Noisy new neighbours

Concerned75

QUOTE]Just to say, it would have been nice of new neighbours to let others know they were going to do noisy things in the house.

Fault both sides methinks.

I would always let neighbours know if I am about to do something noisy and messy. And they tell me too.

Very quiet round here, even the dogs would go crazy if noise happened! [/QUOTE]

This is the case of the neighbours already living there on the rare occasions they do any work and it was quiet before they moved in.
Just to make you all clear in your questions; I asked them how long it was going to go on for, the reply was a laugh and shrug of shoulders.
Those who suggest I should move away after living there for 15yrs without any issues from 10 neighbours, just because 1 of their wants to do as much diy as they feel like, are very stupid and impractical. Buying a house as you should know, is not as simple as that and such comments aren't worth reading.
Let me put this in perspective; I am not dumb and know that people have the right to Diy during certain times of the day. I wonder how many of you would think it's more than acceptable and by all means that you would be happy to be subject to 2 power drills working directly behind your bed upto 3hrs non stop? Or hammering over the same time limit? At least 3 times a week since June and not knowing when they'll complete it?
It's not solely about sleeping. I have a LTHC which is already compromises my sleep, with fatigue, headaches etc.. This is not a little repetitive tapping as the noise can be heard all over the house, that's how loud it is. The neighbours the other side of me, hears it too! The law says:
You are entitled to enjoy your home in peace and comfort, free from nuisance and harassment.

These people clearly have no consideration for where they live or what they're doing regarding getting off on the right foot as new neighbours.
Whether this is a cultural indifference or just plain ignorance, doesn't make it right and that they shouldnt be challenged.
I'm sure under the details I have mentioned, most of you wouldnt just put up with it as "just one of those things". Stresswise if nothing else!

Concerned75

You wrote that the property had been recently refurbished before the neighbours moved in. Do you know the type of DIY they are doing?

Is it just a new Kitchen or insulation against noise or something that requires planning permission, such as partitions to increase number of rooms or building out a basement into a habitable room etc ?

It is always in your interest as an adjoining neighbour to know if the change they are undertaking is lawful or requires agreement, such as; party walls.

This is a very good point, as I don't know and they probably wouldn't tell me tbh.
The guy I spoke to was covered in plaster dust and when I asked him what he was doing, he just laughed and didn't want to reply.

always_sunny

Concerned75 wrote: »

This is a very good point, as I don't know and they probably wouldn't tell me tbh.
The guy I spoke to was covered in plaster dust and when I asked him what he was doing, he just laughed and didn't want to reply.

Have you checked if your council has any published any schedule for noise like http://www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/info/412/pollution_control_-_noise/654/noise_from_building_works

Restricted hours
General construction work should be restricted to the following hours:
Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm
Saturdays 8am to 1pm
Noisy work is prohibited on Sundays and bank holidays

If it's during the day though, not much you can do.

melanzana

If there is no communication from the neighbour about the works, another very stressful thing can happen.

You just DO NOT KNOW when the drill is going to start up, or when the hammering will cease. My sister had to go through that for about 4 months and as she said herself, it wasn't the noise as such, just not knowing when it would start. She was on tenterhooks and sometimes for nothing, as work would not start on certain days.

I think it is very selfish of people not to inform the neighbours. Nothing you can do really if it is carried on during reasonable hours, but a bit of consideration is a wonderful thing.

When my neighbour was putting in a loft conversion, they told me what times the builder would start and finish and on what days. So I scarpered out of the house every time and it worked out great. For all of us!

It is very stressful for OP. I don't have a solution I'm afraid, except under no circumstances would I move yet.

I don't know if you are male or female, but (without casting any aspersions on us females....), is there any chance you could get a male friend or relative, preferably burly with a no nonsense approach to speak to the owners?

Long shot I know.

Best of luck.

Concerned75

I am female and live alone. They are not of a threatening nature, as the main owner is female.
I respect other people, and what I do or say around them.
Not everyone is of the same mindset.
I've emailed the council, I'm hoping they'll get back to me.
As the last few comments have said, it would be helpful to know if it is building work and for how long and more importantly, do they have permission to do so.

sniggings

Concerned75 wrote: »

QUOTE]
Those who suggest I should move away after living there for 15yrs without any issues from 10 neighbours, just because 1 of their wants to do as much diy as they feel like, are very stupid and impractical. Buying a house as you should know, is not as simple as that and such comments aren't worth reading.

The truth is, if the noise carries on, moving is your only real option.

It may come across as dismissive but what other option do you have? you have said they have not given you a reasonable answer and just smile when you have tried to be reasonable with them.

I have to say I think you may have caused more trouble than you are solving here, DIY will not last for ever, I would wait it out and if noise carries on after the DIY then write to the council etc (not that it'll likely help) but to go into full complaint mode now, is short sighted of you.

melanzana

sniggings wrote: »

The truth is, if the noise carries on, moving is your only real option.

It may come across as dismissive but what other option do you have? you have said they have not given you a reasonable answer and just smile when you have tried to be reasonable with them.

I have to say I think you may have caused more trouble than you are solving here, DIY will not last for ever, I would wait it out and if noise carries on after the DIY then write to the council etc (not that it'll likely help) but to go into full complaint mode now, is short sighted of you.

Some DIY actually CAN last forever.

In a former life it was constant as a suffering neighbour!. One job done, another started. Never ending.

That's just my experience, but some folk love tinkering around with either their cars, their garages, or their houses, sometimes all three.

It can be very trying. Unfortunately the person doing all this noisy work often doesn't realise the effect it may have on those around them.

Same with constantly barking dogs. The owners don't seem to hear the little hairy darlings, ever.

always_sunny

melanzana wrote: »

Some DIY actually CAN last forever.

In a former life it was constant as a suffering neighbour!. One job done, another started. Never ending.

That's just my experience, but some folk love tinkering around with either their cars, their garages, or their houses, sometimes all three.

It can be very trying. Unfortunately the person doing all this noisy work often doesn't realise the effect it may have on those around them.

Same with constantly barking dogs. The owners don't seem to hear the little hairy darlings, ever.

hmm the OP lives in a flat. Flats are by nature densely packed so it will hardly be dead quiet. One neighbour finish their DIY and another starts. Then roadwork, blah blah.
Once I lived next to a neighbour who was learning how to play piano

melanzana

always_sunny wrote: »

hmm the OP lives in a flat. Flats are by nature densely packed so it will hardly be dead quiet. One neighbour finish their DIY and another starts. Then roadwork, blah blah.
Once I lived next to a neighbour who was learning how to play piano

OP lives in a terraced House.

sheramber

We hd a neighbour ( semi detached) who did DIY constantly.

They rearranged the inside walls, then changed them back and then rearranged them again several times over the years.

Eventually the family broke up and the house was sold but stood empty for months over the winter. One day a neighbour on the other side noticed heavy condensation on the windows so looked in the letter box. Water was cascading down the stairs.

The inside of the house needed stripped out totally and rebuilt.

Workmen were in there 5 days a week for weeks.

Near the end of the job they were speaking to my husband and comment that they had expected a lot of agro from us but we knew the job had to be done and you can hardly rebuild a house without noise.