noisy DIY

Steve · 2005-07-13T13:12:54+00:00

This could be a interesting topic for all you DIYers' out there..I live in a detached house converted into three flats. I`m in the middle part of the building with someone above me and someone below.I've been renovating my flat for roughly 5 yrs on and off with the bulk of the work being done in the evenings and weekends as I have an office job during the day. Most of the time the work doesn't involve a great deal of noise or disruption and I tend to leave the big jobs to the weekend. The guy below me has been renovating also for a similar amount of time but has mainly had tradesmen in to do the work. The people above me aren't doing any work but are pretty laid back and aren't bothered about me working on the flat.All has been pretty good until recently when I have started renovating a room directly above a bedroom of the guy who lives below me. He tends to get up early 6-7am whereas I typically don't. As such we've clashed recently with him complaining about me banging around at about 10pm. I try and get the noisy jobs done before 10pm or leave it to the weekend if its going to be really noisy (such as major drilling or hammering). Unfortunately in this case I was trying to get a bit of plumbing work done under the floorboards and he was trying to get to bed early.He is well aware I'm doing the work and up until recently he's only complained a couple of times when I really was taking the p*ss (on both occasions I actually thought he wasn't in !).I wondered what similar peoples experiences are and if there are any specific laws around to state when you can and can't work and at what level. The only law I`ve found is the 'Noise Act 1996' which talks about penalties for night time noise between 11pm and 7am. Everything else seems to be subjective based upon actual noise level and circumstances. As such I can't really gauge what noise I am entitled to make and when. My only argument at the moment is that I can spend a couple intensive months getting the noisy jobs...

Jul 13, 2005 20 Replies

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OldBill 21 years ago

I agree with you on this. Never mind the details of Noise Act the neighbour could complain to the L.A. about persistent noise, I did successfully for a barking dog next door. Also, there will most likely be something in the deeds/lease for the flats about "quiet enjoyment". The affected neighbour could invoke legal measures against the noisy DIYer on those grounds.

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