I would like to ask fellow forumers. I have been staying here for 1 year and from day 1 till half year later, the neighbor on my right has been doing renovation which had made the family frustrated already but they did cooperate by starting at 10 where everyone can at least wake up before they start anything.

The issue is the neighbor on my right decide to do renovation too as soon as they bought this house. The renovation start at sharp 8am till sharp 6pm non stop with drilling and jackhammer. It has been straight on banging for 6 months non-stop even on Saturdays.

Is there any way i can complain to DBKL or something? From what I heard, they have already broke the regulation of keeping the physical structure of the house.

I don't know what to say to this....
I mean, I'll be starting my renovation next week and will be disturbing my neighbours for about 4 months long.
I understand your need for peace (I would want that too) but also I need to renovate my house too.

I understand the predicament that you are going thru. I have a neighbour few doors away which carried out his renovation work for more than a year. His contractor's workers come and go on & off. Meaning that, at times they only work a few days in a week. Thus the long duration to complete the work.

If your area is under DBKL, you could always check with them on the allowed working hours. I was told that under MPSA, renovation works are only allowed from Mon - Fri only.
You could try to talk to the house owner.

You can talk to them ask them start the banging late morning, and maybe on Sat don't do so heavy banging.

Long term, you don't want a black face neighbor. And it may come to a day you need renovation same thing happen to you.

If your neighbour will have a long renovation,maybe you can discuss with them about the working hours, for landed i think they can do it on saturday as well.... but working hours maybe shorten to 11-5,or maybe 11-6... they you can avoid it... but whenever the renovation took more than 6 months,probably you can complaint to management /

Permit last for 1 year.

I'm glad there are people out there that understand. I am having a black face every single morning for the past 6 months already.

We tried talking to the renovation people but they practically ignored. There was once, I said its Saturday and if you want to renovate also till 1-2pm only but they just said no, we will renovate till 6pm.

The fact that a ready made house is for you to buy, maybe just extend a bit at the back for the kitchen and thats all. This owner almost broke the whole structure down and build it again.

I guess either I can call up DBKL to ask them to check on this issue or further discuss with the owner, its driving my family crazy.

Sound like your complain direct to me I brought the house, and about 70% or more of the house are rebuild.

For my case, My left neighbor run a tuition class in her house, all banging stop after 3pm, occasionally i did forgot to tell some other contractor lucky my neighbor just tell contractor to stop. The major noise is on the first three months. After that is some noise here and there. My Right neighbor is rent out.

Now that most of my major renovation is done, my left neighbor now start renovating. And I think is payback time Anyway I don't mind cause the major reno will only last for 2 to 3 months only.


May I ask, what is your expectation of tolerance? no single banging at all or occasionally 1 2 hours banging per day is acceptable even for Sat?

Haha. Sorry to directly tell you but i guess you can already feel what I am going through now.

I can tolerate banging like from 10am where I can PEACEFULLY wake up at my OWN house, head to class and that's it. The problem is as if they have drilled a thousand holes in the whole house. for 6 months, they have been drilling and jackhammering. I still can't understand, is there so many banging to do in one house.

3 months ago, i asked if are you done with the banging? The owner said ya, just a few more weeks. Now its the 6th month and its driving me nuts. I can seriously go mad at this point. I can't get a decent rest even when I am sick.

This post has been edited by SpIcYjOe: Oct 25 2011, 10:47 AM

Sleep early loh

6 Months of hammering? are they demolishing a condominium?

It is more carrying rectification work, after thoughts, additional work from the house owners. Quite norm in renovation works.
House owners will carry out additional work which will require additional hacking even after the whole process is reaching the ending stage.

Noise is regulated in Guideline Bunyi Bising; if violated can complain to DOE they will come and measure noise levels.

Problem could be that when you managed to get the DOE guys to visit, the noise level is kept to the minimum

Than the house owner can ask DOE to check with MPSA, DBKL etc why first place approve the permit?

Is all about balance.

And what happen if you live near an empty land now is being develop? Like my mother house the construction happen. In evening no noise just too many large vehicle moving in and out. Who can we complain?

Yah, I feel sorry for my neighbours, because I bought the house not renovated since it was built in 1975, so most of the walls are there, but still needed to hack all the tiles and floor and removed a couple walls at the front and back, also had to redo piping and electrical.

Thank God my wet works contractor move very fast. Started end of June, beginning of Sept all the major extension wet works done, only left the tiling, flooring etc.

I did bring a fruit basket to my left and right neighbour to apologise for the noise right at the start. They were understanding.

Their houses also not renovated at all, but they've lived there since the start, so maybe one day I'll get my payback. haha.

Unfortunately, it cannot be avoided.

