DIY noise in the evenings

Becles

I live in a semi and my neighbour died in November. He was an older man who lived in the house for decades and never did anything much to it, so it's pretty run down inside.

This month, people who I assume are his family, have started doing to the house up. Not sure if it's going to be for sale or rent or if they are moving in. It seems to be pretty major work that they are doing judging by the noise. There was a bath on the drive when I closed the porch blinds earlier!

However they are doing DIY work most evenings and the noise is going on till late. They are still going with a hammer drill and banging now.

My youngest is just 2 and goes to bed at 7.30pm and the middle one goes at 8.30 and the eldest goes between 8.30-10pm. They've all been disturbed by the noise and the late nights are making them irritable.

I'm loaded with cold at the moment and rented some DVD's as I fancied just vegging on the sofa with them, but I can't watch them as our sofa is against the joint wall and it sounds like they are drilling into my head!

I don't know the people doing the work as nobody really visited my neighbour when he was alive. Would it be acceptable to put a polie note through the door asking them to keep the noise down after 7.30pm?

mikey72

Be friendlier to go and speak to them. I did up a house I bought, and the neighbours on both sides are friends to this day.

wallbash

Difficult one this .
Professional Builders would knock off at 5/6 but amateurs Of which i am one !
If they work , then doing up in evening and at w/e , is their only time.

Think this is down to tact , Just sticking a note , however well written would not work , Get to Know them .

Personal thoughts , 7.30 is ok making a noise But anything after ten is unacceptable.
Look at the good side , it will only be for the duration of the work .
What happens if they sell to neighbours who play loud music/ parties after midnight:eek:

jamesb1239

I may be wrong but I'm sure I once read that you can make noise up until 11pm, may be different for DIY as i'm sure that was for partys/loud music

Gemsgalore

I think this is something you will just need to put up with as everyone needs work doing in their house at some time or other and if they have jobs during the day, they need to do it early evenings. I would say it should quieten down by 10pm and will probably only go on for a few weeks anyway.

You are lucky you had a nice quiet neighbour all those years, mine are pensioners but he loves DIY and is always drilling or hammering something...... drives me nuts!!

SailorSam

If the people are working during the day and trying to do the house up later, 7.30 isn't giving them a lot of time. Personally i want work after nine, but i don't think your neighbours could take offence if you were to knock, explain about you're kids and ask if they could do any noisy work as early as possible, and try and do the quiet work after your kids are in bed.

iamcornholio

You need to talk to them. They may not have even thought it a problem.

I would talk to them [politely] and not just leave a note

Generally, the type and extent of noise determines what is acceptable, and its based on what is reasonable. A bit of DIY to 10 o'clock on one or two days may have to be tolertated, but if this is every night for weeks, then it will be deemed a nuisance (specifically a Statutory Nuisance) and action can be taken by the local council.

If you can't get a commitment to not make constant noise after a certain time, then at least get a proposed finish date for the work. Then you can decide if you need to take any further action

TBH, unless this is major building work over many weeks, then the council may not want to get involved. But if it is bad, then ask the council to send a letter which may deter them from making excessive noise late at night

plumb1_2

Reasonable times for DIY

Tell your neighbours that you are going to be carrying out some work. Noisier work should be kept to these hours:

• Weekdays - 7.00am to 7.00pm
• Saturdays - 8.00am to 1.00pm
• Sundays - No noisy work at all

If your neighbours have small children you may need to restrict your DIY even further.

http://www.housingadviceni.org/your-neighbourhood/noise-problems/building-work.html#wipLive-12461-3

wallbash

• Weekdays - 7.00am to 7.00pm
• Saturdays - 8.00am to 1.00pm
• Sundays - No noisy work at all

Sorry but you might as well ban all DIY .

I work ( this is an example ) all day , need to do up my first home.
I get home by six , quick meal , get the tools out .

Great I have 15 mins , I can use a drill :eek::eek:

Sundays ... is a good day to do a big diy job .... but no noise ... please !!!

Live in the real world.

Apricot

I don't think it is unreasonable for you to ask them to keep the noise down after 7pm but I think it would be better for you to go around there than to push a note through the door - you don't want to start a feud before they've even moved in.

Becles

Thanks - was just frustrated with the noise as I'm unwell at the moment and had a tiring day at work yesterday. Was so looking forward to just collapsing on the sofa with a film, but ended up running up and downstairs all night trying to settle children.

It wouldn't be so bad if they'd explained what they are doing or how long the work is going to go on for, but nobody as been round.

Getting new noisy neighbours is my worst nightmare. I moved from my old house due to noise driving me mad. Their clock radio went off at 6am and they left it on loud so they could hear it in the bathroom while they showered. On evenings they played rock music or watched films at high volume till around midnight, and till early hours of the morning on weekends. It's my worst nightmare if someone like that moves in next door!