Noise complaint from neighbour

kdotdotdotdot

Yes, you're perfectly well within your rights to do the work, but it helps if you can understand how bloody annoying it is for the neighbours.  If you know you're going to do something really noisy (re-wiring is incredibly loud if the electricians have to cut channels into the wall for wiring) then drop him a friendly note to let him know.

He's probably an a-hole and like all a-holes, is completely unaware of it.  If he's home all day, he's probably bored and has nothing better to do than focus on a new neighbour.  Annoyingly, nothing much you can do about it.  

TripleH

We had a neighbour moan at us for sanding at 11am on a Saturday morning. There were 2 flats in between ours and his flat and they didn't complain.

He was genuinely a nice person, but one of life's complainers. This guy might be the same.

In our current home we have had a lot of work done in the 4 months we've been here. We get on with our neighbours (1 of them like us work from home) and its a 2 way thing. I used to work for a company that had a joinery workshop so the noise doesn't bother me.

Also can you not use a Stanley knife for cutting plasterboard (score it and snap off)?

Bigphil1474

There are no specific 'rights' to undertake noisy construction work at any time or on any day. There is guidance which says that noisy construction work is generally permitted Mon - Fri 8am to 6pm, and Saturdays 8 - 1pm. Different councils may have different rules (Control of Pollution Act), but the guidelines are for commercial building companies, not DIYers. Similarly, councils can permit noisy construction work to take place outside those hours if needed.

In essence, no matter what time of day it is, you could still end up causing a statutory nuisance which the council could take action on, even if it is within those times. In simple terms, noise needs to be reasonable (based on the guy on the Clapham Omnibus test), and the council will decide if what you are doing is reasonable if they get involved. Best rule of thumb is if you ask yourself how would you feel living next door to yourself during the renovation work - if you wouldn't like it, then maybe a box of chocs/flowers/few tinnies might be called for.