How can I work without annoying my miserable neighbour?

Question

I have a hobby which involves making things out of wood, plastic etc.
It means using an electric bench sander and occasionally a jig saw. The jig saw is used for no more than a minute usually - and that's it for that session.
The sander is used for maybe a few minutes at a time, maybe 6 times per session. A sessions may be once per week, one per fortnight or even once per month. A session may last 1 - 2 hours.
My miserable and grumpy old man of a neigbour, ranted and raved about it the other day (even though I hear power tools being used almost every day from other nearby houses, that he hasn't complained about)

How can I do this without bothering him and therefore getting me a load of earache and hassle. (PS: He's the sort of very sad loser that calls the police over for the slightest thing - you know who you are if you are reading this you sad B*****d)

acai, it IS in a shed. I am very considerate of him and always have been./ He rants and raves at anyone about the slightest thing. So your answer is a load a ****

Answer 1

If you do it at normal times for example saturday and sunday daytime he shouldnt have a problem, do what my parents did and speak to the police, they basically just asked what times of day to do these sort of things is considered a nuisance, let them tell you and keep to it. If he does call the police (obviously after you have told him that you are not commiting an offence!) you can tell them that you are doing it within the times that were suggested by the law. If you have to give the name of the desk clerk or police officer that you spoke to!

Answer 2

I have a neighbour exactly like this; it takes the patience of a saint.

I would find out what the local laws are regarding noise and use of power tools. You'll almost certainly find that you could be using the tools a LOT more than you are. Armed with that knowledge, I would go the neighbour and say "Although I am perfectly entitled to use my power tools at these times, and I really try to minimise the inconvenience to you, I'd really like to work with you to find some way for me to get my work done without unduly bothering you. Do you have any suggestions?"

If he only gives unreasonable answers like "don't use your tools", then you just calmly say "well, that's not reasonable, I am entitled to use my tools, but now is your chance to suggest ways that I can make this less stressful for you".

This puts the onus back on him to try and come up with something reasonable, like planting a shrub outside the shed window or something, but what he'll probably realise is that there is no reasonable solution and he'll just have to learn to "suck it up". But having given him the opportunity to think it through and try and help you solve the problem himself, he may realise how unreasonable he was being and I suspect he'll complain less in future.

Good luck!

Answer 3

get or buy him nothing ?you must live your life the way you want to?you are not doing any harm ?sounds as if he is getting to you a bit have you ever stopped to have a friendly chat and say would you like me to show you what I do?has he ever been interested?you will show him how it would mean if you were getting on you would be more happier?and so would he does he Fancy going to the nearest pub or club for a few beers?better to live in harmony if he moans and says no the tell him to sod off and get the chain saw out ???find out the music he does not like and put it on full blast?you can make as much noise till 10pm the police cant do anything?

Answer 4

i will correctly be conscious of ways stressful and problematic this occasion might desire to be. possibly the loss of life of her husband incredibly knocked this woman for 6 and has left her clingy and annoying. She has additionally had to flow place of residing, that's complicated for those drawing close previous age, and makes 2 worrying stories she's had to administration in the area of under a year. it is achieveable she has the onset of dementia, which may make human beings overlook that they have got already phoned somebody or spoken to somebody and so as that they do it back and back. Do you have an agency there that befriends the widowed? in the united kingdom there is an agency called Cruse. if so, possibly you will possibly desire to manage to have somebody from the agency call at your place, then invite your neighbour over for tea and cake so as that they are able to get chatting. You sound close to to snapping factor, so I do wish you may get something taken care of out for this woman. stable success.

Answer 5

You don't say, is this a house or an apartment? a condo? how close in proximity are you to him?
What are the noise laws in your area and what are the times. If your following all the rules and or, by-laws, I wouldn't worry. They'll end up telling him to get a life.

I have a family of hobbyist race car drivers next to me, they're out there until one in the A.M. sanding, grinding, etc, that's O.K. because when I cut my lawn next to them at six in the A.M. so far they haven't said anything, My wife is holding her breath, I can't wait.

Answer 6

Talk to him, be reasonable, and say that you don't want to upset him but you want to be able to enjoy your hobby without feeling he's going to complain all the time. If he still moans, make sure you don't do your stuff at silly times (late at night etc) and just put up with the moaning, he can't really do anything. He's probably just lonely and complaining is his only hobby!

Answer 7

No offence mate, but I'm not an old codger and I'm not a person who gets irritated easily, and I've never called the police out for anything in my life, but if I lived next door to someone who had some sort of power tool going for 2 hours at a time I'd get a bit annoyed too. Whether I'd call the police is a different matter though mate!

Have you not got a garage you can do it in? I'm sure he'd have much less legitimate reasons for complaining if you were doing it in a garage as opposed to in a back yard (outside) or in your kitchen or something.

And, while I don't know the guy at all, it's not fair to say he's a loser and sad b@stard. He's a fellow home owner who deserves just as much as you to have peace when he wants it.

Answer 8

Its probably other, inconsiderate neighbours that winds him up and he's just taking it out on you. Ask him if it's the noise or electrical interference that bugs him, and if its any particular time of day. He shouldn't stop you doing what you need to do, provided you take reasonable measures to minimise impact on others.

Answer 9

I would deliberately make loads of noise as he will get sick of complaining in the end. The law states that you can make as much noise as you like (within reason) between the hours of 07.00 to 19.00. Buy him a pair of ear plugs and tell him to fcuk off and get a life or a coffin!

Answer 10

U could try cutting off his head with ya jigsaw that should stop him complaining, period!! Or you could seek legal advice and get the solicitor to send him a letter telling him to back off.