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Original poster

Building noise - what’s reasonable?

16 replies

Railwayroad · 10/02/2023 22:08

We’re having a big extension on house. A wrap around. Builders start at 8 and finish around 4.30-5pm. No weekends. It’s a big noisy job and we’re in a semi detached. Neighbour works at home. He’s already complained and we’re in week one!

what’s reasonable? I get that it disturbs him but it’s time limited and will finish in a couple of months.

OP posts:

WoolyMammoth55 · 10/02/2023 22:36

I'd say those hours sound ok - when we were extending our builders had a 'no noisy works before 9am' rule, they got here at 8 and prepped but didn't smash stuff until then... :)

This is the guidance: www.gov.uk/guidance/noise-nuisances-how-councils-deal-with-complaints#noise-from-construction-works

I think it is hellish for the neighbours and wonder if you could make a gesture like contribute to a desk-space hire in a nearby shared office? We are in the sticks but have lots of reasonably priced options for freelancers near us, like £120/month. It'd be a nice gesture to maintain neighbourly relations?

You're within your rights to extend your home, but he's well within his rights to complain about the noise and disruption (and the dust - you may need to get his windows washed for him, the dust gets everywhere!)

Lcb123 · 10/02/2023 22:38

Check your local councils website. As a courtesy I’d either speak to or drop a note to your neighbours so they know the estimated duration of the work, and give them your mobile number and ask them to contact you if they are bothered by the noise. For example - building noise wouldn’t bother me but builders having loud radio on would be very annoying

Mrssillylegs · 10/02/2023 22:40

The noisiest job of all is scaffolding! And builders who shout over their shitty loud screaming radio.

We lived next to a building site for a year 😢 it was hell. I feel for your neighbours.

Dust and noise was so bad. We need a loft conversion soon and I'm worried about upsetting our neighbour but needs must :(

DogInATent · 10/02/2023 22:43

Did you talk to him about it before you started? Did even half a thought pass trough your head about the potential disruption it might cause others?

He works from home and you're going to disrupt him 5 days a week for a couple of months, yet you dismiss it like it's nothing. You sound far too entitled about the significant disruption you're inflicting on others.

Original poster

Railwayroad · 10/02/2023 22:45

Thanks.I have to admit to having little sympathy for him. He’s not a very nice man. We have put up with his shouting at his wife and loud music for years. I do plan to get his windows cleaned and will give him a bottle of wine and a card when it’s finished though.

OP posts:

escapingthecity · 10/02/2023 22:46

Did you tell them about it in advance? Share plans with them? Share a project outline so they can maybe choose to go away during the noisiest parts? Have you blatantly bribed them with lovely flowers/chocolates/wine? Have you told the builders to keep noise including radios to a minimum? If not YABU.
Like a PP said, you're entitled to do this to your home but he's entitled to feel pissed off about it as he's not going to benefit from the end result.

Original poster

Railwayroad · 10/02/2023 22:47

DogInATent · 10/02/2023 22:43

Did you talk to him about it before you started? Did even half a thought pass trough your head about the potential disruption it might cause others?

Yes I did tell him.

yes I did think about it. Are you suggesting we can’t do building work at our own house?

OP posts:

LadyJ2023 · 10/02/2023 22:53

Erm they are the legal hours for builders to work so can't complain really

Original poster

Railwayroad · 10/02/2023 22:55

Thanks

OP posts:

DogInATent · 10/02/2023 22:57

Railwayroad · 10/02/2023 22:47

Yes I did tell him.

yes I did think about it. Are you suggesting we can’t do building work at our own house?

Show quote history

You've the right to do the building work. You've the responsibility to think about how it will affect others. A couple of months of continuous weekday building noise is not reasonable without mitigation. As a PP has suggested, some respite time in a rent-a-desk facility would be a reasonable offer.

Unless you really want a formal complaint to go in. Which you'd have to declare if/when you come to sell.

Headstones250 · 10/02/2023 22:57

My attached neighbours are doing a major refurb at the moment. The dust covering my car and house / windows has been worse than the noise. I would appreciate a car cleaning voucher and maybe the offer of a lick of paint on the sills when they do their frontage later this year.

Youdoyoubabe · 10/02/2023 22:59

It is so annoying... but one has to put up with it. Send them round a nice case of wine or a voucher for a stay at lovely hotel or something.

Original poster

Railwayroad · 10/02/2023 23:09

@DogInATent he’s seen the plans, he said crack on’. I introduced him to the builder. I took his wife some flowers.

I won’t be paying for desks etc. he’s not a nice man but I do the bare minimum to avoid a war. He won’t make a formal complaint. We have enough counter complaints to last a lifetime.

thanks for the info about the hours all.

OP posts:

FirstRenovator · 10/02/2023 23:13

You are entitled to make noise as long as you are within the stipulated hours of the planning permission. I wouldn’t feel bad, engaging them just gives them more ammunition esp if you do decide to share detailed plans with them as then they will want you to stick to the plan dates and to give them notice when it deviates. Unexpected things crop up which causes delays, you don’t want to constantly having to update them of delays.

I would simply give them updates if required on where you are at or when you entering the next stage of required, and if there is loud work like steel beams then might be wise to let them a week or so know in advance. Totally get your neighbour is irritated however at the same time you need to do get your own stuff done so there is always a conflict of interest which cannot be resolved. You are entitled to do all this work as you have planning permission so I don’t think you are feeling entitled at all.

one of our neighbours are an absolute nightmare - we tried to engage them however the more we did the worse they got as they feel like there is a channel to moan and complain about absolutely anything, including stuff like the skip being unloaded and it’s too noisy. They have even intruded our property and yelled at our builders for making too much construction noise. Sorry to say but the situation won’t be improved for the first few months as the work will get noisier when they dig and also when you get the steel beams on. They won’t be grateful if you delay your work or when it’s quiet work going on but will complain regardless when it’s noisy, this is from our experience. They just suck energy from you and you still got a long way to go.

What I do suggest is that you ask your builders to keep unnecessary noise to the minimal e.g. radio, shouting, yelling so that at least you have tried to minimise noise. Also, if you are to give updates, give individual updates and not via a group chat etc, they will just feed off each other and gang up.

Good luck with the renovations, we also had complaints on day 1 so know how you feel.

Africa2go · 10/02/2023 23:15

Have you tried to work at home at all? I think that's a bit of an eye opener about the builders. Yes they might be only cranking up the noise from equipment from 9am, but are they shouting to each other, f'ing and blinding, playing a loud radio etc at 8am?

I also think if it's a big extension like you say there is no way it's 2 months work. As everyone has said it's a pain in the neck living next door to a building site. That's not to say you're not entitled to extend your house. I think it's about putting yourself in his shoes and being considerate.

ScaredSceptic · 11/02/2023 00:17

I WFH full time. Yes it would be extremely disruptive if my neighbour was having building work done. However, as long as the work was happening during reasonable hours, I really wouldn't expect my neighbour to have to pander to me because I happen to WFH - it's not their problem and they are allowed to do work to their property.

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