23 replies to this topic

[Dyna]

Hi,

Yesterday I was doing some metal work (as fixing dents) I started about 5pm and about 6pm my Mrs Piggy opens her kitchen door and yells over the fence that I have to stop. No she wasn't cursing but she wasn't using any nice language either nor simply asking nicely if I could do it somewhere else. I was outside since it was such a lovely sunny day. Since I didn't get all of her slur I said excuse me? She then calmed down but said this is a residential area and you should not do business, and that this is not a scrapyard. Anyways I will not go into more details I moved indoors.

Anyways it leads me to what is the rules about noise pollution and working with cars at home? I live in a larger detached house, the garage is in the main house not a shed on the side. I know if you live in a subdivision (which I don't) they can have rules that you can't work with cars. I also know that if you live in a flat, terrace house or semidetached you are not supposed to be quiet after 9pm but I don't.

So the question is if I can start the grinder at 10pm or start sanding at 8am? What would be the rules if I had a dog in a dog house always barking late or early? What would be the rules if I played drums in my own house? Yes, I restore cars I have a lot of them. Sure sometimes I sell a car but it's not really a business. I never work with any cars but our own. Nor do I scrap cars unless I need the parts my self. Basically I'm you average car nut that likes to work with cars.

Can somebody please advice since I want to know what the rules are, so I don't risk anything....

Cheers Dyna

[Broomer]

Ignore her, Its your house, Your car, and its earlier than 9 o clock. sounds like a grumpy hag.

[The Matt]

Wasn't it always classed as 'breach of the peace' or something?

I think a lot of it boils down to sort of common sense. I mean if I had a neighbour that was making a LOT of noise before 8pm or after about 9pm I'd probably complain to them, same as if it was all day at the weekends. It's possibly worth going to CAB about it though to see what actual legislation there is.

[Teapot]

Well, if I lived next door you'd be forever telling me to stop pestering you for help and advice Sounds like paradise! However ....

Yes, I restore cars I have a lot of them. Sure sometimes I sell a car but it's not really a business.

This could be dodgy for you if someone decides to complain officially. The best form of offence may be attack here ... try going round and asking her to list her complaints and see if you can come to an agreement. If you get an agreement you kinda pull the rug from under her feet if she tries to renege later

[Bungle]

as long as its not before 7am and after 11pm you can make a noise

we get this problem a lot in the building trade

just remember you have to live next door to her and tell her what needs to be done and ask her whats the best time for her


she might be planning on going out

[Gingerjoe]

when shes sleeping, put ear plugs in he eears =D

[*Raz*]

We've had a neighbour like that.

Years back, my dad was making my bedroom into two separate rooms one for me and one for my sister so that we didnt have to share a room anymore..

We used to get her coming around our house moaning that the noise is 'freaking her out' . My dad just carried on because he wasnt doing it at stupid times, and was not constantly doing it all day and everyday. It was a job that had to be done. And when my neighbours son used to come home he used to have parties next door with his mates late at night and my parents didnt complain!!

She was a witch I swear. Evil cow!! One day she just up and left without telling us! I loved it when we saw that removal van!

[Broomer]

We've had a neighbour like that.

Years back, my dad was making my bedroom into two separate rooms one for me and one for my sister so that we didnt have to share a room anymore..

We used to get her coming around our house moaning that the noise is 'freaking her out' . My dad just carried on because he wasnt doing it at stupid times, and was not constantly doing it all day and everyday. It was a job that had to be done. And when my neighbours son used to come home he used to have parties next door with his mates late at night and my parents didnt complain!!

She was a witch I swear. Evil cow!! One day she just up and left without telling us! I loved it when we saw that removal van!

You sound like one of those evil neighbors.

[Gingerjoe]

haha, I would of offered to help them move, get them out quicker how can I noise freak you out, OMG A BEDROOM IS BEING SPLIT INTO TWO! I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO, ITS FREAKING ME OUT MAAAAAAN! tell her to stop doing mushrooms.

[Shifty]

My neighbour has reported me to the council several times.

