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.

[bodie1890]

Their WFH doesn't trump your rights to have the works done.

However, you know you are inconveniencing them, so the decent thing to do is try and meet half way and compromise/ do what you can to make it easy as possible for them.

That doesn't mean you don't have the work done - but you could for example tell the builders to arrive at 8am and not before? Compromise.

[fyn]

I would highly recommend doing as best as you can to take a photographic record of the condition of their house now if you haven’t already. Just in case they try to claim damage etc…

[Swg]

Hubs tend to be designed for networking which means people can hear each other. I’d be very hesitant to do anything involving sensitive material in a hub - and for a lawyer that’s likely to be a lot.

[MissLucyEyelesbarrow]

@theemmadilemma

It's part and parcel of life. Both DH and I wfm, next door started a 3 month extension not long after we moved in. They warned us, and that was all we could really expect.

The builders worked fairly reasonable hours and we were lucky that no dirt came our way, but had it I know they would have been reasonable about it. The noise though was a pain as they had people up and down between our houses all day long setting the dogs off! But again, not their issue. We sucked it up because that's all you can do.

We actually have a great relationship with them. People are within their rights to build as long as they stay within the rules and regulations. People WFH have to accept that residential noise is to be expected and have ways to cope.

Agree with all of this. I'm a shift worker, so I often have to try to sleep through building work etc. You just have to suck it up - the world doesn't stop because you work nights or WFH.

I would take reasonable steps - as suggested by PPs - to try to keep the NDNs on side, but I wouldn't beat myself up about them being unhappy, as long as you are being as considerate as possible

[TooMuchBureaucracy]

As PP have said, I would remind them of the importance of "not abusing their position by taking unfair advantage of clients or others" which could include neighbours without legal knowledge. Might shut them up for a bit.

www.sra.org.uk/solicitors/standards-regulations/code-conduct-solicitors/

You're not clients so you need the SRA not the legal ombudsman. The SRA would be unlikely to do anything formal (depending on how threatening the letters are of course) but may make a phone call.

Of course if I were them i'd never forgive a neighbour who did this so swings and roundabouts.

[NewHouseNewMe]

Are you in the City of London? I know they’re very hot on noise disturbance and try to encourage neighbours and builders to reach a compromise. They can also restrict the standard building hours hugely for very noisy work if it affects nearby businesses - which as WFH solicitors your neighbours may claim to be. One example I’ve heard of was 10-12 and 14-16 for the noisiest work.

[SeeYouNextTLol]

I have to get up earlier than 8am on days off at the weekend! They definitely won’t be thinking about having kids if they can’t handle life and noise before 8am and after 🤣

[venus7]

@SpotOnMyBot

yes of course, all legalities done properly (party wall all finished, had to get an amendment done as it turned out between their solicitor and ours, they did the wrong agreement first of all, but all sorted now).

I don't think we are doing anything indecent. We have lived through loads of building works in this house and the one before that. I just can't see why their WFH trumps the right to do the works that are absolutely 100% necessary. No one else is complaining. They have been really difficult from the start so we expected this but I don't appreciate increasingly threatening legal letters from people, especially when most of their claims have no substance. We are pleasant and friendly and bowing down to some of their demands but there isn't too much more that we can do.

'loads of building work in this house'? So there has been previous work? They may be reaching saturation point!

[DanceItOut]

As someone who shared a wall with neighbours having revocation works done earlier this year while trying to write my final thesis and work from home I sympathise with your neighbours. However, at no point did I send letters of complaint to my neighbours or kick up a fuss because as annoying as the noise was it was necessary and I need to maintain a nice relationship with my neighbours. At some point in future maybe my kids will be loud or maybe I will have some building work done or something and need them to be forgiving to me. Besides as annoying as the noise is if you are doing everything by the book legally and making the effort to minimise distribution to neighbours then they really can’t do anything about it.

[cherish123]

Presumably they could go into the office to work. Building work is annoying but you are entitled to have work done within normal working hours.

[cherish123]

P.S. your builders will have to clear up any mess

[Grrrrdarling]

@SpotOnMyBot

they aren't complaining about the builders being noisy in terms of music/talking/smoking, they just want the actual building works to be less noisy (and there is nothing we can do about it). Any delay in those works means it will just take longer as this has to be done (or the back of the house will fall down).

They would be laughed out of court & them wanting their roof cleaned down every day is beyond stupid. Do they get up there & scrape off every bit of bird crap that is deposited int heir roof on a daily basis too?
Give them a date when the works should be completed by, say you will have the dust & nothing else cleaned off their roof & leave it at that. They are being complete & utter a’holes!

