Having an extension built and really upset neighbours what can I do

[Imthenoisyneighbour]

We’re having an extension built and our neighbours one side are really unhappy.

We live in a terraced house and so are very aware that the noise and dust isn’t just disrupting us but our neighbours too.

There was an awful lot of dust created and noise on Friday and this had really upset our neighbours one side. The dust got into their house despite them having their windows closed and caused issues with lungs (they’re vulnerable) and sneezing etc.

I feel awful, we have committed to the extension and can’t stop now but I really want to mitigate the impact on our neighbours and I don’t know how. I’ll ask the builders to tell me when they’re going to be making a lot of dust and noise so I can let neighbours know but it’s not something that can be avoided.

They rent and effectively said the impact of our build has led them to look to move ASAP and I feel really awful about that as they’ve not long moved in.

We’re only at foundation stage and despite aiming to finish in April (it’s a very small extension) there’s obviously a long way to go.

Any ideas about things I can do that will help mitigate the impact on the neighbours?

To be honest they sound like they are making a bit of a fuss. How does dust get in even with windows closed? It’s not like it’s boiling this time of year and they need windows open. All you can do is make them aware what’s happening at which stage and be courteous. In a way it’s good that they rent and don’t own so there’s no potential for a long standing dispute. Our attached neighbours are about to have an extension. I’m not best pleased about it but that’s life in an attached house!

Could you rig up some sort of tarpaulin above your fence to stop so much dust blowing over?

They rent. They won't be your neighbours for ever. And the do seem to be over-reacting.

Having built our own extension a few years back, I'd say whilst it's nice of you to want to improve things for them, there's really nothing you can do. I'd suggest that when the builders are knocking through will be when the worst dust happens, so try to get a rough timeline to warn them of this. However as they rent I wouldn't be too concerned tbh, they can't love their house that much if they're already planning to move on and you're only a few weeks in at foundation stage!

I agree they sound like they're milking it a bit.
However, if there's lots of dust you could make a gesture to get their windows cleaned (the outside) and car cleaned if it's settled. I doubt it's got indoors to the extent they claim or at all.

We have really old, rubbish windows at the front of our house and next door’s building dust didn’t get in, so I think your neighbours are stretching the dramatics a bit there tbh.
We’d have appreciated a bit of a heads up as to when the noisiest and messiest work was taking place so we could have not put washing out and moved our cars, so what you say about giving them that advanced notice is decent of you. Rough timescale too, although I know that’s especially difficult at the moment in some cases.
So, just give them all the info you have, be sympathetic without giving the impression that you can magic the noise and mess away and get on with the work. It’s a pita to live next door to, but it does have an end date and the option to live in the middle of nowhere with no neighbours is one open to only a few.

Buy them a box of chocolates and tell them you've asked the builders to let you know when the next messy phase will be.
Small gestures make a difference. But it is probably to your advantage they are renting so I wouldn't stress too much

Thanks all, I’ve been feeling awful since I spoke to them. They even “joked” about billing me for their rent due to the disturbance.

Their windows were definitely closed, the dust and noise took me by surprise on Friday or I would have warned them. I did shoot upstairs to look out of the window and check they didn’t have washing on the line.

They could “taste” the dust, I know they have lung issues so I do feel really bad.

I hate upsetting people and conflict, I’ve been worried about that from the get go here. We made our plans smaller to not upset neighbours on the other side.

We have to build the extension for this house to work for us but I’m going to be even more on edge the whole way through now.

I will tell them when really noisy and dusty things are going to happen, assuming I get advanced warning, I’ll will be asking the builders to give it to me. They arrive about 8.30 and leave by 4/4.30pm so I don’t think the hours are unreasonable.

I guess there’s not much else I can do.

Dust do travel between terraced houses, especially if you share chimney breasts or you have basements. I think all you can do though is let them know what is happening, and maybe buy them a box of chocolates at the end of it.

