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Please, please, PLEASE help me with my upstairs neighbours and their builders. the builders are brutes, they spit on our stairs, flick fag ash everywhere, the whole hallway is a PIT and they utterly, utterly REFUSE to close the door of the flat upsta...

183 replies

Aitch · 18/08/2008 20:39

we've spoken to our neighbours about it (as have the people upstairs to them) and the builder has basically said that if they 'pander' to us then they won't finish the job on time. PANDER?! they are revolting, disgusting, the scum of the earth, i hate them. but our neighbours can't control them, no-one can...

and of course the noise and dust are bad, really bad, but somehow it would be easier to bear if they weren't being such utter cunts at the same time.

the work, by the way, is pulling down pretty much every internal wall of a massive victorian flat, moving kitchens, bathrooms, wetrooms etc. it's a massive job and we're the ones suffering the most because it's happening above us. (in fact, they've cracked our ceilings and WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH OUR INSURANCE cos they're refusing liability. we have photos, though).

we hear the noise above us and then a couple of milliseconds later we hear it amplified back through the hallway, like a big acoustic guitar. it's torture.

we can't live like this, it's impossible, me and dh both work from home and can't make a phone call during the day and dd is shaking every time the drilling starts. we've had to put her into nursery more so it's costing us money for them to do their work, never mind lost earnings.

i phoned the council and they've yet to phone me back... it's been a few days. does anyone have any experience of this? are there people i should be speaking to? please help, i'm going a bit mad with this. it's been three weeks and it's going to be at least another five, apparently.

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 18/08/2008 22:33

they're taking the piss.

also, it could be more than just a crack.

NO. don't claim just for peace of mind.

because it's going to cost you more than just your excess.

also, what if it's not just a superficial crack?

your insurance might also come back and say no, they deny coverage because it's the liability of the neighbour.

AND keep your excess and take away your no-claims.

MrsJohnCusack · 18/08/2008 22:34

hey why not just get expat to phone them up and put the frighteners on them

as ever, she talks good sense

expatinscotland · 18/08/2008 22:35

it's possible, though, nancy, especially because it's not a tenement, but a converted house.

needs to be checked out, anyhow.

on THEIR 10p, not yours.

nancy75 · 18/08/2008 22:35

expats right, your insurance co wont pay for it if they can get somebody else to pay! they will tell you straight away that its the fault of the neighbours

expatinscotland · 18/08/2008 22:35

honestly there is no need to be ugly, but they'll take the piss if you let them.

so some firmness and insistence, meted out in a purely professional tone, can't hurt.

berolina · 18/08/2008 22:37

When our upstairs neighbour in our previous-but-one flat caused water to gush through our ceiling he claimed on his insurance and they paid out. Not the same country, but I imagine these things work similarly everywhere.

Pannacotta · 18/08/2008 22:40

I think your insurers might accept a claim but then "counter claim" against the neighbour's insurers.
This happened to us when a plumber caused a bad leak in our house. We claimed and paid the excess but our insurers counter claimed, our excess was refunded by our insurers - but paid for by his insurance - if that makes sense?
In your case am not sure I would claim at all, call your insurers and explain exactly what has happened and see if they will offer any advice, if not then a solicitor can help - or even CAB maybe? Didnt know there was a "no claims bonus" for house insurance.

ahundredtimes · 18/08/2008 22:43

I'm forgeddingabout it. I am. But golly, I mean, really, my goodness.

Why don't they just close the fucking door? I don't understand that. It's a nightmare Aitch. I'm so sorry. Make noise.

KerryMum · 18/08/2008 22:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MARGOsBeenPlayingWithMyNooNoo · 18/08/2008 22:45

Have you any free legal advice with your insurance? Check your small print.

And flippin eck - what a way to make an announcement! My lips are sealed

Aitch · 18/08/2008 22:49

"Why don't they just close the fucking door?"

WHO CAN SAY??! because it's personal now, 100x. they are being pigs because they are being pigs. and tbh i suspect it's a bit for ventilation. they have all the windows open, but the amount of dust that's falling on our stuff (my beautiful 1920s cabinet etc) is phenomenal. i assume they'd rather it out than in. can't believe the fucking neighbours haven't come and cleaned up the mess outside ours even once.

OP posts:
Aitch · 18/08/2008 22:51

and while i'm moaning, they also use the upstairs landing for cutting their wood (which for some reason smells of shit) and so we are doused in foul chemicals and dust as well as dealing with the noise.