[Aesop45]

I think they are being unreasonable, yes it’s a pain in the arse but it’s temporary. I’m sure if it were the other way around they wouldn’t see such an issue with everything.

[UniversalAunt]

‘Rosehugger · Yesterday 14:11
^it's v tricky bringing them down without bringing theirs down so it's quite complicated work and takes a bit of time.

Hope you have a party wall agreement with them then.’

This.

We have major works in progress next door.
The new owner has gone above & beyond what the party wall agreement process requires. Keeping everyone next to & above the works informed & consideration has obviously been a priority.

When the hammering & drilling starts at 08:00, it’s not such a bother as we have all been briefed about the plans, progress & delays. The new owner has undertaken some minor works on adjacent properties beyond what is required for the works & keeping a tidy site. So frequent sweeping of the detritus & dust, & removing moss from your neighbour’s roof at the same time is a small consideration.

Even if they don’t have a legal case to stop or delay the works, if they are pissed off enough by lack of consideration they may pay for legal letters etc just to tie you up.

This is an exercise in diplomacy, & remember they will be your neighbours once work is finished.

[kay1bee]

Tell them to get up earlier like most of the working world... How precious they are! They can't be very busy, with all that time to write letters to you, so that's why they have the luxury of getting up late. And library or IT café suggestion is a good one!

Why are their needs greater than yours? Why should you pander to their whims to 'keep the peace'? They're the ones creating a war zone; leave them to it. I would never let myself be pushed round by prima donna neighbours; it's my neighbourhood too (I'm well-behaved, by the way 😄).

Sending threatening letters is unacceptable; they are more out of order for trying to intimidate you than your builders are for doing their job. Keep a record of all their requests, ready for when they have building works...

[Missingpop]

Tell them to fuck off they’re a pair of snow flakes Christ my neighbour stayed at 7every morning 7days a week & would finish at 11 every night; ok he’s a dick head & was doing it all himself (think bodge the builder) this went on for 6 months in the end; after checking in my area they can work from 8am to 8pm hope their solicitor charges them a small fortune just to tell them there’s nothing they can do

[AlecTrevelyan006]

give them an inch and they’ll take a mile

dont give in to any of their demands

they have no legal leg to stand on

[EscapeIntoABook]

Tell them 4 weeks is nothing!

My neighbours (one is a builder) have been renovating since February 2020, I kid you not.

They've had two extensions go up, two loft conversions done, a gigantic garden office built, random internal walls knocked down and RSJs put in (that is a LOUD process), building rubbish burnt in their garden during lockdown when no one could leave their house for more than an hour, mini diggers re-landscaping their garden. They have never pre-warned us, bar planning permission with a generic this will happen sometime soon for the extensions. Tbf we only asked the council for advice but we've been told as long as it's not outside 7am to 11pm they can do whatever they want, Monday to Sunday 😫. Do your neighbours want to swap houses? I'll live next to you!

[ellyeth]

Provided they are not working outside of regulatory hours, I'm not sure there is anything they can do about it. I don't think shouting or noisy radios can be prevented either, though I would hope that your builders behave with consideration.

Unless the work will be going on for months and months, I think they are being rather unreasonable even though I accept it must be very annoying having to put up with the noise and dust. A few years ago our neighbours had major building works and it was quite disruptive but we wouldn't have dreamt of complaining.

[Dixiechickonhols]

If you are sure you are fully compliant then crack on. Double check whether any further restrictions by your council for your street - if not stick to your guns 8am is a permitted start time and ignore them. Document if you can eg photos of their roof in case they claim debris has damaged it. I'd make builders aware they are not to deviate there have been neighbour complaints. Make sure builders are on top of licences and permits for skips, scaffolding etc - if they are fed up with all the works one way to hinder you is to report your scaffolding if it's obstructing the highway etc.

[NewYorkLassie]

Have been in this exact situation, complete with lawyer neighbour next door sending batshit crazy letters. As long as you stick to party wall agreement and any requirement from the local authority regarding working hours then there’s nothing your neighbour can do. Just crack on.

[Meanderingpuppy]

They can probably only sleep in until 8am because they work from home, but working from home also has the downside that you are at home during the hours your neighbours have their building work. Sounds like you are being more than reasonable.

[drpet49]

@cherish123

Presumably they could go into the office to work. Building work is annoying but you are entitled to have work done within normal working hours.

This. They sound like bullies

[Kjpt140v]

I bet it's hell living next to that noise.

[Sidking]

As far as I know, nothing. We also WFH and recently had building works going on next door (terraced) and it literally sounded like they were in our kitchen with their power tools for about 2 months. But we never complained, it was clear the work needed doing!

I'm not sure what people expect from builders, it's hardly a job that can be done quietly 😂