Noise at 05:25

Complaints Corner
1
Currently living in what feels like the middle of a building site. Looking out of my window, there's one dead ahead, one diagonally to the left, one to the left and one to the right. It's noisy. The workers arrive between 6 and 7, starting work at 7.

All within the local laws.

But this morning a concrete mixer rumbled up the street and woke me at 05:25. At 05:55, the site boss turned up (I know it was him, he has a noisy motorbike) and resolved the issue. During this whole time the mixer had its engine running - presumably to stop the concrete setting.

What idiots send a concrete mixer to a residential area to arrive at half past bloomin' five!

(The main project manager is very apologetic and has promised to speak to the concrete supplier).

2
.....maybe the concrete supplier ?

3
Good point. Well presented.

It looks like others have complained as the local copper is having a word.

4
What about city works? Is there a rule there?

As I have the local city trash guy who shows up even on a Sunday morning at that time or earlier to change the public trash cans. I know it isn't an easy job, but he goes about as loudly as possible and it wakes the entire street up. In all honesty, I think he's that loud on purpose.

5
Possibly a "if I have to be up on Sunday, everyone else will have to suffer with me" type.

6
Yea, it's quite obvious and it pisses me off. I think there are jobs he could do that don't require such an early start, but I am not sure why he needs to start that early on a Sunday.

7
This is super annoying. I paid them 50 CHF to wake you up at 4:30

8
There is a renovation going on of an entire building behind ours. There is an incredibly bright and massive light in one of the ground floor rooms which faces up into our bedroom and shines through our bedroom curtains - which they leave on 24/7.

My partner checked which construction company is in charge, and sent them a very polite email (and attached a pic at night) explaining the situation. The lights were off the following day. BUT - a few days later, that massive light was once again on 24/7 and I simply couldn't sleep. He then emailed once again, and also spoke on the phone. They were very sorry and since then, when the workers leave, the light is off. Good thing my partner contacted them in a friendly and calm manner as the tone of my email would have been stronger

9
Ah bliss to live in a rural area away from all traffic and building noise.

But when the farmer has to cut the hay, or whatever- they will not ask permission to get on with it. I wouldn't even dare complain. Sometimes we are woken up by owls, or foxes mating, and thousands of birds early in the morning.

But I get your pain. Talk to foreman?

10

....foxes indeed !

11
NotAllThere... If the construction noise continues to be a problem for you, you might want to get some custom-made, silicone earplugs. It's amazing how much noise they block out, and they are extremely comfortable. There is a massive construction site going on near us right now, and I can't even hear it when I am wearing mine. I think most hearing aid stores can make them for you. Mine cost around 100 CHF (that was about seven years ago).

12
Depends on your city, I guess.

I'm fairly much of the mind that they have a job to do, and that they have to get on with it. This incident really is the fault of the concrete deliverer - I'm sure the project manager was pretty annoyed that they send concrete when there's no one there to receive it! From what I could hear, when the site boss turned up to deal with it he wasn't best pleased!

To be fair, the workers are polite and friendly, and the project managers cooperative. When we were concerned that our roof had been damaged by an ice fall (The crane arm goes across our house sometimes), they got the crane operator to check that everything was ok.

Hey ho. Only another year to go.

13
We had the same problem and complained to the site manager. That worked a few times but not permanently.

Then we complained to the local Gemeinde Bauamt and it has been dark at night since.

14
From experience it's a lost cause, I wouldn't waste my time. You can however ask for a rent decrease.

15

Rubbish

16
Tricky. I own the house.

And you can't ask for a rent decrease unless the work is being done in your building by the landlord.

17

Any disturbance of the night’s sleep between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. is prohibited.
2 Any action that causes noise within and is considered a disturbance to the night’s sleep
outside of properties or outdoors.
3 This may apply to school and sports venues, including their outdoor facilities
special provisions or the operators may impose further restrictions
arrange.

18

Said rule does not apply to farmers. We’ve had combine harvesters 24/7 a few times.

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