What evening noise is acceptable when neighbours are building?

swingaloo

pickledonionspaceraider wrote: »

Does this neighbour work in the day, are the evenings the only time he can do these works?

Yes he does work during the day and is home at around 5.30. There are builders working there during the day. The thing is that for some reason he does not start doing this work till maybe 8pm most nights.

The annoyance 'laying there getting madder and madder' seems a bit excessive to me, as he only kept you awake 20 minutes, not hours on end.. its 20 minutes of inconvenience and you are talking of getting a mob together.

Its not 20 minutes when Ive been in bed since 9.30 and he is still at it till till after 10 most nights. the latest it has been is 10.50pm. Its not 'only 20 minutes' when its happening regularly neither is it just an inconvenience when you are already asleep and are woken by it.

Just putting a little perspective on it

To put a bit more perspective on it perhaps you could read my post again. I never for one minute suggested 'getting a mob together' in fact what I actually said was that I did not think
doing anything like that would help the situation.

People comparing playing instruments or hovering to having building works done is wildly inaccurate, in terms of, if he is trying to keep building labour costs low, and he himself works full time, he is perhaps only able to work at night and I for one would not be gasping in shock if a neighbour was doing this at 10.20pm...its a one off event isn't it, building, when it is over it is over its not like he is blasting drum and bass at 3am..bloke is doing his house up for gods sakes

If he only able to work at night as you suggest then perhaps it would be more considerate to start a little earlier and finish a little earlier. I have no issue with him doing his house up, as Ie said already the dust and noise during the day is to be expected. What I do have an issue with is his sheer inconsideration for other people.

I know this response is bound to have some people chomping at the bit for not following the crowd, however the OP does ask if they are being unreasonable or not so yes, I think so

I am out of the house for at least 12 hour days, and on the odd night if I feel like hoovering at 9pm a neighbour were to knock the door to complain about, what actualy is, a few minutes of dull noise - I would ask them to leave my property unless they were paying my mortgage?

Thats a bit of a ludicrous comparison. Why would nayone knock on someones door to ask them not to use a hoover. A few minutes of dull noise is one thing and part of life. Using an electric saw beneath someones bedroom window, running a cement mixer, shovelling gravel and repeatedly dropping flagstones into a metal wheelbarrow is not dull noise.


I understand live and let live however expecting complete silence in this day and age at 9pm is not going to happen is it..many of us have no choice but to do tasks at night.

I dont expect complete silence at 9pm, however I do expect people to show some level of courtesy towards others. Ive actually rung the local council this afternoon and spoken to planning then they put me through to Environmental health who told me, amongst other things, that he is not supposed to use any kind of plant machinery which includes the cement mixer after 6pm.
She advised me to fill in an nuisance diary pack for 14 days and then return it to them. I told her I would rather give it a couple of weeks before taking that step as it may not last long but she told me to start sooner rather than later as I dint have to other to return the pack if it was not on going. When I gave my address she said she had already advised another householder in the close of the same thing. I dont know who the other complainant is but I do know its not the neighbour I spoke to earlier today so clearly its not just me who is cheesed off with it.

TBagpuss

I think that asking him not to do anything noisy after 9 p.m would be entirely reasonable.

I think moving flagstones with a wheelbarrow would not be considered 'noisy' in most cases, but using power tools, lots of hammering etc would.

He may not realise how disturbing it is - I wonder whether he has been starting work late as it is cooler? Even though he is awkward I think I'd be inclined to at least try to make a friendly approach before a formal complaint

unforeseen

Environmental health who told me, amongst other things, that he is not supposed to use any kind of plant machinery which includes the cement mixer after 6pm.

Did they also explain what legislation/byelaws define this time?

There may be something in the PP limiting when building work can happen but does that apply to a resident doing work in his own house or just the building contractor/firm? Also it would only apply to work that is part of the PP and not any other work not connected with it.

E.G. PP for extension but in the evenings houseowner is laying a patio

tacpot12

Earplugs might help.

Mojisola

unforeseen wrote: »

Did they also explain what legislation/byelaws define this time?

There may be something in the PP limiting when building work can happen but does that apply to a resident doing work in his own house or just the building contractor/firm? Also it would only apply to work that is part of the PP and not any other work not connected with it.

Our council website says noisy DIY should only be done between 9am and 8pm with the noisiest work being done in the middle of that time period.

Professional work is restricted to 8am to 6pm Mon-Fri and only Saturday mornings. Nothing on Sat afternoon, Sundays or Bank Holidays.

Mr.Generous

I can't imagine throwing paving stones into a barrow noisily myself, too much risk of them breaking. I would honestly grit your teeth for a couple of months. You like to go to bed early, you like to have your window open. Perhaps he likes to have a meal and a rest after a days work before he starts again doing diy. Perhaps your car wakes him up every morning at 5.30 because he likes to sleep with his windows open and he has to put up with it every single day? Seriously I've had neighbors who play drums and one who liked to blast out music. Building work is not a hobby that will go in indefinitely.

Detroit

swingaloo wrote: »

I dont expect complete silence at 9pm, however I do expect people to show some level of courtesy towards others. Ive actually rung the local council this afternoon and spoken to planning then they put me through to Environmental health who told me, amongst other things, that he is not supposed to use any kind of plant machinery which includes the cement mixer after 6pm.
She advised me to fill in an nuisance diary pack for 14 days and then return it to them. I told her I would rather give it a couple of weeks before taking that step as it may not last long but she told me to start sooner rather than later as I dint have to other to return the pack if it was not on going. When I gave my address she said she had already advised another householder in the close of the same thing. I dont know who the other complainant is but I do know its not the neighbour I spoke to earlier today so clearly its not just me who is cheesed off with it.

I completely agree with your comments in blue and actually think you come across as reasonable.

While I think it's helpful you've taken advice from the council, I don't think I'd want to pursue through official channels until I'd spoken to him.

I would go round and politely explain the impact on you and ask him if he'd mind finishing earlier in the evening.
You could express your understanding of the unavoidable dust, and of his need to work in the evenings, but say how helpful it would be for you to have the work stop at 9:30 when you go to bed.

Be as pleasant and as reasonable as you can. Don't be accusatory or get angry. Make it a request not a complaint, and you might be surprised.

If this fails you always have the official route, but, in my experience, taking it frequently leads to escalating bad relations between neighbours, with retaliatory complaints and disputes that can go on for years.

You may need to consider if it would be worth it for a time limited nuisance.

unforeseen

Mojisola wrote: »

Our council website says noisy DIY should only be done between 9am and 8pm with the noisiest work being done in the middle of that time period..

Yes but is it legislated for or just their opinion? I tend to the latter

If it happened on a regular basis then EH may get involved if an accurate enough diary is kept. Whether any enforcement action could be taken is another matter.

Professional work is restricted to 8am to 6pm Mon-Fri and only Saturday mornings. Nothing on Sat afternoon, Sundays or Bank Holidays.

As I said, that will normally be covered within the PP.

missbiggles1

As the nights start drawing in, won't this problem resolve itself naturally?

Newly_retired

Do you have another room you could sleep in a bit further away from the noise?
I agree that after 9pm is unreasonable.