Are there any standard time of day rules for noisy DIY?

JGB1955

Years back.... yes, probably 40+ years ago,  we ( the Royal 'we' - it was really only my OH) decided to paint the outside of our terraced house.  We were young (it happens) and had no idea that our neighbours Primary School children might be kept awake by our chat/paint/ladder moving at 21:00.  We were soon told about it and learned a salutary lesson.

In other news - it hasn't been painted since - we (he) apparently did a good job!

EchoLocation

I did qualify my use of the term entitled by saying it's about a lack of consideration. And it is a lack of consideration, not just for me on quite a few of occasions, but the previous occupants of my property and other neighbours as well. There is a history here of inconsiderate and discourteous behavior, not malicious maybe, but definitely inconsiderate and yes, entitled. I don't accept for a second that loud drilling and hammering conducted outside of normal daytime working hours is considerate, and I have had to tolerate it much later than 7pm before now. Now not withstanding that there may be mitigating circumstances that deem it necessary on occasion, but I don't believe that has ever been the case with my neighbour, and if you're spending multiple full days on DIY then I see no reason why you cannot limit loud noise to, as I say, the normal daytime working hours. He does it because he wants to do it, regardless of knowing full well how disturbing it will be, that is entitled and inconsiderate, that's not me being awkward.

As I was typing this the wall drilling started again. But they had some visitors arrive, so that means it'll be delayed until they leave and start up again later this evening. Great.

Ajmason42

Our council states workman 0800 to 1800 m to f and 0800 to 1230 Saturday. 

For diy and gardening I go by what would I be happy with  normal 830 to 1600 on a sat and 10 till 1300 on a Sunday and till about 1830 if noisy out side but later inside but we are detached  
If it too bad then drop a short polite note through the door especially if you have kids asleep or are having to get up early etc  

coffeehound

Ajmason42 said: then drop a short polite note through the door especially if you have kids asleep or are having to get up early etc  

Notes are often a problem.  Some people immediately consider them to be passive-aggressive, no matter how pleasantly worded, and it makes them instantly hostile.  Always best to aim for the 'friendly chat' approach first, however intimidating that prospect might be.  Unfortunately, the OP's situation is apparently well past that phase.

EchoLocation

So I had a response from my council with regards to their rules for noisy DIY. Sadly, but as expected, although they stated that they advise 'restricting work to weekdays 8am to 6pm, and Saturdays 8am to 1pm, no noisy work to be carried out late in the evening, Sundays and Bank Holidays', it is basically just a suggestion and nothing more. It holds no weight and ultimately anybody can make as much noise as they like whenever they like. One slight positive is that I have alerted them to the fact that their advice documentation is completely inadequate and missing any of the times/days they gave me, so hopefully that should be updated for others with similar enquiries.

bris

A bit of a miserable neighbour tbh, 7 pm is hardly late for a bit DIY, different if it goes on all night but these things never do.

Going to so much trouble to get your neighbour in trouble isn't very neighbourly now is it.

Mistral001

Asking your neighbour to be quiet at 7.00 pm is a big ask.  I would  go for a long walk if you cannot stand the noise.  If he continues to make a noise until say 10pm, then I would pay him a call.   If you do make a call, give a reason for why you want them to stop the noise, such as listening the news to hear about coronavirus.    You have to be careful with neighbours as you may need them in the future.  

RelievedSheff

I would hardly call 7pm late to be doing a noisy job.

You seem to think that the neighbour thinks that they are "entitled" in doing this work. But are you not being equally "entitled" in expecting complete silence at 7pm?

Unfortunately if you have neighbours in close proximity then you can expect some noise from them. If the noise had been late at night then I suspect you would perhaps have had more sympathetic responses but at 7pm I really don't think that you have a valid complaint and the complaint to the council is really quite uncalled for.

You have to live in close proximity to this person. Do you really want to fall out with them over something that is a non issue? Noise from DIY is hardly likely to be a long term situation and just remember that when you do any DIY or maintenance on your home the neighbour suffers the same level of noise from you.

EchoLocation

bris said:

A bit of a miserable neighbour tbh, 7 pm is hardly late for a bit DIY, different if it goes on all night but these things never do.

Going to so much trouble to get your neighbour in trouble isn't very neighbourly now is it.

What a lazy, cherry-picking, garbage drive-by hottake. Oh, you're a landlord... what a surprise.

7pm was just when I made the thread, the loud noise that day continued until sometime after 8pm. And I made the thread not just about 'a bit of DIY', but full on hammering and drilling into a party wall without any warning - do you know what that sounds like?

I've had to put up with their 'a bit of DIY' noise for a number of years now. It's been far, far worse and gone on much, much later on many occasions too. This current 'bit of DIY' has been going on since before new year... and it went on all new year's eve, all new year's day, all across the subsequent weekend, and just 2 nights ago they were using a power saw in the front garden until almost 10pm. So don't try to make out I'm some kind of nightmare neighbour, that complains about jusr regular daytime household noise and expects whisper quiet neighbours. 

And, as you've conveniently ignored along with all the other information and context I've posted, according to the council advice in the post right before your reply, I am quite correct to question the timing and frequency of these noisy activities.

RelievedSheff

The council have already said to you that is just guidance and holds no weight in law. What else do you expect them to do?

A lot of people have been doing DIY during lockdown. Your situation will be far from unique.

And yes. I do know what drilling into the party wall sounds like. Our last house was a semi and our neighbours, like most people did DIY and maintenance on their property so on occasion we got the same noise as you are experiencing. It doesn't last long and it really isn't worth getting hung up about.