Realistically what can our lawyer WFH neighbours do to stop our (noisy) building work

[SpotOnMyBot]

We are undergoing a massive renovation project on the house. This was 100% necessary - there were 2 extensions at the back of the house that were falling down (attached to their side) that were always going to need to be rebuilt.

We have been going for only 4 weeks and we've already had 2 letters from the one set of neighbours complaining about absolutely everything from mess to noise based on the reasoning that they WFH permanently and find it 'unfair' that we have noisy works going on.

They've now escalated their letter and told us that they will 'take action' if we don't take action immediately (not sure what action we can take - what it seems they would like is for us to stop work every day so they can have some peace and quiet).

We've made sure the builders only operate in the considerate constructor hours, the builders have said they will clean their roof (this is one of their issues about the mess) but that their roof is covered in moss so they are only willing to clean the dust off it. The neighbours are claiming they are working outside hours and making more 'mess than is necessary' and not cleaning it up. They may arrive before 8am but they don't start work till after 8am - they claim this is not good enough as they sleep till after 8am and workmen arriving before 8am is too early for them.

They want to take legal action but I'm not sure what they can do - does anyone know? Given they are both lawyers, they will have the means and the ability to do this so we want to be careful! It is noisy now as they are having to demolish things but it will get less noisy as time goes on - we have told them this but they are not interested.

I agree with this! Most of the houses in my street are student HMOs and are always getting new roofs and windows. There is building works and skips somewhere on the street all year round.

While the banging is annoying, it's the builders singing and shouting and generally being loud that is far more irritating. The roofers doing the house opposite all through the first lockdown basically had a karaoke every day.

Day in day out for 8 weeks I’d say it’s not just regular noise - obviously depends what exactly the builders are doing, where and for how long. Op isn’t there. If there is a restriction on hours worked then neighbours submitting photos of work vans at x time daily in breach of hours could be a hassle for op - she’d be arguing they weren’t working but she’s not there.

Sorry - it was meant as a joke (from an ex-lawyer! )

Tell them you'll ask the builders to smash bricks more quietly

This! Are they sending you communication from their workplace or personal methods, because I am sure the senior partners would not be appreciative of them doing it from the firms email or on the forms letter head.

I would reply back saying you feel you are being intimidated and harassed

No offence just never known anyone to let on they were for fear of being cornered!

Is it actual threatening or a your builders are causing debris to land on our property and at the property outside the hours permitted by council and if you persist we reserve right to take further action type letter.
I imagine it’s that more the latter type.

Having put up with the noise of several massive building projects on houses close to me I have sympathy for your neighbours. None of mine communicated with any neighbours, and they all lived elsewhere while their months long builds dragged on. Builders coming earlier than 8am - but not starting work - added extra stress as the vans pulling up, doors slamming, unloading still woke me up and was a horrid way to start the day. Weekends as well as weeks days. Maybe show a bit of flexibility and genuinely have the builders stick to the 8am rules that most councils have? Everyone gets that buildings will create noise but honestly for weeks and months on end it really does wreck your well being. Specially when the owners are off somewhere nice and quiet till all the awful bits are done. Hard to dredge up any zen I found.

What's with cleaning the roof - doesn't the rain do that?

I'd maybe engage a window cleaner to go round weekly and do their roof and windows. It won't cost you much but will save your builders doing it and be cheaper than neighbours getting someone in

Most lawyers worked in the office before the pandemic, and firms are very different in their levels of enthusiasm for continued wfh. I am wfh and have to factor in the convenience (to sleep later for a start) and the inconvenience of having to put up with neighbours / street noise. If they start throwing their weight around by playing the lawyer card I would respond by replying to them at their firm highlighting their complaint that they are having to get out of bed early and can't concentrate all day. Most law firms will be happy to have their staff back in the office if a suitable home working arrangement can't be found.

I'd be tempted to talk to their bosses at whichever legal practice they work for, about their bullying.

I’m not a legal expert but in cases like this if no laws or building regs are breached a judge will look at what’s reasonable. It is reasonable to make necessary or just desired alterations to your property for a reasonable length of time. You seem to be reasonable and taking steps to ensure there are no legal breaches. Keep a diary and record what happens daily if possible. Record all conversations and outcomes with neighbours and any gestures you make to attempt to appease them. Then If they do then take some kind of action you already have your case built

Guessing if its moss covered and such a big deal, its a flat roof, so no the rain won't clean it. (Pitched roof can also get moss build up, but you would think rain would rinse off dust. Other bits would get washed off.. but into gutters and downpipes so shouldn't be left.)

That's 8 weeks (and 4 months) of doing hearings over the phone where the judge and client can hear building works, that's 8 weeks (and 4 months) of client meetings where they can be as r your builders radio etc.

8 weeks ago it was really bloody hot, can you imagine working from home with no windows open?

You need to speak to them and apologise

This is so right. They know what kind of language to use to alarm you but they have no more access to special laws than Joe Bloggs.

So they need to find a proper place to work

Living near a huge job being done is painful but it happens.

Make sure your builders are keeping everywhere as tidy as is reasonable.

Do NOT touch their roof.
You are asking for trouble.

It is reasonable to be considerate of them as 6-8 is a long time for demolition noise, hard to believe it would take that long.

I too would look into the SRA if they are using their profession to harrass you about a planning authority approved, necessary house renovation.

Keep those cameras going.

Be as considerate as possible but if the letters continue inform them by letter that you will be making a complaint against them to the SRA.
You will have all of their letters as proof.

Dust is a part of building work, but your builders should be tidying up after themselves as much as possible every day and keep the site tidy..

And there's the fact that over the building work you have

Singing to the radio
Talking about getting smashed in the pub
Talking about penis size
Smoking weed every 20 mins
Smoking normal cigarettes constantly
Making my house smell like cannabis
Shouting about drugs and alcohol

can't work from home when they've got client meetings because of that or hearing or meetings with judges over the phone.

Whilst it is important to try and stay on good terms with them, it is absolutely not your problem that their employers are too tight to pay for an office. If they are always there during the allowed building hours I don't see what they are expecting? You can't make drilling quieter.

Echoing the advice about NOT touching there roof!

their 🙄

Sorry but 5-8 weeks of demolition work in a domestic setting is not reasonable - I'm guessing the builders aren't at it constantly? I've demolished a whole house in far less time

Errr, that's anti-social whether you're talking to the highest judge on the planet, or hanging your washing on the line.

And I'm pretty sure offices have building work around them...including even building where lawyers work.

My neighbour sent thoughtful gifts to neighbours on both sides (including us) during their renovation period. We WFH and tbh it was very disrupting, but we never complained because of their gesture (they felt sorry for the noise and disruption and we understood the project was important for them)

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