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Original poster

Neighbours and noise during building work

125 replies

lilcreed · 26/08/2019 13:05

Myself and partner bought a house 2 months ago that needs renovation. We both work full time so choose to do the quiet jobs in the evening (out of respect for our neighbours) and do the noisy jobs at the weekend as that is the only option we have.

Our neighbours are an older couple who were really friendly and supportive when we moved in, but have been a bit off with us lately. I keep catching them climbing the fence to look over into our garden and they have been really quiet.

Today we were doing noisy work and our front door was open. The neighbour marched in and said that enough was enough. Where do we stand on this?

We never work past 6pm and weekends are the only time when we can do things. We are a young couple and need to move on quite soon as my partners mum is downsizing. Thanks.

OP posts:
Jabbercocky · 26/08/2019 14:13

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BlockedAndDeleted · 26/08/2019 14:15

And not just every weekend including bank holidays, but every weekend in the prime summer months.

I do hope they report you to the council.

Otterseatpuffinsdontthey · 26/08/2019 14:16

q

CallmeAngelina · 26/08/2019 14:16

Jabbercocky, apt username there.
You sound rather unpleasant.

BookwormMe2 · 26/08/2019 14:17

Do not apologise to these people for acting within your rights.

Agree with your sentiments Jabbercocky wholeheartedly, OP should be able to renovate her house if she wants, but it sounds like she's not been keeping to the hours your contractors do and that's why there have been complaints. We renovated our house and I was militant about keeping to those hours because it's not fair on the people next door.

Original poster
lilcreed · 26/08/2019 14:21

@Oblomov19 we would rather builders too, trust me! Unless neighbours want to finance that there’s not a lot we can do!!

OP posts:
Original poster
lilcreed · 26/08/2019 14:21

@BlockedAndDeleted what an appropriate screen name! Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
lilcreed · 26/08/2019 14:22

We have completely been considerate. What would they rather? Us working in the evenings? We haven’t been working every single weekend

OP posts:
misspiggy19 · 26/08/2019 14:22

There has been 2 houses in my small street undertaking renovations. Both houses have worked every weekend and bank holidays. One starts at 8am. No one has batted an eyelid.

Some people have nothing better than to complain.

BookwormMe2 · 26/08/2019 14:22

we would rather builders too, trust me! Unless neighbours want to finance that there’s not a lot we can do!!

Sticking to the council rules about building work hours is surely a start?

BookwormMe2 · 26/08/2019 14:25

Just seen your last comment, OP - if you haven't been working every weekend and you're not doing loud banging into the evenings, then it sounds like you are being considerate. Maybe it's just the Bank Holiday noise that's set them off.

rosedream · 26/08/2019 14:30

I would pop round with a bunch of flowers and a card. Say you are very sorry for the disturbance and give them a tentative date when the noisy stuff will be done by. That way they can see an end.
You are doing nothing wrong and unfortunately they just have to put up but showing understanding may smooth the edges a bit.

Sorrysorrysosorry · 26/08/2019 14:32

We wouldn’t be doing it every weekend if we didn’t have 6 weeks to be in by. It’s difficult circumstances. We both work full time.

Not your neighbours fault. If you have disturbed them every weekend for the last couple of months no wonder they have had enough!

SweetNorthernRose · 26/08/2019 14:45

Wow @Jabbercocky you sound delightful. Easy not to worry about pissing people off when you don't actually have to live in the property.
And for all your apparent knowledge I'd suggest brushing up on what corporation tax is...

