​Living with builders; how construction workers can be unpleasant neighbours

Thousands of new homes are built every year, many more are redeveloped and most of the time we accept the need for construction works and developments proceed with few major issues.

Thousands of new homes are built every year, many more are redeveloped and most of the time we accept the need for construction works and developments proceed with few major issues. However for some living in close proximity to construction is a nightmare. Reports from some residents in Vancouver highlight the problems that can occur; the noise, the mess, the ignoring of the times that construction is allowed. Writing in the Vancouver Sun, Barbara Yaffe suggests that this is not uncommon and that the city should have an ombudsman for construction disputes. Her article cites a number of cases in which residents have been inconvenienced or claim that their property has been damaged by inconsiderate builders. Perhaps the pressure that the industry is under to supply the market is pushing some operators to the limits of what should be acceptable?