How to deal with nightmare renovation work at a rented flat

[Nightmarebuilder]

My partner and I rent a first floor flat and the owner of the flat above has been renovating for over a year. The builders have caused all sorts of problems such as:

• they've left building equipment and rubbish all over the place, to the front and back of the property. There's no obstruction but it's all over and is a real eyesore, plus it means when I step outside I'm on a building site. Can't use the front or back gardens for this reason
• they keep throwing large items from the roof to the ground at the back of the property which means I need to check if work is in progress before going outside. This seems very dangerous to me, and also loud
• They have some sort of equipment tied to the top of the scaffolding which swings from a rope. It makes me nervous walking under it, but also it makes a loud noise slamming into the scaffolding. They leave it like this overnight and weekends
• They've been playing loud music and sitting in the front garden on breaks (don't mind the sitting obvs but the music is obnoxious)

Nobody seems to want to deal with this, the upstairs flat owner doesn't want to know and my landlord is useless. Is this normal and I should just get on with things? Or can anyone advise on how to address this? I feel like the've taken over our home.

This sounds like a nightmare, I wonder if the council might be worth talking to, given the safety aspect?

How frustrating @Nightmarebuilder . It sounds like you've been thoroughly fobbed off.

Take photos of the building site for proof. Video the builders if you can safely.

Have you complained to your rental agent properly in writing? I know they're often a bit toothless but you are entitled to peaceful enjoyment of your home and there's the safety issue, too. Talk to the Citizens Advice Bureau and Shelter for guidance. Be prepared for a battle but know your rights first.

Have you ever spoken to the builders, too? If you have, what's their response? You sound a bit passive and they've been allowed to do whatever they want. The site sounds frankly dangerous. Tell them you will be forced to complain to the council if necessary.

If that fails, I would talk to building control. Emphasise the lack of safety. Was planning permission required? Working on a flat for over a year sounds like major structural work rather than cosmetic work.

Thanks @Apopos its been a shocker! I’ve spoken to environmental health and building control and neither of them are able to help with these issues as they’re outside their remit

thanks @Wizzywoo18 we have written formally to the rental company who were indeed toothless. Building control can’t help apparently, environmental health came out and are helping correct one issue (the total list of grievances is considerably longer than this one!), but nobody can help with the issues I listed above.

I’ll try CAB and Shelter though as I hadn’t thought of contacting them.

We have spoken to the builders multiple times, they say the right thing then do what they want. Also heard them laughing about the complaints many times so they seem to be enjoying the issues they’re causing.

Pay some kids to steal the building equipment yhats just been left out, it will serve them right. Suprised no scrap man has taken it!

I would ask your LL for a rental reduction as you cannot use the gardens that you pay for, should get them to do something at the very least.

@Larrythecatforpm I know, shocked nobody has helped themselves to it yet, just my luck.

the landlord has given a small reduction but to be honest I just want my nice home back.

Is there a management company for the flats at all? Would definitely be worth complaining to them if so.

Do you know how long they have left? i would be putting pressure on your LL and maybe ask for a bigger reduction and tell him the noise etc is really inconvenient and you didn’t expect it to go on for this long. Pressure them to pressure the other owner only way round it unfortunately.

The HSE might take an interest

Thanks @OhBotherSaidPoo I’ll look into this

@Larrythecatforpm they’ve probably got more than 6 months left of work.

the owner of the flat has zero interest in complaints. He has ignored them all and refused to engage in discussions. The one time someone was able to get him on the phone he screamed at them and said he didn’t want to know.

it’s crazy how such bad behaviour can go unchecked, what they’re doing seems to fall just outside every council department’s remit so nobody wants to step in.

@Nightmarebuilder It sounds like you're otherwise happy with your flat but I'd like to see your LL find a new tenant with these builders on site. I wouldn't rent somewhere with all the noise and the garden turned into a dumping ground.

Throwing stuff from above is completely unacceptable and highly dangerous. You need to report that to the council and HSE immediately. They should have a "chute" that looks like a load of plastic bins tied together for sending rubbish etc down to ground level.

@Badbadbunny thanks I’ll look into who I can report to at hse. The council don’t seem interested

Safety enforcement always falls either under local EH or the HSE. Since your EH has told you it isn’t them in this scenario, it must be the HSE. You can make a report online but it might be more useful to phone.
They won’t be able to help with the noise nuisance or the mess in the gardens, but they’ll be interested in unsafe use of a scaffold including throwing things from the top. Get photos and video evidence if you can.

Sounds like a nightmare situation.
if I was you OP - you shouldn’t have to - but I’d be looking to move asap.

Who owns the freehold to the building? Can you speak to them? This is in their interests.

Throwing large items from the roof is a
major health and safety hazard. What if you’re leaving /entering the property and they throw without realising you are there?

Nothing your landlord can really do apart from speak to the owners - which it would be in their best interest to - so that no damage is made to their property…