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Original poster

Building works - quiet periods over nap time

118 replies

LondonNQT · 13/04/2022 09:47

A and B live in terraced properties and share a party wall. B is due to commence an extensive renovation of their property - A has two children aged 2 and 4.

A has requested that the builders stop work every day during nap time - they would like this included in the party wall agreement.

Is this reasonable?

OP posts:
Thursday37 · 13/04/2022 10:15

Utterly batshit.

ForcingSmiles · 13/04/2022 10:16

If i was B i'd be asking what was in it for me...

A longer renovation (due to building having to stop and start), more cost (see longer renovation) and the potential issue of things not being able to be done if they are time sensitive (for example if they are plastering 10 minutes before nap time).

I'm guessing A hasn't offered to cover the additional costs B would incur ?

Buildingthefuture · 13/04/2022 10:16

No, totally unreasonable and I cannot imagine you’d ever find a builder who would agree to it! No provision to include it in a party wall agreement either.

Barkingmadhouse · 13/04/2022 10:16

😂
Are you A?

Emelene · 13/04/2022 10:17

No that’s not reasonable. To whoever the mum is - you’d be surprised what a toddler can sleep through. Mine sleeps through multiple episodes of her baby brother screaming and always has… I’d stick white noise on and hope for the best. I’m not sure a 2 year old will be napping for much longer anyway?

HippeePrincess · 13/04/2022 10:19

Completely unreasonable

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 13/04/2022 10:20

No, that’s unreasonable.

You could possibly request no loud music or radios during nap time but not a total cessation of works.

Go on OP, are you A or B?

GreenWheat · 13/04/2022 10:20

That's completely unworkable. At best, A could request consideration eg no music on during nap time but that's as far as it goes.

JudgeRindersMinder · 13/04/2022 10:21

Hahahahahahahahahahaha would be my considered response to such a request

Comefromaway · 13/04/2022 10:21

@RandomQuest

Haha WTAF, the party wall agreement is about ensuring there’s no structural damage as a result of the building work, not preserving silence for nap time. A is being ridiculous to even suggest it. Even IF A offered to pay the labour costs to cover nap time as PP’s have mentioned, it would still be massively unreasonable, because it every week it would equate to over a day’s lost labour, resulting in the building work dragging on for way longer than necessary. Given the ages of the children too it’s even more bonkers.
I'm glad you said that as I thought that a party wall agreement was only concerned with matters related to the actual wall itself.
Original poster
LondonNQT · 13/04/2022 10:23

Thanks all - I’ve been feeling awful that we were being unreasonable.

We did ask our builders to do their best but couldn’t commit to this in a legally binding document due to the issues mentioned above. A has taken this as licence to go round every day during nap time and ask the builders to stop.

When we first told them of our plans A asked us to postpone our works by a few months as that suited them better and, no exaggeration, said they were concerned about our build polluting their children's lungs.

OP posts:
sashh · 13/04/2022 10:24

It depends on how long and when naptime is. Half an hour at a reasonable time to break for lunch is one thing, having builders hanging around from 2pm to 4pm not reasonable.

RandomQuest · 13/04/2022 10:25

Glad to hear you’re B and not A OP Grin

I’d tell your builders to ignore A in future and carry on as normal.

Hugasauras · 13/04/2022 10:26

Def unreasonable. We had an extension built and DD managed to nap fine when the work was in her own home! White noise up loud covers all manner of sins.

Comefromaway · 13/04/2022 10:26

Believe me, the builders will just ignore A.

I asked our builders not to come before 9am on a bank holiday Monday and they said no and I was the one paying them!

nearlyspringyay · 13/04/2022 10:28

It's very unreasonable. And hilarious!

Ignore ignore ignore op.

Floralnomad · 13/04/2022 10:28

Your neighbours need to buy a house in the middle of a field with no neighbours - idiots .

ifyouturnonthelight · 13/04/2022 10:29

Your neighbours are batshit

Ikeptgoing · 13/04/2022 10:29

We did ask our builders to do their best but couldn’t commit to this in a legally binding document due to the issues mentioned above. A has taken this as licence to go round every day during nap time and ask the builders to stop.

Good you've had this advice on MN now OP, as you don't need to ask your builders to stop for a NDN's toddler nap times GrinShockGrin

Not before 7am and not after 6-7pm is not an unreasonable request for asking builders to down tools and tiptoe around for 2 hours each afternoon "lest they wake the baby" is ridiculous!

Put a note through your NDN door or speak to them to ask (or tell) them to stop coming round daily to harass the builders as it is an unreasonable request and these constant interruptions are unwelcome and they do not have your permission to keep knocking at your door for this purpose.

oldtableleg · 13/04/2022 10:29

Lol - no - it’s a completely ridiculous request 🤣

5zeds · 13/04/2022 10:29

Tell the builders to carry on regardless of o neighbour. Toddlers will get used to it.

ballsdeep · 13/04/2022 10:29

Absolutely ridiculous!!!

Justkeeppedaling · 13/04/2022 10:30

Not reasonable, and also ridiculous.
Also 4 year olds don't nap, they go to school.
Take the 2 go out for a drive or walk with pushchair if you want them to nap, but IME 2 year olds sleep through anything if they are tired enough.

dudsville · 13/04/2022 10:30

Just adding to your numbers. I agree it's an unreasonable request. I live in a neighbourhood where the bins are colected at 6:40 AM two times a week. I would also like the world to shift to accomodate the fact that I'd rather sleep in a little further, but sadly the world isn't going to od that. Thankfully this is a lesson I learned long time ago. A needs no to learn this lesson so that she can raise her children with accurate expectations of the world..

Ikeptgoing · 13/04/2022 10:30

Sorry an autocorrect changed meaning of my middle paragraph

I meant to write

Not before 7am and not after 6-7pm is not an unreasonable request, but their asking builders to down tools and tiptoe around for 2 hours each afternoon "lest they wake the baby" is ridiculous!