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 18/08/2008 22:52

and i can't believe they had the bald cheek to tell you a crack their builders put in your ceiling is YOUR problem to sort out.

yeah, that's really fucking nice!

i'd feel so bad if you were my neighbour.

i'd go clean it up and if the fucking builders didn't close the goddamn door i'd sack them.

also, they'd have signed a contract with penalties for running over a certain amount over schedule - did you see that last week on Channel 4 with a mediator helping out with builder/client disputes?

KerryMum · 18/08/2008 22:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ahundredtimes · 18/08/2008 23:00

Have I missed the bit where you said to neighbours 'This is not okay, don't fuck around with us. I want that shit outside my door tidied up once a week, and I want the door closed. If the builders won't do it, you have to make them' Do they just simper and shrug?

They are shits, you are right. My friend had horrid builders once who pooed in all the paint pots put out for decorator. I mean, just what's the point in that?

Am sorry sweet heart. Wish I could think of something you could do. The helplessness is almost as bad as the fact.

oops · 18/08/2008 23:03

Message withdrawn

poocrumbs · 18/08/2008 23:06

Have you considered Builder Led W**king?

giraffescantdancethetango · 18/08/2008 23:06

no advice but can offer tea and sympathy

and am really happy for you

littleducks · 18/08/2008 23:09

i have been sitting on my hands waiting for you to announce after the PPH loft thread, as my question was ignored carefully then!

CONGRATULATIONS

on a practical note, we had the same kind of work go on next door, all interior walls demolished and everything rebuilt, starting two days after ds was born, it was horrible....i would be tempted to try and put up now instead of having it happen with new baby, believe me bfing or trying to settle a little one when your toddler starts screaming in terror as the drill isnt fun

and have a back up plan as to where to stay if they arent finished, if i had known about the work before hand i would have moved out for a bit

VeniVidiVickiQV · 18/08/2008 23:19

Aww sweetie

I utterly sympathise. Some builders are utter pigs. Expat speaks lots of sense. You have to put yourself and your health and that of your family first. Your neighbours couldnt give a fuck. They arent living there. It's all very well playing 'nice' and not causing a hassle for them, but, they arent reciprocating in any way shape or form. In fact, it's their selfishness that has put you in the predicament of being concerned for their situation vs yours in the first place!

You cannot go on like this.

Aitch · 18/08/2008 23:28

we just had an email from the neighbours... saying that it's a hassle, yes, but that when we did work on our place we also caused hassle with noise and dust.

  1. they didn't live here. no-one currently in the building did. and we didn't fall out with anyone over it even when it went over-schedule, BECAUSE WE WERE INCREDIBLY APOLOGETIC AND CAME AND TIDIED ETC.
  1. the people above and below us were away for the summer... THAT'S WHY WE SCHEDULED THE WORK FOR THEN.

they seem to think there's a karmic element to this, the fuckers.

they also said they'd spoken to the guy upstairs and that 'he said a building meeting was unnecessary and he agreed that the work and the noise were unavoidable', making us the wanks and him the good guy.

upstairs neighbour's just come down to say that is NOT the message he was trying to convey, other than to say while the work was unavoidable, the noise and mess could be mitigated by proper management of the builders and that this was the responsibility of the neighbour doing the work. so he's been copied into the email and is going to answer with a clarification to that effect.

so where do i start? have phoned enviro health out of hours and hope to get a callback from them tomoz.

OP posts:
Aitch · 18/08/2008 23:43

oh, and the guy upstairs saw MN on my computer and said that his kids' mum uses it sometimes... so if you're recognising this story... i think we met on the stairs once. and you have a nicer buggy than i do.

OP posts:
BoysAreLikeDogs · 18/08/2008 23:50

Good luck, Aitch, sounds an awful situation, judging by your unusual spelling of tomorrow

Aitch · 18/08/2008 23:51

i'm coming apart at the seams...

OP posts:
S1ur · 19/08/2008 00:26

Aitch! Gosh I go away for a bit and all of a sudden your home has been posessed by mad blundering smokey oiks and you're about have a lovely little lower case!

I'm am very chuffed for you (and agree you are a surprisingly quiet fellow ) Ooooh now you've spilled will there be further information??????

As for fucky wankers. Grrr. Do you want me to come and give them The Stare? I have different settings y'know, would you require mild paralysis or total obliteration?

Failing that, they should have sought planning permission and have a building regs officer assigned. The council should be monitoring whether they adhere to the rules and regs including getting neighbours permission and cooperation. A bit tricker I suspect if in a flat but still environmental health are best bet and council to register a complaint.

look about niose pollution and stuff (not your area mind)

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