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Noise from renovation

In March 2020 I was bequeathed a house as I was also the executor I had probate ,land registry and lockdown to contend with.
I eventually started to clear the house entirely then decide on a renovation of its tired interior. Next door had recently had a new baby, this house is mid-terraced of 4 properties. When the plumber came to fit the bathroom there was a knock at the door and next door asking if he could stop work between 12-2 as the baby has his sleep  he did so.
That is the only substantial noise we have made.
Due to lockdown it has been difficult getting people to do jobs and source materials and having had Covid myself and having a full time job myself  work has dragged on but the work is only decorating, nothing structural. The odd drilling of radiator shelves etc.
One day whilst hoovering, and I admit there is no flooring so it must sound loud next door knocked and asked how long we were going to be as the baby has his usual 12-2 sleep, I explained I was just hoovering and this was something I'd be doing if I lived here,which I intend to.
Another time, no hoovering at all or drilling, a note was pushed through the door telling us the baby's sleep was of the utmost importance and could we let her know in advance when we intended to do any work and left her number. We wrote back saying we couldn't possibly agree to this as my number is my own affair and any work we did was just cosmetic not structural, we hardly ever use power tools. Plus I had no idea of time and dates when I would be there.
Today after  drilling 2 holes and tapping in 2 rawlplugs the husband came round and aggressively demanded how long this was going to go on,and that I was deliberately doing this  between 12-2 because I'm a f'in c**t. I wasn't being spoken to like that and shut the door which he proceeded to kick. I opened it and  tried to explain but was just shouted down. He was extremely aggressive and I refused to get involved. 
My point here is am I being unreasonable? I know things have dragged on but it's not like there's major work dragging on. I had intended to live here once it was done but now I'm not so sure 
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Comments

  • Don't stress about it,  they are probably sleep deprived (which is no excuse but most of us have been there).  Carry on as you would, within reasonable hours.  We had unreasonable neighbours a long time ago and hit them head on with kindness.  We dropped round some wine & chocolates and the wife was very receptive.  May not be appropriate in your instance but if you feel you aren't being unreasonable then you probably aren't 
  • Don't stress about it,  they are probably sleep deprived (which is no excuse but most of us have been there).  Carry on as you would, within reasonable hours.  We had unreasonable neighbours a long time ago and hit them head on with kindness.  We dropped round some wine & chocolates and the wife was very receptive.  May not be appropriate in your instance but if you feel you aren't being unreasonable then you probably aren't 
    Thanks. We've never worked before 9 and after 16.00.
    His aggression left me a bit shook up to tell you the truth. 
  • I believe you can make construction noise between 8am and 6pm ie knocking down walls using machinery etc, yes it would be nice to get on with the neighbour but he’s being unreasonable!
    If it make you feel any better I had a young lady scream at me for waking her up with a generator at 11am!
    Maybe, just once, someone will call me 'Sir' without adding, 'You're making a scene.'
  • TELLIT01
    TELLIT01 Posts: 17,508 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper PPI Party Pooper
    A request to keep noise down between 12 and 2 may not seem unreasonable, but it does take a chunk out of the working day. If it was simply a case of trying to find quieter work it may be practical.   Being expected to keep the noise down any / every time it annoys them is not reasonable or practical. 
  • Personally I'd have told him to stick it now and keep making as much noise as possible.

    Next time he comes round kicking the door id record it and call the police, just to drive home the fact you won't take threats.
  • TELLIT01 said:
    A request to keep noise down between 12 and 2 may not seem unreasonable, but it does take a chunk out of the working day. If it was simply a case of trying to find quieter work it may be practical.   Being expected to keep the noise down any / every time it annoys them is not reasonable or practical. 
    It certainly does take a chunk out. My plumber had to come back another day to complete the work at an additional cost to me.
    As regards quieter work, well if drilling 2 holes to put up a blind is "noisy " then I don't know what "quiet" work is I'm afraid. 
  • Personally I'd have told him to stick it now and keep making as much noise as possible.

