Noise complaint from neighbour

warby68

I am assuming this is a next door neighbour but OP's wording is a but unclear as she is an end terrace but accommodating another neighbour already so that caveat applies to my advice as I'm not sure how far down a street I'd go.

Whenever we've done any major projects we've informed the neighbours either side out of courtesy and we're detached by a reasonable distance. They do the same. The same in previous homes.

Some of the threads about neighbours and indeede comments here suggests this isn't a thing any more and that as you have right to do what you like to your own property the neighbour is the one being difficult.

I have no idea whether the neighbour is being unreasonable but I do get why he might be annoyed due to a perceived lack of manners on your part. Also a DIYer doing work at unpredictable times over months on end plus probably the worst noise of all in a circular saw does create something of a perfect storm - living with the dread and uncertainty as well as the actual noise. A little surprised OP is not showing more perception on this front being noise sensitive themselves and ironically disturbing the peace with a view to soundproofing.

If I'm right and you didn't go and introduce yourself, explain the plans and ask about times etc then at this stage I'd treat it as getting off on the wrong foot and try for conciliation at least once more before drawing battle lines. The car situation sounds perfectly reasonable when you haven't moved in although obviously you're the one of the ground as to tone etc.

Norman_Castle

Rosa_Damascena said:

Norman_Castle said:

seilduksgata said:

I first met this guy when I got the keys and he'd parked in my drive, I left a note on his windscreen asking for it not to be parked there and he came out and said he had been a good friend of the previous owner and she'd let him park there, but he would move it (he has his own space). Thankfully he hasn't done that again but it made me think he was a bit odd.

Not sure what to make of the noise complaint - my instinct is he is a bit of a bully as he hasn't tried to park in the neighbour's drive or accosted him and he is male whereas I'm a young woman.

He might have had a reason why he preferred your drive, he's explained why he parked there and moved the car without complaint. Its possible he didn't realise the house had sold.

Or he might just have been TTP?

Whats TTP?

TELLIT01

Following the death of my neighbour I occasionally used their drive to park one of our cars on, with the agreement of their son.  Fortunately I wasn't using it the day the new neighbours moved in, which the previous occupants son had failed to warn me about!  It can happen.

coffeehound

Taking The Proverbial ?

warby68

Norman_Castle said:

Rosa_Damascena said:

Norman_Castle said:

seilduksgata said:

I first met this guy when I got the keys and he'd parked in my drive, I left a note on his windscreen asking for it not to be parked there and he came out and said he had been a good friend of the previous owner and she'd let him park there, but he would move it (he has his own space). Thankfully he hasn't done that again but it made me think he was a bit odd.

Not sure what to make of the noise complaint - my instinct is he is a bit of a bully as he hasn't tried to park in the neighbour's drive or accosted him and he is male whereas I'm a young woman.

He might have had a reason why he preferred your drive, he's explained why he parked there and moved the car without complaint. Its possible he didn't realise the house had sold.

Or he might just have been TTP?

Whats TTP?

Taking The .....

seilduksgata

Hi all,

Thanks for all your comments. It's a back to back house in London - I've consulted with the person in the back to back and the next door neighbour (whose work hours I'm working around) - this guy is his other side neighbour. I don't have experience of having done renovation before as this is my first place but I have many friends who have and thought the idea was to inform next door neighbours if that, not the whole street, and that it's a courtesy as it's your right to do it 8-6pm weekdays/8-1pm Saturdays in most boroughs including this one. 

I do understand that noise is an unwanted nuisance for people but I don't really understand why construction noise at 3pm in the middle of the week is something it would be rude not to consult the whole street about. I could probably explain that I'm soundproofing the wall and that it's a few hours here and there around my work schedule which I can't generally predict in advance. 

I do wonder if this is a cultural thing though - I've lived in London most of my life but further in and even though this street is zone 2/3 it's far from the tube and seems to be a mix with a lot of retirees who seem to have lived there for decades and know each other well. It doesn't feel urban so possibly some of my assumed norms aren't shared by the older residents.

warby68

If he's a little further away then I'm not sure I'd have mentioned the work either but now you know it bothers him, I'd still have one more try at the friendly option.

Ultimately you have to get the work you want done but you also have to live there afterwards. That's why I don't jump on the 'rights' bandwagon. 

The observation about the area having older and long standing residents is probably correct. New people have to prove themselves. A bit of apologetic sucking up whilst still getting on with the work can work wonders. I'd minimise use of the saw though when other options are better. 

Norman_Castle

seilduksgata said:

 It's a back to back house in London - I've consulted with the person in the back to back and the next door neighbour (whose work hours I'm working around) - this guy is his other side neighbour.

So there's a house between you and him? Circular saws make a lot of airborne noise but that shouldn't reverberate through buildings. Exactly what are you doing with it?

Bendy_House

TELLIT01 said:

Following the death of my neighbour I occasionally used their drive to park one of our cars on, with the agreement of their son.  Fortunately I wasn't using it the day the new neighbours moved in, which the previous occupants son had failed to warn me about!  It can happen.

And, if the new neighbs had turned up whilst your car was there and had left a note for you, what would you have done?

Of course - gone straight round to offer profuse apologies, explain why it happened, and assure them that it was a one-of. And, "Welcome!"

Ie, not what this cove did.

Bendy_House

lesalanos said:

If he doesn't show some contrition and continues to be shouty or intimidating, do consider calling up your local bobby 

Which then causes potential issues when selling your house and you have to declare the neighbour dispute 

So, if this guy keeps on coming round and being shouty and demanding, what should this single woman do?