They didn't have a problem with what I was doing, I only do it a w/ends between 10am and 5 at the most

very rarely in the eve.

I even bought a quieter compressor and a plasma cutter.

Silly bint still moans, her house is 30mtrs away from mine!!

I don't moan about her rottweilers barking all the time, maybe I should?

[nurseholliday]

I think you'll be fine dude. She's just being miserable.

My uncle moved about 2 years ago to a really nice part of Surrey, sort of area where everyone's middle aged, rich, and white... Once my uncle was properly moved in he had a good BBQ and invited the family. Must have been around 40 people, so obviously there was a fair few cars parked outside but that wasn't a problem since there's so much room on the road. We weren't making much noise since we were mainly inside, just some cooking going on outside. So anyway, about 4pm a man knocks on the door and tells me to go fetch someone who's in charge of this 'circus'. He decided this wasn't suitable behaviour for the neighbourhood and why were there so many cars parked outside? My uncle basically told him we were having a BBQ to celebrate the new house, and sorry of there were many cars but they're not causing any problems, they're all parked legally, not blocking access or anyone's drive. To which the neighbour's response was, "they're cluttering up the place and making it look untidy." At this point my uncle realised this was a complete waste of time and politely told him if he felt this was such a big problem it was just that, his problem. About 25 mins later the police turn up, have a quick chat to see what's going on. They realise it's a complete waste of their time and tell us to have a good time and leave. So now just because of that we make sure we have all family gatherings at my uncle's house

Anyway the point of that is: There will always be some people who just love their area too much and have some idyllic vision of where they live and if you don't conform they get a little 'Hot Fuzz' about it.

[Black.Ghost]

Im in agreement with everyone else. As long as it is not unreasonable times, there is nothing wrong with it.

I also happen to know that you have to be quiet between 11pm and 7am. When on exercise, if anywhere near to a house, we are not allowed to fire a round between 11pm and 7am - so we know we can usually get some half decent sleep haha.

[THE ANORAK]

i get reported to the council every time i do a bit of grinding (and I've just been out there for an hour so I'll expect a letter next week).

i actually had a visit from a council chap who came to see what i was doing, someone had given them the impression that i was fixing cars and selling them on.
he was more than happy that i was just fixing my own cars and said as long as i stuck to the set hours (yes there are set hours and it varies depending on the day of the week) and it wasn't excessive then i was fine.

i suggest you call your council and ask about the hours

i had one neighbour complain about red dust all over her car, which i thought was a fair point, so i simply put some sheeting up

[Ethel]

I actually had a visit from a council chap who came to see what i was doing, someone had given them the impression that i was fixing cars and selling them on.

It's not just me then

My cheeky so 'n so's actually had my cars taken away by the local scrapper while I was away on holiday - twice!

[Dyna]

Hi,

Thanks for all your answers, Bungle, Gingerjoe, Raz, Broomer, shiftyseamus, nurseholliday, TneMini, THE ANORAK and Ethel. I think I will check with my council (Sutton), I'm in Surrey.


I don't know if my tinkering is excessive -- we have a shift so it's every third week, then I work with the car between 8AM and 3PM, then it's one week when I work on the car between 4PM and 6:30PM, then it's one week I don't. I usually work one day of the weekend starting around 8AM and going until around 5/6 PM. So maybe it's a lot but I mean it's not every time I do noisy work. I would say it's only during the panel beating stage that usually around a month or so. Then it's when you dismantle chassis, tops one weekend. It takes a nearly a year for me to do a bare shell/frame off restoration.

Back to the council thing what are you allowed to do at home from a legal stand point? Am I allowed to restore a car owned my my self and sell it once a year (not that I do that I kind of keep them for a few years)? How is it about work at home? I mean can I do e.g. sew cloths as a family company? Can I do say blacksmith work as a family business? What are really the lines?

Hmm, don't think they will move anytime soon, so maybe I can ask what times she is away . I just try to be smooth, but I don't want to go thinking about her midday nap either it's not like you should tip toe just because you have Mrs Pig living close to you.

Cheers Dyna