Building noise and being a bad neighbour - big conundrum! Post Reply

[dandelion53]

Our neighbours are doing the same to us at the moment and yes the noise was unbearable at first but it soon quietens down once the major stuff is done.
We've had about 3 months of it so far and they have been far less considerate than you are trying to be. They work long hours and they have worked weekends too!! I know they aren't supposed to but that's another issue...
So I would really like a neighbour who limited their builders to 8-5 mon - fri. I think they are allowed to work saturday mornings too.
Obviously I'm not unwell but what you are talking about is perfectly reasonable and will of course get the job done quicker and the noise will go away quicker!
Its really hard to live next to, especially when people do loads at once and it goes on and on, the drilling noise has nearly tipped me over the edge a few times but I also understand that they are entitled to do it!
The fact that your neighbour is unwell is really sad but not something you change your building works for. If you know him well, you could offer to help in other ways? If not, you may have to just shrug and feel quietly guilty...

[BalhamMumWorkingFT]

A gift of ear plugs with an apology note should be enough (could also include a bottle of wine for good measure). Our neighbours and us have done the same to each other.. it is called London living and if too much... he shouldn't be here. (sorry, only limited sympathy in this situation)

[supergirl]

Our neighbour did the same to us. 16 weeks divided into 10 weeks of huge hell and 8 weeks of bearable noise. We have two young children who still have a 2-3hrs nap in afternoons.
Our neighbour gave us warning that he was to start the work late july early august, so even though it was not very convenient (and more expensive) we took the bulk of our summer hols in august. It was good timing as the beginning part (when opening roof and putting steal beams are the noisiest). For the rest, we agreed that they would schedule the noisy part of their work everyday before 1pm and after 3pm. The manager of the builders and our neighbour told us that this could be done, they could organise themselves as they were aware of it from the beginning. So in the end, even though it was painful and annoying, it was not too bad. Only twice we had a problem and had to call the council noise unit (who came promptly) because they are only allowed to work between 8am and 1pm on sat. But by 2.30 they were still making noisy work. My husband works very long hours during and as everybidy would agree, we all need to be able to relax at the we. Bottom of the story, you can ask your builders to schedule their work and ask your neighbour to be a little patient (with wine ir cognac this would help This way, it is a situation where everybody makes a compromise which is the best way in my opinion to keep good relationship with your neighbour.
Good Luck

[anna33h]

My husband does many sites, and big site on north cote, he had to work with his team sat and sundays. He is driven and can not stop, people just have to accept building work. We all want and have bijou mansions now, that is becos we all have many builders, like my husband. Just put up with it. My husbands work on north cote took almost 3 yrs so be grateful yours only a few weeks or months.

[kiwimummy]

Are there some ways to reduce noise? Ie ban the radio and no groups of people smoking outside and talking loudly.

Also, is there a time he sleeps that you could try to minimise noise?

Normally I'd say building noise is part of living in London. But if he is very ill, you may need to making additional changes.

I say this as someone living under my neighbour's renovation project - i am putting a brave face on it and being a cheery neighbour!

[hayfeversufferer]

This is not related to your particular problem Mungo but I have thought about this a bit.

My neighbour has been making noises about a basement for the last year or so and I think he might take the plunge next year.

The problem is they talking about starting work in April and with all their other plans its going to be a BIG job.

My daughter will be doing A Levels next summer (not this summer) and this is going to be a nightmare. How can someone revise with all that banging and crashing? I really feel that this could make a difference to a youg person's future and they seem a bit impervious to our pleas.

I'd find it really hard to forgive them a summer of noise if it affected my daughter's results.

Not sure if this is helpful but its another perspective

[Helgibbs]

Yes, that's a really tricky situation.
We have had at least 4 conversions nearby over the last year or so.

The noise is awful, and I have 3 little ones to get to sleep in the afternoons, BUT, like someone else said, the WORST of the noise is over in about 3 weeks, and after that you dont hear much at all.

Perhaps if you also explain this to your poorly neighbour, he will know that there is an end to it. If you know it WILL be quieter very soon, it wont drive you so crazy!

Anyway, it's only done once, and once it's done you can have them round and spoil them with dinner etc to placate?!

Helen
x

[Mrs Contractor Mum]

It may be worth finding out what is actually wrong with your neighbour as depending on his condition a hamper/ bottle of wine may not be appropriate.
Speaking from experience, when my mother had terminal cancer the owners of the house next to us rented their property to a housing association that specialised in housing troubled young people. They seperated the property into individual bedrooms and the noise was unbearable with loud music at all hours, swearing, police visits etc and it was absolutely heartbreaking that my poor mum's last months were spent living next door to that.
Once you know the actual situation with your neighbour you can then discuss an appropriate way forward.

[kiwimummy]

Mungomuffit - perhaps i misread your posts, but did you say to your neighbour that you would stop the work after 12? if you need, you absolutely have to go round and explain that you won't be doing that.

i hope i misread the posts, but if you were my neighbour, said you'd do something and then didn't do it without any explanation - i'd pretty much hate you for ever. yes building noise is part of London life, but if you've promised to do something, you need to explain in person. also, it would give you an opportunity to find out just how sick the person is. if he is terminally ill, personally i'd rethink how i did the work.

[klw]

I was in a very similar position recently. We are doing a loft, rear extension and basement and started in October. My neighbour was heavily pregnant and really (understandably) unhappy about what we proposed to do.

All that I could do was to keep her informed and try to be as responsive as possible. Both neighbours got Christmas presents as a thank you and we stop work as early as possible. That said, there have been specific times when our neighbours have asked us to stop work and it's just not been possible.

I have been really stressed that the whole street will hate us before we even move in, but by making myself available and apologising, I think I've been able to build some bridges.

I would advise you to check with the builders as to what you can propose re finishing early. As others have said, it's a disaster to over promise and less hours on a daily basis means a longer project overall.

Good luck with it!

[sgarnier]

Hi,
My house burnt down 2 years ago and it had to be completely refurbished. 7 months of work. I was feeling really bad as the noise was really awful especially during the first 4 months. Once it was finished, I've brought some bottles of Champagne to the neighbours and invited them for dinner. We now are the best friends ever!
Your builders are not supposed to work on Saturdays after 1pm and on Sundays. It's really important to keep this in mind so the neighbours can at least enjoy a restful weekend! You can also ask your builders to stop at 4pm during the week. Many of them do 8 to 4.

[Kate B]

Last year two of my neghbours had major work done. We were given due warning and the noise was pretty horrendous along with builders vehicles causing disruption.
The immediate neighbours were literally in the middle of the two in a terrace and I know they found it pretty unbearable.
I suffered, along with others, infestation of mice which have now disappeared thank goodness.
In your situation you can only do so much without incurring huge extra costs. If your sick neighbour can tolerate a given amount of disturbance then try to stick with that time limit, and show that you are trying to be considerate.
Awkward situation.

[Precious123]

That's nothing. My new neighbours bought their house months ago. A 2 bed terraced he works on it when he's not working. The drilling has been unbearable. They've had an extension built into the garden taken ceilings down etc etc sometimes the drilling sounds like it's going to penetrate my walls. Yes it's their house they can do what they want but they knocked a wall down in their garden that a section of my fence was connected to. The previous neighbour took their fence down. They've had 2 bonfires. I no longer talk to them. They bypassed the local council to get planning permission. Personally I think this should be illegal. I'm livid.