If only there are more considerate neighbours like you around.

Everyone has different level of tolerance. Check the allowed renovation timing stated on the handboo. If it's not within the allowed hours, then u can complain. For instance, my apt here, can renovate from 8.30am to 5.30pm, Mon-Fri. Sat up to 1pm. It took abt 3mths for my upper floor owner to re-tiling. I don't know why so slow. But I just bear with it. It is meaningless if we live like enemy in the future. U complain me, I complain u... U don't want this kind of living environment, right?

My friend own a condo @ Riana Green condo. She had a neighbor below. Even she move a chair louder complain. Kid running and jump complain... Now that is called bad neighbor.

Yeah I will check up on the management about this issue.. I hope they don't even make a sound tomorrow as it is a public holiday..

Public holiday make noise can complain and call police too.

Anyway, 6 months is a long time. Contractors should always get more workers to hack the damn thing out in the first 1 month and do the quiet work for the next few monhts.

Suitable tp stay at Bungalow...



My renovations have done more than 9 months, yet the sound is ON / OFF
1) After initial 1+ months (Hacking of old Kitchesn and upper floor wall)
2) Few days when hacking of tiles at Kitchen floor & Wall, Leaving Room
3) Conceal wiring for aircon - 1 days

Only thing the next door complained is the dust hence ask my contractor hack fasted....

Question is What type of renovations that need keep hacking and make lough noise for 6 months?

I don't know... This contractor is totally inconsiderate. We complain about the dust, they don't give a damn. They hack the wall till my roof is leaking (I don't know why) and also they don't give a damn.

It's like we owe these people to take our peace and comfort.

This post has been edited by SpIcYjOe: Oct 26 2011, 10:52 AM

If after you have talk to your neighbour and they are not bothered, then you should lodge a complain with the local authority with photo evident, etc. Roof leakage is some thing serious.
1st, there should be a permit for the renovation work. They should also ensure that in the process of carrying out the reno work, they do not damage the neighbour's property, etc. Get the local authority to approach them. Normally, if your local authority is efficient, they will issue a notice to that effect.

Thanks for the info. I will do that...

BUT alwys speak to the owner first........

There is no point talking to an inconsiderate owner. I told him please don't start so early and his freaking respond is it's my house.

I did not pay so much money to buy this house to be living in a hell hole ever since. Roof leaking, dust all over, ants all over and peace not found.

Can someone please give me the phone number to whomever I should call to consult?

And btw, once this fellow moves in, he will regret....

This post has been edited by SpIcYjOe: Oct 27 2011, 08:33 AM

Call up your local authority. Which area is your place, btw?
If you don't mind spending some money, can also engage a lawyer

Necessary to go this far?? I am afraid u will regret someday. Think before u act. Just my two cents...

This post has been edited by JollySheep: Oct 27 2011, 10:12 AM

I will contact the local authority. No need to appoint a lawyer.. I don't want everyone black face when see each other for the rest of our neighborhood.

Regret in which way?

If the owner holds a permitfrom DBKL they would have to errect a notice board of construction outside their house. Further more Building works could only be done on normal working days starting from 9am till 5pm (residential area). no work should be done on weekends and public holdidays.

No board or anything outside the house. I just don't get the fact that they did heavy renovation for 6 months; Bangings, drillings, and hammering but its like never done. It isn't a bungalow.

Don't think you need to erect a project sign board for renovation work. This is mostly for construction of a new building, etc.
If there is an authority approval, there should be a approval letter stating the approval duration. This should be prominently display.

I'm currently renovating my house in PJ and have the proper approvals from the council. Working hours are from 8am - 6pm if i remember correctly.

But of course we know that our neighbours sometimes don't wake up so early... so my workers start work with the heavy drilling and jackhammering at about 9am after which we stop for an hour while my neighbour has their lunch.

Legally, i'm within my rights to start at 8am but aiyar... if my position with the neighbour is switched of course i'd feel pissed too.

With regards to leaking roof, it happened to my neighbour but i got the workers to fix it immediately on the day my neighbour informed me.

To help keep their porch slightly clean, we've put up tarpaulin sheets on the left and right of the driveway to minimize dust travelling. If at anytime the driveway is dirtied a great deal, my workers clean up my neighbours driveway before heading home.

The noise created is still going on today due to hammering and sometimes drilling for the water pipes replacement and my project is now in its 5th month. It's the small gestures sometimes that makes a slight difference and i honestly appreciate my neighbours patience so far.

But without a doubt some ppl can really act like an ass.

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Added on November 1, 2011, 12:14 pmNot sure about ants caused by renovation work though.

