No one bans repairs during quarantine: Vilnius residents who cannot work and study in noisy places are offered to negotiate with neighbors

Two neighbors simultaneously carried out repairs in one of Vilnius Krivių st. Apartment building. For the closest neighbors, it has become a veritable hell when they are forced to work at home all day without quiet drilling, demolition or forging work.

Unfortunately, no agreement was reached.

“It just came to our knowledge then. We tried to negotiate beautifully with the neighbors here. With one he managed to find compromises a bit, and with the other owner of the apartment, no, he does not accept any compromise, he says that when he gets the builders, then the work keep going.

Families with small children also live in the house, we work from home, my two children study remotely. Sometimes it’s just mission impossible, upset, angry kids. It’s bad, it’s really challenging to work, “Audrius said of attempts to negotiate.

We try to negotiate wonderfully with the neighbors. With one he managed to find compromises, and with the other, no, he doesn’t accept any compromises, he says that when he gets the builders, then the work continues.

He contacted the Vilnius City Municipality by phone, but heard that the government had not made any decisions regarding the noise in the quarantined houses.

The municipality did nothing, so the same old procedure applies. Consequently, repairs are allowed until 6 pm in the afternoon.

“I asked how this can be moved in principle, because everyone may have to live in quarantine for a long time. I was asked to write an official letter to the municipality by e-mail with a request for consideration. That is what I did. “said Audrius.

Offer three hours for repairs.

In his letter to the municipality, Užupiškis mentioned that the ongoing repair work complicates and sometimes makes both learning and work impossible.

“It is also a constant noise throughout the day. People have no choice but to go out to work or study, offices and schools or cafes to close. Please tighten the requirements for construction noise, ”Audrius wrote to the municipality, adding his suggestion, so that noise work is allowed to take place for three hours in the afternoon, when student lessons are over. .

Audrius says he understands that no one can or wants to prohibit complete repairs, but would very much like to set specific hours when such work is possible.

Then other neighbors could also schedule long distance meetings, business conversations, etc.

“It would be irresponsible to leave it as it is. We closed cafes, supermarkets and more due to the quarantine. But we left the construction sector as it was before,” Audrius said.

He also considered that noise problems in Lithuania are too often left for self-regulation.

From her experience living in Scandinavia, Audrius mentioned that even children’s birthdays are coordinated with neighbors during the day.

In Lithuania, it is extremely difficult to show that noise interferes and even damages.

We closed cafes, supermarkets and more due to quarantine. But we left the construction sector as it was.

Don’t change the rules

And this time the municipality of Vilnius did not offer any real help to Audrius.

The response sent to him indicates that the order of the director of the municipal administration stipulates that works that emit noise are allowed on weekdays from 7 in the morning. at 6pm, and weekends and holidays from 9pm. until 5 pm

The municipality also recalled that the quarantine decree established that the work had to be done remotely, unless it was necessary to do it at the workplace.

“Due to its peculiarities, repair and construction work cannot be organized remotely. During quarantine, natural and legal persons are not prohibited from carrying out construction and repair work.

During the quarantine, there are no restrictions to carry out repairs, construction works in the allowed hours, that is, on working days from 7 am. at 6pm, and weekends and holidays from 9pm. until 5 pm ”, reads the response sent to the resident.

During quarantine, natural and legal persons are not prohibited from carrying out construction and repair work.

The Vilnius City Council admits that since the start of the quarantine last March, it has received complaints of noise arising during construction and repair, for which it has asked the Ministry of Health for the latter to make decisions.

However, he received a response that “the function of regulating and controlling noise during construction works in residential and residential areas has been assigned to municipal administrations.”

However, as the quarantine is valid throughout the country, the municipality is convinced that the decisions should not have been made by it, but by the head of operations of the state of emergency.

“We understand that the effects of noise can have a negative impact on your quality of life and recreation, but first we must strive for harmony and mutual understanding.

If repairs and construction work are carried out in accordance with the allowed start and end time of construction work during which noise is emitted, you can agree in good faith with the responsible persons and agree on the time of the works of repair and construction, without violating the Start and end time of construction and repair works ”, says the response to the population, and also recalls that the construction sector is usually the most affected by economic crises.

If you are upset, the municipality offers to call 112, report through the electronic police or contact the municipality’s Department of Public Order, although without promising that the latter will respond immediately.

Calls to talk

Vilnius City Municipality reported on the fact that there will be no changes due to noise during quarantine 15 minutes.

The comment states that complaints about noise in the home during the day increased by about a fifth during the quarantine.

“During the quarantine period, when many people work remotely, it is natural that there will be more sounds at home. Residents are encouraged to speak with neighbors, report on planned repairs, and keep mutual welfare in mind.

The quarantine has exhausted many, but, for example, sanctions for sound in apartments during the day (not in the evenings when there is a rest period) would not solve the problem and potentially put the neighbors even more in the face. In this difficult period, unity, understanding and listening are needed more than ever, ”the representatives of the Vilnius municipality wrote in the comment.