Neighbour changes use of garage and then complains about noise

googler

bouicca21 wrote: »

Mind you if I were OP I'd still be thinking about soundproofing my workshop/ garage on the grounds that I would want to avoid having to declare a dispute if I ever wanted to sell. But I'd be wondering about sharing the cost ....

At what point does it become a 'dispute'?

Neighbour complains.
OP ignores him and carries on what he was doing before.

Is that a 'dispute'?

And why should the OP share any costs?

tunnel

bouicca21 wrote: »

But I'd be wondering about sharing the cost ....

That's assuming the OP can afford to pay towards any costs brought on by his neighbours actions

Own_My_Own

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Errrm....but isn't this the whole crux of the matter though. That is, the neighbours have converted a garage that adjoins a "garage". The OP is the one that was first on the scene regarding using a garage as something other than a garage. The OP isn't using his garage as a garage. Instead, he is using it as a workshop.

A garage is a brick-built room in which a car is stored. It is NOT a workshop.

Personally, I don't think OP has any right to complain in those circumstances, ie that he isn't using his own garage AS a garage.

:rotfl: This reminds me of when my American uncle came over for a holiday and asked my Dad ' Do all Britons fill their garages with cheap old rubbish and leave their expensive cars outside ? '
:rotfl:

Herbalus

tunnel wrote: »

That's assuming the OP can afford to pay towards any costs brought on by his neighbours actions

What actions are his neighbours going to take?

It's like me painting my house blue, and then complaining that my neighbours should paint there's blue so it fits in with the aesthetic of the area.

Noise is just noise. This sounds to me like relatively normal society where one person is upset with noise from his neighbour. We see plenty of complaints where the OP asks what they can do to stop their neighbours noise, and the answer is, usually, not much. They can soundproof, sure, but they can't stop their neighbour making noise.

I would have a chat with the neighbours, sure, because I would prefer my relationship with them to be pleasant, but an honest conversation of "Look mate, I've had tools in here for years, so why should I change that because of your conversion?" would sort it out. That's preferable to deliberately ramping up the volume and making them seethe in their living room and hating you forever.

McBozo

yup, go see them and talk to them and tell them the best solution is that they put in sound proofing etc etc.

Neil.

tunnel

Herbalus wrote: »

What actions are his neighbours going to take?

It's like me painting my house blue, and then complaining that my neighbours should paint there's blue so it fits in with the aesthetic of the area.

Noise is just noise. This sounds to me like relatively normal society where one person is upset with noise from his neighbour. We see plenty of complaints where the OP asks what they can do to stop their neighbours noise, and the answer is, usually, not much. They can soundproof, sure, but they can't stop their neighbour making noise.

I would have a chat with the neighbours, sure, because I would prefer my relationship with them to be pleasant, but an honest conversation of "Look mate, I've had tools in here for years, so why should I change that because of your conversion?" would sort it out. That's preferable to deliberately ramping up the volume and making them seethe in their living room and hating you forever.

The actions taken are the neighbour has already converted the garage and posters on here are suggesting the OP should contribute towards any costs to soundproof their side of the garage wall, why the OP would be expected to do this is beyond me. Just glad those posters that advacate that action don't live next door to me as they'd get one hell of a shock

Nobody has made any comment of ramping up the volume either, only continuing to use the garage in the manner in which it has been used prior to the neighbours conversion

Herbalus

tunnel wrote: »

The actions taken are the neighbour has already converted the garage and posters on here are suggesting the OP should contribute towards any costs to soundproof their side of the garage wall, why the OP would be expected to do this is beyond me. Just glad those posters that advacate that action don't live next door to me as they'd get one hell of a shock

Nobody has made any comment of ramping up the volume either, only continuing to use the garage in the manner in which it has been used prior to the neighbours conversion

Ah, I read it as the neighbours future actions i.e. disputes, which are clearly ridiculous.

I agree entirely, nobody should have to pay to appease a neighbour because of the neighbours actions.

Tigsteroonie

If the OP now converts his garage into a downstairs bedroom with no further soundproofing, can he complain about the noise from the television in the lounge/garage of the house next door?

BobQ

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Errrm....but isn't this the whole crux of the matter though. That is, the neighbours have converted a garage that adjoins a "garage". The OP is the one that was first on the scene regarding using a garage as something other than a garage. The OP isn't using his garage as a garage. Instead, he is using it as a workshop.

A garage is a brick-built room in which a car is stored. It is NOT a workshop....................................

).

The definition of a garage is as you say, but I think you have to consider the way people use the term in practice. I suggest most people think a garage as being a place you can use for many purposes. The OP is not running a business, he is occasionally using power tools for DIY and hobbies.

The real issue is whether the neighbour has taken proper steps to convert the space to a living room. This is not just about the sound transmitted through the wall, its about the floor and roof structure and all the other requirements of the building regulations. If the shared wall is a single wall he should have converted it to a cavity wall for other reasons (energy conservation). The OP's neighbour had (has) an obligation to address the consequences of the change.

If he has done this, he may have an argument about the regular use of noisy power tools in the adjacent garage.

Ulfar

Its a completely moot point, if the neighbor had followed the correct procedures to convert a garage into a living room, the sound would be lessened by the cavity wall.

To expect the op to take action to remedy a situation the neighbor have caused by not following the proper rules is madness.

If it was me I would speak to them and set them straight, they want less noise then they need to undertake the remedial work to convert their garage into a living room.