The Neighbour's Noisy Renovation

In the picture, renovation work is going on in one of the flats along an HDB corridor. There is a renovation notice pasted on the door, a stack of tiles left outside, and a covered trolley used for carrying materials. A resident is walking past with her groceries, having to move around the items on the floor. What I also noticed is that the corridor is a shared walkway, so the materials are blocking a path everyone on that floor needs to use.

The unit above ours was renovated for about six weeks last year, and the drilling usually started in the morning and went on through the afternoon. It was manageable on school days, but during the holidays it was difficult, especially when I was trying to do revision. My father spoke to the contractor and asked whether the noisiest work could be done in the mornings only, and they agreed. It did not stop the noise, but knowing the afternoons would be quiet made it much easier.

I feel neighbours should speak to each other directly first, and politely. Most people renovating are not trying to be inconsiderate, and they may not realise that someone works night shifts or has an infant at home, so a friendly conversation often solves it. It also helps to ask for something specific and reasonable, such as avoiding the noisiest work at certain hours, rather than simply complaining. If that does not work, then involving the town council is fair, but I believe going straight to a complaint often damages a relationship that has to continue for years.