Anyway OP I don't think you sound like you've been overly unreasonable with the amount of work you're doing, but you would probably have made your life easier if you had forewarned your neighbours beforehand as to the work you were intending to do and how long it was likely to go on for.
I think a bunch of flowers and an apology would help smooth things over. Believe me, you don't want to be on bad terms with your neighbours before even moving in, it will only make living there unpleasant.

katmarie · 26/08/2019 14:47

It's not really your neighbour's problem that you've bought a house requiring significant renovation without having the budget to do that work with the least disruption to your neighbours. But you are making it their problem. To be honest I can understand their frustration if the noise has been going on all day, both days of the weekend for several weeks. I would be pissed off by now as well. If you want to maintain any relationship with them I would be thinking hard about what you can do to mitigate the impact of your remaining work on them. And I say this as someone who's had to carry out a major house renovation on a tight budget to a deadline, so I understand the pressures. But good neighbours are worth their weight in gold. It's a relationship worth investing in if you're planning on living there long term.

HappyHammy · 26/08/2019 15:01

Maybe jabber you could offer to spend money on improving the houses in your own street, that would help people who cant afford massive renovations and possibly increase the property prices.

OrchidInTheSun · 26/08/2019 15:03

Neither you nor jabbercocky are 'well within your rights' as most councils ban noisy work after 1pm on Saturday, all day Sunday and bank holidays.

I hope the neighbours report all of you to the council - so inconsiderate.

As for increasing the value of my property - GrinGrin

HappyHammy · 26/08/2019 15:09

Theres a difference between renovations to a house you want to live in and "property developers" who buy up cheap, do up cheap and sell at the highest price they can, it might put prices up but can also price people out. Telling neighbours to put up or shut up doesn't win you any favours.

CallmeAngelina · 26/08/2019 15:11

Not sure why jabbercocky thinks her investment properties' neighbours should be grateful to her for disrupting the quiet enjoyment of their homes, purely to line her own pocket.

Original poster
lilcreed · 26/08/2019 15:38

Thanks for your opinions and advice. Smile @HappyHammy I didn’t think about the option of my partner swapping his working days. That might be doable and will be a solution for all. Thank you.

OP posts:
Hopoindown31 · 26/08/2019 15:43

What you are doing is quite reasonable. Of course if you are doing major work yourselves you are going to be at it every weekend for a period of time. Perhaps you can find one weekend in four to do quieter jobs if you really want to.

HappyHammy · 26/08/2019 15:44

You'll get there eventually and have a lovely home. Good neighbours are so important and dont forget to invite them to the housewarming party.Wine

sunshinesupermum · 26/08/2019 15:44

JabberCocky I was almost with you until this When she eventually sold up and trousered the extra profit my works had yielded for her, I doubt she declared that she was running a business from the premises and paid the Corporation Tax she would have been liable for as a result.

What makes you think the extra profit was due to your works? It wasn't on her house and how long had she lived there anyway (while prices were rising)?

You're just another wanker developer. Wonder how much tax you avoid!

UndomesticHousewife · 26/08/2019 15:52

I live in a very quiet area but if someone was doing their house up I wouldn't say anything. House renovations in the street can only be a good thing for the area and it doesn't go on forever.
If you were thinking of doing work every weekend for the next two years then yes it's a problem . 6 weeks shouldn't be a huge issue.

Go round there with a gift, apologise and explain the situation and what you are planning to make it better. It's worth it as you have to live there next door to these people and it's better to get on as much as you can.

cookiemonster5 · 26/08/2019 15:58

I lived through 9 months of diy every day from 4pm when he got home from work and then every weekend and any bank holidays. It was hell. And even though he was sticking to the legal times (we after a visit from the police and environments health go stop the 6am starts and 10.30pm finishes) he was in fact breaking the law.

Your neighbours have a right to quiet enjoyment. And you have the right to work on your house. But when your work extends beyond what is reasonable and affects your neighbours constantly then you are on very thin ground.

Be very apologetic, discuss with them how long you have to go, agree times and a deadline and rope in as many people as you can to finish it quicker or suck it up, find the money and hire help.

You don't want to end up like my old neighbours. By the time they had finished the house they had to put it straight back on the market and move because the relations with the entire street and the street at the back of the properties was so bad due to the constant noise they were the most hated people ever and no one would even acknowledge them by the end.