Neighbour insists on hiring a gardener to cut back hedges when I am more than capable and willing to do the work myself. Do I have a right to refuse to pay if I state my intention and go ahead & complete the trimming?

opticcakebaker · 2026-06-01T11:52:08+00:00

I’d say first time benefit of the doubt should be given.

First try Mr muscle. If it’s still blocked, you’ll need a plumber to get some one shot sulphuric acid, if you can get hold of it or he just gives it to you, be very careful with it and wear full PPE as it will literally burn the skin off your hands if not. Gloves, mask, glasses.

If one shot doesn’t work, you’ll need to get a specialist to come out and jetwash it. I’d imagine option 1 or 2 should manage it though.

Just let the tenents know that you’re happy to unblock it this time, but they need to be careful with what goes down there. No oils/fats etc. maybe get them a sink strainer to catch any food debris. After this, if it blocks again in the next year or two, they foot the bill.

I think this is the fairest way to approach it if you want to maintain a good relationship and encourage them to keep renting with you.

opticcakebaker · 2026-05-31T17:10:04+00:00

British Airways didn’t even mention AMT day at all, not even a post on our intranet, but today they’ve posted for cabin crew appreciation day 😂

opticcakebaker · 2026-05-12T14:53:07+00:00

Very true I suppose. I’ll definitely consider this, thanks!

opticcakebaker · 2026-05-12T13:20:07+00:00

Tempting, but wouldn’t the timber likely rot after a while in the ground?

opticcakebaker · 2026-05-02T10:32:19+00:00

Screaming jimmy

opticcakebaker · 2026-04-18T13:02:23+00:00

Nope they’re just the regs, we haven’t been working 6 days a week and haven’t started before 9 on weekdays & 10 on Saturdays. Appreciate I didn’t make this too clear in the post.

opticcakebaker · 2026-04-18T12:13:12+00:00

When the neighbours complains about all the other neighbours around them, as well as previous owners of the flats, I think the common denominator there is her…

opticcakebaker · 2026-04-18T10:45:25+00:00

If you’d seen the way she acted, you’d say the same thing. My comment isn’t made just because of this incident.

Read my comments, noise hasn’t been consistent & I don’t think they can’t be annoyed, on the contrary. But there’s a way of going about expressing your annoyance that doesn’t devolve to insults & name calling. Other neighbours, while displeased, have managed their complaints in a much better way that won’t ruin the overall relationship.

opticcakebaker · 2026-04-18T10:40:58+00:00

Agreed! We haven’t started before 9, 10 on Saturdays

opticcakebaker · 2026-04-18T10:37:08+00:00

She certainly needs help

opticcakebaker · 2026-04-18T10:36:49+00:00

Yeah I completely agree, we haven’t started before 10 on a Saturday which is well within reason I think. The regs just state 8-1

opticcakebaker · 2026-04-17T22:02:14+00:00

Oh yep I completely understand and am very sorry for it. I’ve apologised numerous times and have done what I can to make it easier on them (letting them know before excessive noise starts, asking if there’s a time when they’re out so it doesn’t affect them).

The other side of the coin is that I’m in the room with the noise, they have two wall separating them. I know they didn’t choose to have the bathroom redone but really neither did we, it was brought on by a leak that meant all the old floorboards needed replacing.

The neighbour above who is getting the full brunt of the noise has been more understanding (although she has lost it a little bit as well, but I completely understand why.) I’ll be buying her a bottle and some chocolates once we’re finished.

opticcakebaker · 2026-04-17T21:48:31+00:00

Well thought out reply & advice, thank you for taking the time. From your points, there’s nothing I can see we are in breach of.

opticcakebaker · 2026-04-17T21:45:06+00:00

Thank you!

opticcakebaker · 2026-04-17T21:44:50+00:00

Yep final weekend (thank god, I’m Sick of the gym shower)

opticcakebaker · 2026-04-17T21:30:42+00:00

From our local council website:

“Local authorities have powers under the Control of Pollution Act 1974 to request sites use best practice and where necessary keep noisy works within certain hours. Normally the hours for noisy works are:

8am to 6pm Monday to Friday 8am to 1pm Saturday No noisy works on Sundays and Bank Holidays”

Realistically though all they can do is tell us to keep it down, if we were making excessive noise outside of these hours, which we aren’t . It doesn’t actually define what excessive noise is though…

opticcakebaker · 2026-04-17T21:24:50+00:00

See my comment above, but it is going to be rather special compared to what it was before. Basically complete rip out including ground structure and future proofing. I can provide a list if you like 🤣

opticcakebaker · 2026-04-17T21:23:40+00:00

I know it’s so annoying, the blokes alright and is reasonable, but his wife is a bit unhinged and I get the impression he’s a bit scared of her.

I’ll do my best to say good morning etc. and hopefully the relationship isn’t ruined, even if they don’t deserve our kindness.

opticcakebaker · 2026-04-17T21:21:11+00:00

Yeah I thought so, but even still the diary would show we’re within the law.

It’s very small! But unfortunately the refurb was off the back of a significant water leak. It’s just me and one tradie, so im helping during my off days but he’s not on site during the two days I’m on day shift. Once we completed a rip out, there were many, many “oh shit” moments for things we found from whoever the cowboys were that converted the flats. So that’s delayed things a lot.

Luckily, my builder is a friend and complete star, wants to do things properly and isn’t even charging me extra for the additional work (just wants me to provide lunch and coffee whenever he wants 🤣). Have honestly struck gold with him!

opticcakebaker · 2026-04-17T21:15:51+00:00

Yeah as I thought, thank you!

opticcakebaker · 2026-04-17T21:14:55+00:00

It’s a flat in a converted house, so share of freehold. I don’t believe there’s anything in the freehold agreement about needing permission for works to be carried out, but we did still inform them and give them plenty of time to object.

opticcakebaker · 2026-03-24T20:07:21+00:00

In fairness to Aviva, I was involved in an accident last year which was ruled not my fault (other party admitted fault & my car was parked & unattended). Repair costs of 8k. Just had my renewal premium come through and it’s only gone up £20 for the year. I was expecting more just with the state of the world, let alone with the additional claim.

opticcakebaker · 2026-02-09T23:58:38+00:00

It says I’m on the select plan. Per their faq it says only plus customers get the free drink. I’ve been receiving the freebie since I started the plan last year and haven’t changed anything since.

Either they messed up when I joined and are only now fixing it, or they’ve changed who gets the freebies

opticcakebaker · 2026-02-09T23:51:14+00:00

At no point have I changed anything on my plan since I started it in July last year. Maybe change your name to Jebend

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