Advice re:complainers

scattymam1

Hiyah, has anybody confronted this or got any advice to give:

Moved into a house 2 years ago. We knew there was work to do but it has turned out the house was in a terrible state. We were welcomed into the neighbourhood as the area has a bad rep. and the neighbourhood committee want to welcome young working families who will improve the area. So that's what we've tried to do- we've put a lot of time, effort and money in to this house and we've had nothing but complaints from the neighbours about work we've had done(but nothing else - just diy work).
First it was about noise or minute amounts of dust and they would bang on the door themselves, but lately they seem to pick on the most trivial of things to complain about and actually pull out council inspectors to our house. We always pick reputable companies (which comes in more expensive) who have never come across anything like it and they've been in business for years. I don't know who has been complaining lately but I am still very civil when I see them in the street. It is causing me so much stress and upset, I am very anxious about confrontation and have suffered panic attacks so I have stayed at my mothers whilst having some work done lately only to come back and find more complaints. I feel that it is a form of bullying. Why can't I just get work done in my home that we pay for and work hard for. Is there any legal thing I can quote because this last thing we were accused of doing was a lie and really we should get an apology. I am sick of it, maybe I should go to vent forum but I thought I might come across some builders round here who have dealt with this before !!! any advice greatly appreciated or just tell your story if you have similar story and we'll commisserate.
It's awful cos on the other side of me my neighbour said she was going to nominate me for neighbour of the year cos I do a lot to help her in my spare time - wish they could all be like her. I feel like why don't they complain about anti-social behaviour, kids on the street at night, drug dealing in the area -why do they pick on us. Not a lot of my neighbours work mind so maybe they've got nothing else to do.
Hope to move soon but it's not fair that I have to spend all this money on moving cos I feel we're being pushed out.

PasturesNew

What sort of work?
Over how long a period?

Are we talking about fitting 2 new windows and having a shelf fitted?
Or have you extended 3 times, taken the roof off and had builders there 24/7 for the last 8 months?

baldelectrician

Put the shoe on the other foot.

Ask the council what they require re noise and dust and times of operation.

Then if they get a complaint they are informed and it makes the complainers life harder- you are now being seen to be the reasonable one.

When the council bods come over the reply should be yes sir/madam and can you confirm that in writing (or do you have any leaflets)

Don't let them grind you down. Rise above it and be utterly professional and calm.

scattymam1

No No it's a terraced house, we had a damp proof course done a year and a half ago as the water was dripping down the walls and also some laminate floor put down in our kitchen. This year we did have the roof done as we were having leaks all over, we explained to them about neighbours and they were a good company who were in and out in 4 days only working between 9 and 5. I overheard a neighbour screaming at one of them and they were very polite back to her. Recently I had my bathroom tiled which wasn't noisy at all but the plasterer poured some dirty water down the drain and they complained about that which on speaking to the council guy he said he was annoyed himself cos he was told it was plaster that was poured down there and when he saw it wasn't he said it was a waste of his time. I daren't hang any pictures up cos we get complaints about that. The thing is now all the work I wanted to have done is finished but I'm at the end of my tether now. My mam has had her block paving done, her whole house carpeted, a conservatory put on, tiling done and cladding to her ceilings in the past few months alone and she hasn't had one single whinge infact her neighbours pop in to see how its going and are excited for her.

scattymam1

good idea, the council guy seemed to be hinting at that about complaining myself but without saying it direct.

One neighbour said not to sell to any buy to let people like its up to them. I'll sell to who ever will take it.