Noise

Grinding? I think the only way is to speak to your neighbour and ask what the noise is and that it is disturbing you and other neighbours.
Some people seem oblivious to the fact that their noise is bothering others and hopefully they will try to stop annoying you.

Is there any law about running a business from home

THere is, according to a current story on The Archers.

Put simply, he won’t know the noise is troublesome unless you tell him. He may well be wearing ear defenders. What about mentioning it and if it is likely to continue, suggest that he insulates/noise proofs the garage. It may not eliminate the noise completely but at least make it bearable.
My neighbour has just built a work shed in his garden (very noisy) and I thought all was going to be quieter but no. I have chatted to him and the insulation arrived on Friday. I have just bought his little girls a gift as a thank you for making the solution so easy.

I would calmly and politely point about the noise in person. You say it has been almost constant over the last 12 months which to me seems unreasonable for close neighbours to put up with. Depending on the reply you get will determine how you go forward.

There are rules about running a business from home, which usually requires an application for a change of use for the part of the house (in this case the garage) which is being used. I would, as others have suggested, have a calm conversation with the owner to point out the distress this is causing you. If that is not successful, then your local council will need to be made aware of the noise nuisance. I suspect that, if the grinding is constant as you state, then it is more than a "hobby" that he is carrying out. The council will investigate and some alterations may be required by them which will alleviate the problem.

But do try to have a quiet word first. As others have said, he may be totally oblivious to the fact that the sound is carrying to other properties.

My house deeds (1930s) have a condition for no business use. Still, it's widely ignored around here and I don't think there would be any way of enforcing it now.

At the end of my garden (across a service road) a mechanic uses his garage as a workshop. Often, there's annoying revving of engines, clattering metal sounds - and much loud chatter, including swearing. I just couldn't have a sitting area at that end.

I would definitely mention it. It’s bothering you and your elderly neighbours. Chances are...they haven’t thought about the effect it’s having, and it’s almost not fair not to give them a chance to sort it out.

However, if you get no joy, I would just document everything Then if you do have to go down the complaints route, you’ll have evidence. Hopefully won’t come to that. It’s so easy these days with smart phones if you have one.

You say they’re quiet at night, which is the real blessing, although it shouldn’t have to be. I always feel you shouldn’t have to ask twice, they’re adults. They’ll either stop immediately you tell them...or not, or they’ll give you a good reason, and a possible stop date.

Whilst documenting, are there changes you could make? Such as moving your sitting area in the garden to outside your house?

At least it’s winter now, so presumably no sitting outside. Hopefully, any work he’s doing will be finished by next Spring.

Good luck.

Our neighbours were suspected of running some sort of business from home. I don’t know what and it didn’t make any noise but the council was very persistent in trying to find out what was going on.

It won’t affect the OP themselves but if the neighbours are running a business they may be invalidating their own home insurance unless they have permission.

No you are not being unreasonable.
Too late now but with hindsight it may have been in your interests to have purchased the land in question when it was up for sale. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.
Regardless of what you would have done with it at the time or later but land always sells and at least in view of what is happening now prevented the likes of those moving in who it seems have no consideration or give thought to others.
It does appear the land is being used for business purposes but that needs to be confirmed and my thoughts are do not say anything to the owner until you have obtained legal advice and that needs to come from a solicitor.

Thanks daisend1. We and the neighbours concerned did all buy a strip
of land as our gardens were very small.
We have a patio by our French windows and a smaller one by the garden shed which is a lovely sun trap.
Unfortunately we have not been able to use this due to the noise.
I eoikd add that the grinding can be heard whenever we sit. I have set with headphones on listening to music at times.
Sadly it's still heard in doors during the winter. I'm going to start recording it.
My D H says I've got to be careful as residents are allowed to make a certain amount of noise.

I wonder how big the land was that a large home was built.

Why were you unable to use your garden last summer?

Is the neighbour breaking any laws? If not, nothing much you can do
It could be a hobby, not even a business

We didn't use yhe garden because of the awful grinding noise coming from the garage that is ag the jottom of our garden. Our garden is about 12ft long.
A bungalow was built as plans were refused for a house for privacy reasons. It us a 5 bedroom bungalow with bathrooms and garages at the bottom of our garden. Like that so the bungalow had privacy.

Keep a diary of the times of the noise.
Contact your local Planning Authority, if he is using the garage as a business he must have permission.
Do you have a Parish Council? You could ask the Clerk privately if any other villagers have a problem with the noise, they might be able to help, he could then table the question at the next PC meeting, or you could go along and ask the question.
Bear in mind that if you put anything in writing about the noise nuisance you will have to tell any potential purchasers of your property when or if you eventually sell, unless of course the matter is sorted.

Neighbours! We have one who decided to extend his house himself instead of getting in a building company. So, three years down the line, there is still banging and hammering. There appears to be nothing anyone can do as there is no law against DIY even if the DIY is building an extension (which was agreed to by neighbours as we didn't know he would be doing it himself!).

DIY/building noise is only acceptable at certain times, check your council web site and complain to the council if outside those hours, won't help days in the garden, sorry

silverlining48

THere is, according to a current story on The Archers.

That's not law though, that's just the terms of Tom and Gnasher's tenancy agreement. It won't be the same for everyone but in this case it would be worth checking if it's a hobby, or an art studio or something.

Nana56
Glad to be of assistance.
Have you thought of Citizens Advice ?This is a FREE service and they have their own Legal Advisors.
Speaking from experience I can vouch for this having used their services.Mine too were due to neighbouring activities.

Speak to the environmental health team at the council, ask them to come out for a visit. They might set up recording equipment to assess the problem.

You can get the local council to assess the noise levels and if they are unreasonable they will issue a noise abatement notice

I would politely ask if he might think of putting noise insulation and say maybe he is not aware of how noisy it is, then he will know it is noisy and disturbing you and other neighbours, you can judge his response and know then if he is approachable and willing to discuss and find a solution. If not then I’d go down the route of letter and complaint and home business ect… I’d go in neighbourly at first as he may actually be unaware how disturbing it is or may not care, you’ll know by how he responds

If you are living, as I assume, in a residential area, he is most assuredly not allowed to run a business from his home, unless he has planning permission to do so.

If he has, the noise level should have been ascertained.

Speak to him! Right now, you probably do not feel you could or should invite the family in over Christmas, but why not send a card, and mention that you are curious to know what he actually is doing in the garage, especially as you find the noise level difficult to bear.

If he doesn't take any notice or sends you a rude answer, ring your town council and ask precisely what the rules are about noise , whether caused by someone's hobby or business.

If someone isn't told how are they to know that there is a problem? Tell them...simple. Suggest they line the building they are working in so that sound is restricted from carrying.

Citizens' advice is a v good idea. So many people run businesses online from home these days that it's hard to enforce the law without accusations of 'picking on' people. I think the noise and nuisance route the better and easier one if the friendly approach fails.