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Disruptive and disrespectful neighbors
My partner and I live in a house that shares a main wall with another couple. They have never lived in their flat because since buying, they have been fully renovating. This has already been going on for more than 8 months an de has no indication of ending soon. They often work for only 2-3 hours a day but it's ALWAYS 7 am and it's so loud. We were sympathetic at first and wanted good relations with them, but we just can't take it anymore. The owners are often not involved and we have only met them once or twice in passing, therefore it's the workers we have to deal with.
This morning- on a Saturday at 7 am- the drilling began right at our heads in our bedroom. My partner went over immediately to ask they stop and the workers was very rude and refused. We feel powerless because we don't know the law and we fear that they are taking advantage of us as expats being unfamiliar with how things are here.
We live in kortenberg (Flemish area). Is there anything we can do? What are our rights? They may be allowed to operate as they are, but it's excessive and to an unreasonable extent at this point.
Any help or feedback would be appreciated.
You could go to the 'peace judge' (vrederechter) to complain about the nuisance you are facing. It will be a conciliation meeting with your neighbours who are responsible for their workers.
https://www.tribunaux-rechtbanken.be/sites/default/files/public/content/...
you can find the locations of such courts on the above site
Here is also useful and use a translator to have it in English:
https://www.rechtbanken-tribunaux.be/nl/conflict/u-heeft-een-probleem-me...
Good luck to you
Your first call should be to your gemeentehuis to find out the hours during which building work can be carried out.
If it is 'ALWAYS 7 am' that might well be because that is the earliest time that they are allowed to start work.
There definitely are specified hours laid down and they vary slightly from one place to the next but if they are keeping to the official hours you can only hope that you can come to some agreement with the owners - the builders are just doing their work.
I fear you ll find 7 am is going to be within the local by law.
file:///C:/Users/Eric/Downloads/20151207_Algemene_bestuurlijke_politieverordening_ondertekend.pdf
See articles 80, 81et 82
I am not an expat ... but it happened to me as well. In the house next to me Polish workers went on for more than 5 months. Drilling and other noisy activities all day. Not structural organised. They ran up and down the stairs all the time (bad planning, wrong tools, ....). But when it happens between
7 in the morning and 8 in the evening, I think there is not much you can do.
What I could advice is using good earplugs. I use it on open air holidays (tent) to sleep better and longer.