This post has been edited by adrianjc: Nov 1 2011, 12:14 PM

If I were you, i will refrain myself from complaining. FFS, mild or extreme renovation works are neither causing you any harm nor loss. Just nuisance. Time will come where you are the one renovating your own property.

You are just a little bit unlucky. Having said that, your soon to be neighbour might be your close friend and probably you will need his/her assistance in the future. We never know!!

Sound proofing and compensation on hotel lodging

But what if the neighbour is having a baby in the hse? Would U be kind enough to wait till the baby grown up then only initiate the renovation job?

Just nice to each other, why would you like to have enemy stay next to you who you may facing rest of your life???
And who know he / she maybe your best friend, or who could help when you need it ...

Well can't really help much if there is a baby in the house right. There is only so much i can do to minimize the time my neighbour has to put up with the noise. And honestly it depends on the type of neighbours you get, my neighbours have been great and understanding people and i talk with them whenever i'm around, which is everyday.

So, lucky me!

after reading this thread....i just want to say, i will not want to live beside a neighbour like spicyjoe....that's all, thank you

You are a really considerate citizen and a good neighbor. They will really appreciate this. This neighbor of mine don't even show up to say sorry or help in any way.

That's true but i already need his help is to be considerate.

You will never want to! 6 months of heavy drilling and banging could bring down a whole bungalow already. I'm currently having a phobia for Morning to come.

This post has been edited by SpIcYjOe: Nov 1 2011, 09:29 PM

End of the day gonna be neighbours and live side-by-side, and its always good to have nice neighbours. It makes the area feel like a neighbourhood rather than just a place to live.

Agree with you... if only everyone thinks alike...

If everyone is just like that...

I took a day off to rest as I am tired but guess what... The hammering and drilling is still going on as I speak now from 8am nonstop till now. I rather have my boss nagging me than this... A freaking wasted day off... Total bullshit of this neighbor... Total bullshit...

WHy not you dropby and check what the hack their doing? Get a big hole to cover Gold? or under ground?

Some house owner are fussy, and change mind like our gov. Flip Flop here and there. My contractor work on a house @ Saujana, this house already renovate for coming to 2 years!!!, he is 3rd contractor.

E.g. Today want the wall plug at 3 feet high, tomorrow want it 1 feet high. Wall not straight ask hack and do. Furniture build 1/2 way not nice ask change.. Add extra work last minute.. Put electric rolling grilles (shutter) at stair entrance don't like ask remove..

Somemore all this don't want to give money..Who say rich people are good, this is what i call lousy customer. First 2 contractor do until run away. Mess up the house

Have U experienced the same as TS?


But what Ur the 1 whose having a baby in the house and Ur neighbour is doing renovation next door which causing Ur baby crying for the whole day due to the noises and vibrations? Would U be kind enough to leave them till then get the job done? What if the validity of the renovation permit is one year and the job will be completed in a year?

Have U done tht before?


I thought the validity of the renovation permit is only a year?

This post has been edited by J1@l_ l_l l\l: Nov 2 2011, 05:50 PM

You can always extend, is just about $$$

I thought u need to go out to work every weekday? So, shd not affect u during the day, right?

U have to put into account there are ppls who aren't working on weekday, family member who stays in the hse during working hour, and how bout Saturday, many are not working on Saturday and many prefer to stay home enjoying peaceful day. And in fact there are also ppls who use their home as a SOHO.

@weikee if this neighbor of mine really renovate two years, I will gather the whole neighborhood to sue him until he declares bankruptcy.

I see J1@_ is frustrated too... I am already losing my mind with the noises.... I took a day off today but have been force to wake up at 8am; went out to get something's done and thought of going home to get a nap since is an off day, guess what. From 12noon till 6pm, I only got 30 minutes nap because they were having lunch.

I'm currently having thoughts of employing a lawyer to settle this, my roof has been leaking for 2 weeks and they don't give an eff to fix it...

This post has been edited by SpIcYjOe: Nov 3 2011, 01:59 AM

HHhhhmmm... you seem to be agitated & bitter about something. Care to share your experience?

I currently live in a brand new condo building and i've been living with hammering, drilling, and whatever else for more than one year now. I'm not complaining because people need to get their units done, can i kick a fuss if i'm sick and stay home knowing that ppl will be drilling? A condominium is even worse because not only have neighbours on your sides, but also up and down, but anything being done on your floor and 1 floor above and below can be heard very clearly.

Like it or not things have a way of working themselves out for better or for worse. But one things for sure... work goes on...

wah seh.... reporter ah? interogating?

WE ARE NOT SUSPECT OK!

Not really Sir.

Juz trying to make an assumption to see how would the tenant feel if the next door is doing renovation or vice versa.

