Lay My Hat Forum

[stevem]

The landlord of our block of flats has decided to start building work on two new flats on top of building (attic).

Our agent has already had complaints about noise etc. The agent may also have to warn customers which could result in cancellations.

A total of three (three bedroom) apartments are used for holiday lets by different owners. The landlord has one three bedroom apartment which he lets (not as FHL) but was empty recently. He is also in process of converting the attic into two one bedroom apartments.

I can accept work being done out of season but we are fully booked up until September and this could cost us a lot of money if guests cancel or require refunds.

Do we have any rights to stop the noise and other problems associated with the building work.

[HelenB]

If he needed planning permission for these, shouldn't you have received notice that the work was being done?

[Mouse]

One of the owners of the villas I manage has had horrendous biulding work being carried out in th ehouse next door for over 8 mths, they're having the basement dug out.
Their house is practically vibrating and the completion date and been put back and back.
She's tried everything to get the work controlled but she has no recourse whatsoever. All the ocuncil will say is that the work shouldn't start earlier than 7.30am and continue longer than 6pm. Also when doing heavy work that causes extreme noise/vibrations it should stop every 2hrs for 20 minutes.

I'm so sorry about your situation. It does seem that there's little consideration for others when permissions are granted.

To add insult to injury there's building work going on next to their holiday villa and she's just had to refund part of last weeks guests rental cost as the work has now reached a very noisy stage.

I hope your landlord tries to meet you half way.

Mouse
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[marsh frog]

This is a really really tricky one and we have experience of this [still in our first year] We have had new homes being built adjacent to our property for 9 months now! Fortunately we knew in advance and put this on our advert on HL. Unfortunately due to bad weather in the spring the works are behind and still ongoing and our summer bookings were mostly booked a few months ago when we thought the works would be finished.Since April we have decided to email all bookings that will be affceted and let them know that the works are behind due to circumstances beyond our control and that there may be noise during the hours of X and X. We have had only one pull out and everyone else has continued and been fine about it.I think honesty is the best policy and if you forewarn them then they have the option to pull out, but if they continue at least you have informed them. Hope that all makes sense!
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[Nemo]

Check the planning permission. There may well be some controls over when and how the work takes place. Certainly I would expect the times of building work to be controlled at the very minimum. Then if work continues outside of that time you have some recourse.

Sadly, he 's probably not obliged to work around the fact that some of you have holiday lets, so I think it unlikely that the work can be postponed to out of season, but IANAL!

You may well have to alert future guests, but better they know in advance than have unhappy guests asking for refunds or complaining during their holiday.
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[stevem]

We have expressed our concerns. Hopefully he only has a week and a half of work to do. It is indoor work but can be noisy at certain times. He is limiting the work to between 1000 and 1600 hrs.

We can only rely on persuasion and good will and hope our guests are understanding.

Our agent may alert guests and offer discounts if it becomes a problem. It can happen in cottages too as our location has a lot of holiday accommodation and some places being modernised.

[Nemo]

That sounds quite reasonable to limit the work to those hours. It's not ideal, but then life isn't! Hope it's finished quickly with as minimal impact as possible on your guests.
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