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

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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 😊

Can you not just open the skylight and shout to the builders, ask them to cover the skylight for you with an old towel or something? Surely neighbour isn't up there with them?
When my neighbour was having her roof done I spoke to her builders loads, as they had scaffolding in my garden, which I agreed to and they replaced a piece of guttering for me free of charge as a gesture of good will. Ignore neighbour and speak to builders, is there a name or number on their van?
Alternatively use whatever you open the skylight with the try and stick something over the glass.

Buy either 1 large or several smaller helium balloons. Attach very long strings that you can reach, and let them go to the window in the ceiling. Just pull them down when the work is done.

at some of these answers!
I would use a potty or something in another room for just a wee myself, and then empty it. You are a bit stuck unless the landlord takes action.
Hopefully it will only be for a few days.
However, I am pretty sure as a tenant you have a right to privacy in the property and so you could complain to landlord in writing and ask for a reduction in rent for the days you didn’t have full privacy to use the toilet as normal.
Suggest you phone your landlord and put pressure on. You shouldn’t have to deal with the neighbor yourself.

@Elouera that's absolutely genius!

I am surprised builders haven't offered to cover skylight for you, it would take them a few minutes, much better that having to stop work while you use the loo or have you complain to their boss.

Yes, liking the balloons idea!!

@snowqu33n thank you, I’ve already text the LL but not about right to privacy so thanks - that’s a great idea. Will try 😊

@Elouera thank you, that’s a good idea 😊

Are you saying you have no friends you could ask to borrow a ladder from?
Or a local Facebook group you could ask on?

By far the simplest and easiest solution would be to borrow a ladder and get some newspaper or card stuck up on the window temporarily.

I know you don’t have a ladder, but surely you can get hold of one?

LegoMaus very few people own ladders these days. Years ago when people used to do their own outdoor maintenance they were more common but the only people I know who own ladders are actually people who need them for their jobs like window cleaners.

@DiddlySquatty yep that’s right. This isn’t a ‘community’ area. And our friends are all in a different city or live in rented flats so don’t have one. We have asked our neighbours.

@snowqu33n put some pressure on the LL and he is sending someone round tomorrow morning - he’s very concerned (rightly) about potential damage to his roof, and is annoyed permission wasn’t sought to use his roof so they will check it out. He also will get them to help us cover up our skylights so that will do - very relieved! Thanks

Thanks for everyone who offered help. It’s now being resolved through our LL. Cheers

LegoMaus very few people own ladders these days
What a load of nonsense! How do people do things such as
-Changing a light bulb at the top of the stairs
-Painting the ceiling
-Cleaning leaves out of the guttering
-Retrieving a ball from the roof
-Chopping a branch off a garden tree
-Washing the upstairs windows?

There loads and loads of good ideas and solutions on this thread.

If you don't want to take advice I'm surprised you asked?

Plus you have said you have been using the shopping centre toilets - so there's no problem?

I personally think the umbrella idea is genius (although because I'm not a helpless creature I would have borrowed a ladder - or had my teenager get on the shoulders of my dp and stick up a sheet of newspaper over the window) would have taken less time than typing this thread - but that's me.

@NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1

LegoMaus very few people own ladders these days. Years ago when people used to do their own outdoor maintenance they were more common but the only people I know who own ladders are actually people who need them for their jobs like window cleaners.

I would say every house on my street has a ladder (I have 3 different ones) as we have gardens and need them for DIY jobs/hedge/tree cutting etc

I get that if you are a renter and live in an area with a lot of renters it might be harder to get your hands on one. They are really cheap though!

@LegoMaus

LegoMaus very few people own ladders these days What a load of nonsense! How do people do things such as -Changing a light bulb at the top of the stairs -Painting the ceiling -Cleaning leaves out of the guttering -Retrieving a ball from the roof -Chopping a branch off a garden tree -Washing the upstairs windows?

We have step ladders but nothing taller than that, and nothing that would likely reach a high skylight. In respect to your points for our house:

• it's accessible from the landing and I can change it without even a step ladder
• long handled paint rollers
• window cleaner does it
• no children so unlikely to happen. If it did it would have to stay there until the wind blew it down again
• no trees tall enough to require a longer ladder
• our opening windows rotate so you can clean them from the inside. Non-opening windows can be done by leaning out. Or easier still - the window cleaner does them!

It's more than possible to go through life without a long ladder. I've owned properties for 22 years now and I have never needed one!

@NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1

LegoMaus very few people own ladders these days. Years ago when people used to do their own outdoor maintenance they were more common but the only people I know who own ladders are actually people who need them for their jobs like window cleaners.

Really? Surely everyone who has a house has a ladder. I don’t need to use it often but I certainly have one.

@karmasic

Me too! Genius idea

I’d also of just gotten a ladder and climbed up. But then I spent many hours at the top of o2 and Wembley arenas. So have no problem with height!

Could the builders to secure something from the outside, dustsheet/ paper etc

I don't understand why the builders can't just cover the window with something from the outside?

The neighbour might be an arse, but why can't you just ask the builder?

"We have kids that are very anxious about using the bathroom, please cover the window with (?) so you can work in disturbed and we can use the bathroom undisturbed"

If they can get onto your roof ask the builders to cover the outside of your window.

FFS what EVER HAPPENED YO QUIET ENJOYMENT OF THE PROPERTY THEY ARE RENTING ?? A fundamental right by law