Noisy renovation works/baby due any day

Posted by Becki1975 (348 days ago)

The flat above us is undergoing major renovation works, with constant drilling/extremely noisy building work from 10am to 5pm Monday to Saturday.

Our baby is due any day. I am unable to spend anytime at home during the day because of the noise. We are looking into getting a serviced apartment for a month following the baby's birth to ensure some peace and quiet during the day.

Please can anyone advise if we can request that the owner stops the work for a short period of time when the baby arrives - to enable us to 'catch our breath'? Can we ask for no work on Saturdays for example, or no noisy work before midday?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by jwm (347 days ago)

You can ask all you want, but provided they work inbetween those hours you mentioned, it's up to them. Sorry about that. I assume it should not take more than one or two weeks to complete the noisy work

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Becki1975 (347 days ago)

That's what we thought 4 weeks ago - but still the drilling continues!

Thank you for responding

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by flashback (347 days ago)

.... Same thing is happening to me too... the renovator seems to only have one or two guys on the job and it's drilling and clopping about up there for the last two months... Not kidding... Saturdays are really annoying! Thank God for Sundays...

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by SWTFP (346 days ago)

When I moved into my flat, my neighbor next door complained about my renovation, not the noise, but the smell of the paint, which caused discomfort to his pregnant wife. So, it is just impossible to please everybody around you.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by dohmum (346 days ago)

We have encountered the same situation, but we call up the management company to intervene. Yes, the law stated that renovation work can be carried between 7 to 7, but whenever there is nuisance, annoyance caused to the others in the building, the owner is in breach of the DMC which is actionable in court. DMC provides the general provision which regulate the dos and donts in the building. Of course, we understand renovation works had to be done and there is noise, smell in any event, but we also do think all the things must be done with reasonable standard. Did the workers take any measures, say noise-block, sealing the door to stop spreading the smell to other, to minimize the noise and smell that come out from the workplace. The Enironmental Protection Department has listed all the things the workers can do to minimize the disturbance (but we think no contractors do that unless the owner requested).

Our case is that, my hubby work at home and my bub is only 6 months old who require 2 to 3 nap during the day. The workers start drilling at 930 sharp until 530. By then, my bub cant sleep and goes mad, the hub has to stop his works and comfort the bub. My bub is so lack of sleep that he does not want to have his milk and cant poo. Bearing in mind that it is too hot to take him out for a walk during the day. You can understand how furious are we as parents. This situation continues for a week and we can no longer tolerate and call up the management co to contact the new owner. The new owner should ask the contractor to minimize the disturbance and limit the period of doing that. What the works have to be done for drilling for a whole week. There is a big difference between appointing one worker to carry out the project and appointing ten. We are talking about reaonsableness.

By now, when we talk about DMC to the managment co, they manage to control the noise. Yes, the renovation work is still going on but the noise is acceptable (my bub can go back to his routine)So we just learnt that it is just a matter whether the contractor want to minimize the disturbance or not, but not whether they can do it or not.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by WoDer (346 days ago)

As the noise of drilling and breaking concrete is travelling mainly inside walls and not through the air, its impossible to control such noise. To complete redo a flat from floor to ceiling it will take more time as just a week.

BTW. As you are very aware of the legal aspect then you also should know that working at home is most of the time illegal too.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by hettijames (346 days ago)

WoDer - Since when is working from home illegal?

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by WoDer (346 days ago)

For Business and Residental Premises different Government Rents applies and therefore working at home is illegal. Please read the deed from your Building. see item 5 on the deed. The Tenant agrees to use the premises hereby agreed to be used for residence only.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by HK1 (346 days ago)

WoDER is wrong...

That aspect he is refering to means you will not run a business out of your home and does NOT mean that you cannot work from home, i.e, doing work on the interenet or somthing like that.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by WoDer (346 days ago)

HK1

You are correct Mr. Adfundum

(I am based in Hong Kong)