    Next time he comes round kicking the door id record it and call the police, just to drive home the fact you won't take threats.
    I'm just going to carry on what I've been doing. I'm going to fit security cameras to cover myself, his aggression left myself and my partner quite affected. 
  • NSG666
    NSG666 Posts: 981 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Doesn't seem like you are being unreasonable but you could do with getting the job over and done with asap. Working the odd day here and there might be like a dripping tap to your neighbour whereas if you were in a position to say "we will be working here every day for x weeks then the job will be done" at least gives your neighbour light at the end of the tunnel. I certainly wouldn't be offering quiet times but try and get the noisy jobs done in one 'block' each day.

    I wouldn't put cameras up just for them as it will provoke them. Don't forget if you come to sell you have to declare neighbour disputes.
    Sorry I can't think of anything profound, clever or witty to write here.
  • NSG666 said:
    Doesn't seem like you are being unreasonable but you could do with getting the job over and done with asap. Working the odd day here and there might be like a dripping tap to your neighbour whereas if you were in a position to say "we will be working here every day for x weeks then the job will be done" at least gives your neighbour light at the end of the tunnel. I certainly wouldn't be offering quiet times but try and get the noisy jobs done in one 'block' each day.

    I wouldn't put cameras up just for them as it will provoke them. Don't forget if you come to sell you have to declare neighbour disputes.
    Yes we are trying to get it done, Covid and me working full time has slowed it down. It is only decorating we are doing now and she did ask me to stop hoovering one day,something which I would be doing anyway,refurb or no refurb. I take your point on the cameras and will hold off. Thanks everyone for your help 
  • Jeepers_Creepers
    Jeepers_Creepers Posts: 4,339 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    edited 4 September 2021 pm30 12:39PM
    Are these folk being unreasonable? Yes, completely and utterly. They are totally out of order, especially with their (his) aggressive response.
    Could there be mitigating circumstances such as sleep deprivation as mentioned above? Hmm, yes, possibly - that would be understandable to some degree (but not unapologetic aggression), and you are clearly sympathetic to this - you come across as a very decent fellow.
    But, what blows any possible mitigation for their attitude cleanly out off the water? (a) the guy's aggression, coupled with no subsequent apology. (b) using self-righteous terms like "the baby's sleep was of the utmost importance..." (take it for a bludy drive, then). And (c) definitely if they have asked you to be quiet again since her hubby's aggression. That would suggest a total & unreasonable lack of contrition and a vacuum of empathy.
    All classic 'self-entitlement' behaviour. They are unlikely to change within their heads, but can be made to 'behave' themselves. You won't become friends with these neighbours, but that's ok. You will (should) be able to live alongside them, each knowing and respecting each other's rights. And that's all that most folk in terraces can expect - everything else is a bonus.
    What to do? I guess what any reasonable person would do who doesn't allow themselves to be dragged down to their pitiful behaviour; carry on working, do your best to avoid noisy work during the requested hours - a wee bit of planning ahead: "hmm, I need to get these shelves up today, so I'll leave all the brackets and screws ready and do that at 3pm...", and carry on as normal. If you have to have a day of noise, pop a note through the door "Sorry - I will need to use a floor sander today, and this will be very noisy. Apologies for this in advance.", and then just get on with it.
    Personally, knowing of his aggressive behaviour, I would fit a camera, and would immediately contact the local police on any repeat. You do this because these folk aren't 'reasonable', so they need to be stopped using the leviathan; they need to know the 'game is up', and they cannot behave as they do. If you don't show them this, they'll keep being a'oles. They will. I would also post a note making it clear what the situation is, with the added benefit that it shows you - in unavoidable black and white - as being 'reasonable' and them as 'oles' should matters escalate, and also just to rub their noses in it; "Dear neighbour. It was never my wish to disturb you during my renovation work, and congratulations on the birth of your child. I will do what I can to keep noise levels down, and will keep in mind the preferred sleeping time of your baby, which I understand is between Noon and 2pm. Having said that, living in a terrace of houses does come with the inevitable drawbacks of not expecting complete silence from the neighbouring houses, so - moving on - I will expect you to show tolerance of normal everyday living - as will I. What is completely unacceptable is the aggression shown to me by your husband, which was both physical and verbal - the kicking of my door, coupled with being referred to as "a f****** c***" (write out the full words to drive it home). I need to make it clear that I will not be tolerant of any repeat of such behaviour. Yours neighbourly, Go West."

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