Lets assuming , if our unit is located next to the library, are going to get sued bacause of the noises and vibrations caused by the renovation work? I know tht it's not gonna happen since the renovation permit is not gonna be approved by the town council if the unit is next to the library, but juz an assumption.

Honestly, if U really have a infant in the hse, and I'm having renovation jobs being done within the allowed working hours next to Ur unit, what would U do to me or the contractor?

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Added on November 3, 2011, 11:11 pmUnless U can find a free lawyer Sir. I thought of tht too, but I also thought of human rights in boleh land. Renovation permits can be approved and extended eventhough they are not suppose to be, I guess most of us know the way.

This post has been edited by J1@l_ l_l l\l: Nov 3 2011, 11:11 PM

The neighbor on my right is a chinese and when they renovate, the DBKL keep come to disturb the renovation work and apparently someone reported the workers as illegal workers. I respect this owner as he really need give concern about us living next door and got major hammering done within 2 months and the rest was small works.

The problem is the current neighbor that i have been complaining since this thread as been opened has not been visited by any personnel from the government for breaking the regulations of the structure of the house. Is the government being racist?

But whatever is it. This neighbor seriously disrespected me and my family. Seriously disrespected.

I just recovered from Food Poisoning and guess what, the pass few days, I had to force myself to stay in the hospital to get some decent rest. Is this what a home is? Cannot even get a decent rest when you're having fever as high as 38.3 degree?

You are very unlucky to have this kinda neighbour. But we can see that your relationship with this neighbour has been so strained that it will be very difficult to be mend. You have to imagine that you will be facing that neighbour for yrs to come. With current relationship you dont just see black face neighbour everyday. For example, my neighbour and the other neighbour even quarrel because their flowers pot are slightly off to the other side. They parked at the parking opposite their house. It also go to the extend that the neighbour installed grill infont of their Hilux and purposely bang the other neighbour's car. You should serious consider this if you intend to bring the issue further.

ok i stayed in places with renovation going on before. i know it's frustrating becoz perhaps u just want to wake up late, or stay 1 day MC at home to rest etc etc.

but no use getting angry over something you can't control. you angry, they still have to renovate, you no angry, they still have to renovate. so, whenever ppl renovate i pack my things and go off. come back at 5-6pm when they stop hammering already. at least u get peace of mind in the evening, and maybe on the weekends too. doesn't bother me that much as normally when i come back hammering already stop.

for those with baby, bring the baby out..to friends and relatives? hang out there or something..then if wanna cook, come back at maybe 2-3pm? at least u avoid the whole morning hammering already..

and also, if u're planning on staying long term in ur house now, don't don't quarrel with ur neighbour..because u WILL need their help some day. sometimes to feed ur dog/cat, sometimes to watch over ur house when u go for holidays, sometimes they lend u their parking space..etc etc..the list goes on and on

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Added on November 17, 2011, 3:45 pmadrianjc, u're right about that lo..i can hear hammering every day every day every day............also hear cars and motors parking at obscene hours..cars alarm ringing..and worse still when mppj come to pick up rubbish @ rubbish dump. Not to mention, upstairs neighbour scraping with their pulling of chairs and tables..children running around on the corridor..some even riding their tricycle and shrieking. but how? go out and ask them to shut up ?

so TS..there are worse living environment..so don't take it to heart so much..

This post has been edited by @Adele: Nov 17 2011, 03:45 PM

Yeah true there are worse environment out there... I'm always trying to keep my cool. Don't know what will my first expression towards the neighbor will be when they move in...

Ok.... now these people have crossed the line... Look at the front roof side jutting out into my house area... and FYI, the funnel for the water to flow into the drain is directly above my house wall...

The work yet to complete right? It should have another tube instead of leave like that..

Nope... Its like that.....

Normally there should be a down pipe to channel the rain water towards the pillar. Else the rain water will be splashing everywhere.
However, even if there is a down pipe, from the looks of the photo, the gutter has already encroached into the neighbour's property.
This is something that should be done without the consent of the neighbour.

Yeah they have done it without our concern.... There is no down pipe still at the moment....

Most likely they will install the down pipe. Else, they will have the rain water splashing onto the porch as well. Your side & theirs.
Maybe try have a word with your neighbour....

SpIcYjOe,
Time to raise your voice before too late...u will not know what coming nice if silent...

Better make noise now. If got problem later they will say " why you keep quiet earlier " than you jialat
The neighbor fued starts
Negative vibes all over the place....

This post has been edited by phoenix69: Dec 25 2011, 10:45 PM

We raised our voiced already.. the reason they claimed is our extension of my house behind when over to their side..... from what I see, we didn't cross anything... its perfectly straight....

Anyways, we manage to make they cut the damn gutter shorter....

These people really aren't civilized... Making a hard time for us neighbors....