times in the day!!! I’ve thought about calling the police because of his abusiveness but I’d rather not escalate to that extent unless necessary. Advice please 😊

OP posts:
melissasummerfield · 05/08/2020 14:23

Get a ladder so you can reach the window to put a blind / sheet over it or ask the builder to cover it from the outside. Its really not that difficult to figure out is it Confused

Original poster
planner10 · 05/08/2020 14:24

@TeapotCollection thanks 😊 Yep, it’s a piss take. I’m so annoyed - thought he’d at least appreciate that we didn’t complain about the noise, or them trespassing constantly without permission. But I should have known better because I know what he’s like!

We basically have no privacy on our top floor now (more than one skylight) - and as it’s getting hotter Over the next few day, we won’t be able to open the windows. Just great. We didn’t agree for them to use our roof! ARGH.

Can’t wait to move away from him. He’s just unable to have a conversation. He literally has to do a bridge swap when taking the kids from his wife. It’s all awful .

OP posts:
Original poster
planner10 · 05/08/2020 14:27

@melissasummerfield if it was that easy we would have done it.

We don’t have a ladder, neither do our neighbours. We won’t be able to get one til the weekend.

And as I’ve said numerous times, he’s highly aggressive and won’t help us. He won’t put anything up despite them being on OUR roof.

OP posts:
ChardonnaysPetDragon · 05/08/2020 14:28

Can't you just pee a in a bucket out of sight?

Why should OP have to do that? She has a perfectly good loo.

OP, of you want to go down to their level, eat some sprouts, do a dump, don't flush, leave the loo and the skylight open. Grin

AdaColeman · 05/08/2020 14:30

Get some whitewash from DIY store, and a long handled/extending emulsion paint brush or roller (or use bamboo poles to make your own).

Then paint over the window.

Original poster
planner10 · 05/08/2020 14:30

@ChardonnaysPetDragon hahaha thank you!! I’m finding it so strange that most people here would be fine with builders trampling on their roof without permission? I mean I don’t even mind that, just let us use the loo once a day whilst they’re there!! I feel so much worse for my teenage daughter. Hopefully this won’t drag into next week, or we can get a ladder by then so we can cover it ourselves.

Thanks Smile

OP posts:
NotDavidTennant · 05/08/2020 14:33

Technically they are trespassing by coming onto your roof but it will difficult in practice to do anything about it without their cooperation.

Original poster
planner10 · 05/08/2020 14:33

@Tempusfudgeit Jesus the rudeness is incredible. I can’t reach the window, we can’t get a ladder til the weekend. Neighbour is highly aggressive (not just to us, to everyone) so won’t help.

They our on our roof. Thanks for your helpful comment.

OP posts:
Graffitiqueen · 05/08/2020 14:34

I'm sure you could come up with a solution to hide yourselves if you really wanted to. Yes they're in the wrong, but making more of a fuss about it is seeming like it would be counterproductive.

Could you attach a sheet at head height to hide you from view?

whatsleep · 05/08/2020 14:35

You could try talking to the builders rather than your Neigbour. Like others have said ask them to tape something over your window. Better for all of you as they won’t be asked to get off of the roof so you can use your bathroom.

Hubstar · 05/08/2020 14:36

Right. There is some good advice on this thread

Cover the toilet with an umbrella
Cover yourself with tarpaulin.
Get a ladder to cover window
Get a camping toilet and use in bedroom.

These are really good ideas. Please stop going to town to use the toilet!!

As of right now. The neighbour is who you have an issue with. Not the roofers. I doubt they will be peering in whilst you wee!

As of now. I doubt you can get them to stop their work. So you need to do adjustments. Yes you shouldn’t have too. But right now. The advice is solid

ChardonnaysPetDragon · 05/08/2020 14:36

Of course you shouldn't mind that they are trampling on your roof, planner.

I fact, I'm surprised you haven't been told off for not making then a cup of tea yet by some posters.

Give it a few more minutes. Grin

Original poster
planner10 · 05/08/2020 14:37

@whatsleep he won’t let us talk to them, we’ve asked.
Would be the simple solution and best for everyone for them to cover it - we’d be happy to provide a sheet. But he just is awful and told my other half to F off.

OP posts:
hellywelly3 · 05/08/2020 14:37

Paint over the window from the inside. Put a paint brush on broom handle

blurpityblurp · 05/08/2020 14:37

Call the police, or keep badgering the council. Say you feel intimidated and that you’re worried that men are trespassing onto your property, spying on children, and becoming abusive when challenged.

BluebellsGreenbells · 05/08/2020 14:39

Why can’t you speak to them if there’s a window and they are on your roof?

Original poster
planner10 · 05/08/2020 14:40

@Hubstar

I haven’t asked them to stop working. Yes we’ve caught them looking in quite a few times. Yes my issue is with my neighbour not builders.

If any of those options worked/or we were able to do that today/tomorrow we would. I’m not going to go into every individual thing we’ve tried, but it amazes me how people think we won’t have tried or why certain solutions may not work just because it may work in their homes

OP posts:
whatsleep · 05/08/2020 14:41

You NEED to speak to the builders, they are probably normal human beings. Phone the building company up or be ready to go and talk to them as they arrive or leave, or write a note explaining the problem and give it to the quickly as they leave! Just who does your Neigbour think he is! I’m angry for you.

NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1 · 05/08/2020 14:42

What do you mean the neighbour won't let you speak to the builders? How exactly can he stopyou?

safariboot · 05/08/2020 14:42

By all means report the abuse, trespass, and unreasonable noise.

But as for your privacy, you have to take responsibility for that.

To add another suggestion to the many. Cut paper to size and put spray adhesive, pritt stick, or double-sided tape on it. Stick it to the glass with the help of a mop or broom.

Original poster
planner10 · 05/08/2020 14:43

@ChardonnaysPetDragon 😂😂😂😂 thank you for making me feel normal 😊

OP posts:
Original poster
planner10 · 05/08/2020 14:44

@whatsleep thanks, I’ll try when they leave.

OP posts:
Original poster
planner10 · 05/08/2020 14:46

@NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1 because he’s already told my partner to F off amongst other choice words. He’s been highly aggressive to us previously, and frankly, I’m scared of him. This behaviour of his is not just to us, it’s what he’s like generally.

So yeah, not so easy to talk to the builders when he’s said not to, and I’m pretty scared of his reaction if we do.

OP posts:
LegoMaus · 05/08/2020 14:50

One of your friends must have a ladder? It’s a two minute job to tape some cardboard over the window.

perfumeistooexpensive · 05/08/2020 14:53

Long handled brush and Windowlene . Covers the window so nobody can see in and can easily be washed off afterwards so no permanent change.

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