Builders sleeping in neighbours flat during refurbishment

[CoffeeIsMyLastName]

My upstairs neighbours have their builders staying in their flat while my neighbours are away. Is this normal? Am I wrong in finding this strange? Now I not only have to put up with building noise during the day, I now also have to accept a bunch of strangers staying in my building all night (small block of flats)? They are noisy as well past 11pm (no surprise, it's a bunch of guys). I was not told by my neighbours that this would happen. Would you say something?

My neighbour's builders are sometimes camped out there overnight.

Unless there's a restrictive covenant in the lease, I don't think you can complain (except about the noise - ask them to keep it down after 11pm)

I'm not sure why you would have any say in who stays in your neighbour's flat? They surely have the right to have people stay there, builders or otherwise?

Noise past 11pm you can be irked about so perhaps just have a quick word and ask them to keep it down

If they didn't tell you, it would have been courteous for you neighbours to tell you they had building works going on

Just ask them if they would be a little bit quieter after 10pm. Nothing wrong with them staying there if they are allowed

I can’t see there’s an issue, other than if their level of late night noise is anti-social, you could mention it.

Ok no worries

Thanks all. Take care

I never heard of anyone having their builders stay in their flat during works, but apparently my neighbours feel the same way as you are. I think it is odd. Thanks for your responses.

I would be concerned that it might be indicative of modern day slavery but I'm sure people will be along to tell me I'm being ridiculous

I think my upstairs neighbours are just trying to save money by getting non local guys (we're in North-East-London) from other parts of the country and offered them to stay over night. It would have been nice to be informed. The guys seem nice to be fair, now that I talked to them today, so I won't worry about it as much. We have asked them to be more considerate late at night. It's okay. It looks all legit too, so that's fine.. I will try and forget about it now.

I don't think it's odd at all and my builders recently stayed at my house during renovations. I'd used them in a previous property and then relocated across London but wanted them to work on my new place as they're so good. To save them doing 1.5hr commutes each way they tended to stay at the house during the week. Also meant they could work much later - doing non-noisy things like painting - and get the works done quicker which worked for both of us.

I would be a bit surprised by this but would assume my neighbour gave them permission so it's their business really.

Sounds like you have it sorted. A friend of mine had workmen from where she was living for work go to sort out her London flat ( a tenant had trashed it 🙁) because it was much cheaper than London rates even if she'd have been able to find anyone to do the work- the lads got free digs in London for their evenings and days off, so they were happy too- and she could trust them to do the job properly when she wasn't there because she knew them.

It will be this. One of my neighbours is a builder and is currently working on a job in London. He leaves Monday morning and gets home Friday.

Bit weird, but unlikely there is any reason they can't be doing it - as long as your neighbour knows.

I'm really confused why it's your business