No, there isn’t anything else you can do. Don’t jump to their every demand and engage in long discussions with them about it.
18 months our neighbours have been refurbishing and renovating and at times if I could have moved to a tent on an island I would have been sorely tempted! But their builders are family doing it mostly out of regular hours, so that added to the annoyance. We’ve never fallen out with them about it though. We’ll be having some work done ourselves in the next couple of years, or moving and the next owners will be doing work, so it’s give and take, really.

If offering a car clean be careful. It would need to be a professional one with a hose down of all the brick dust first, not just some enthusiastic builders mate with a bucket and a sponge. . We politely declined their offer

There is insulating film for windows. It has the effect of stopping any drafts - drafts that would be bringing in any dust. You could offer to buy some of these for them. Plus box of choccies. www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0038JE7WW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_1R2BN4MNCQRG0CYF5TK9?psc=1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

It is possible for dust to get in through the vents if the windows are closed but the vents at the top are open, I found that out the hard way when my neighbours were getting cavity wall insulation put in. People are entitled to get work done on their house though, so I hoovered it up instead of going round and making an issue of it, but I would have appreciated it if they had let me know before hand.

Bloody hell they sound like chancers to be joking about billing you for their rent!

I think it is sufficient let them know in advance when any dusty work will be happening and offer to get their windows and car cleaned.

We had this issue when we did our build and I think it's unaboidable- your neighbours are definitely milking it a bit ! We have our close neighbours the heads up whenever we could and we paid for them to have all their windows professionally cleaned when it was finished (one had a big -dusty!- conservatory!), plus a bottle of wine, some chocs and a note to say thanks for being great neighbours. I think that's all you can do tbh ?!

*gave

Take them wine and chocolates and say sorry and let them know in advance when there is messy work. Don’t even entertain the idea of any £££ compensation.

Then google all the insane neighbour feuds caused by building work and get on your knees and say a little prayer to thank god that they rent and you aren’t stuck next to angry feuding neighbours who want to punish you for having an extension for the next decade.

You're allowed to have extensions built and unfortunately in a built up area it can be a nuisance. But as they've already made one financial comment I'd be sure to accept no personal blame, not even a hint.

Get the builders to give you a heads up on noisy or polluting days and pop a card through their door (avoid conversations if they're trying to blame you personally). Non-apology sympathising but positive about the end date.

We had an extension a few years back. A total nightmare for me as I'm allergic to mold spores and ended up on high dose steroid inhalers. Dust everywhere, writing OU assignments with ear defenders on. There's likely to be major works next door - empty property with potential to turn into flats with an extension - and I might end up actually ill and unable to drive because I cough until I black out several times a day. I still have no right to object to their plans.

Why is there so much dust? Are the builders using dust control measures?

Houses have to have work done on them. It's a perfectly reasonable thing for you to be doing. Every house they've ever lived in will have needed work that will have annoyed the neighbours. Unfortunately if they've chosen a built-up area they need to live with it or move (ideally to a house in the middle of its own 5 acre plot!)

@tara66

Why is there so much dust? Are the builders using dust control measures?

I was wondering this too. As for the 'joke' about billing you for their rent ? Jog on with that one.

Don’t don’t let the fact you don’t like conflict turn you into a doormat.

Building work in the neighbourhood is bloody annoying but it doesn’t last for ever. I am doubtful they could taste dust with the windows shut. Keep up a line of communication but keep it jolly and brisk. You aren’t doing anything wrong. It’s just one of those things.

looks like they have gone to the papers: www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/furious-homeowners-want-move-after-26151514

Sheesh, that’s quite a monstrosity! OP says her’s is small, it won’t be that one.

Thankfully that’s definitely not mine! Ours is single storey 3m x 6m.

The dust was for about 30 minutes or so while they chased into our existing walls. Thing is cutting blocks and bricks is going to be dusty isn’t it and I can’t work out how to mitigate that.

I have lupus and asthma and I think they’re being ridiculous. Yeah it’s a bit shit but if they keep their windows shut how much dust can really be getting in? It won’t go on forever. They’re being a bit precious. Building work happens all the time. If it wasn’t you it could have been someone else or the council resurfacing the roads etc. It’s life.