Compensation for building work - entitlement

[keelesquirre]

My uni put an extremely noisy building site right next to my halls of residence and refused to do anything about the noise all year even though people complained - I now want financial compensation as they wouldn't sort the problem out when I was actually living there. I know they've had to pay compensation to other people but they're making it difficult by asking why we want compensated now and why I didn't compalin before. (I did not personally complain during the year, but friends of mine did - I'd already fought a month-long battle with them over something else when I moved in and knew how reluctant they were to assist students). Can anyone offer any advice on how to get them to cough up? I'm prepared to take them to court if necessary.

[bednobs]

tbh i dont think you would have a leg to stand on and taking them to court could be expensive for little return. from an outsiders view, you didnt complain all year, and now some people are getting compensation, you want some too. Thats what it sounds like. Why did you put up with it for a year? without so much as a whisper, or trying to get a refund and then findng someone else to live?
as for compensation - would you consider that you had lower marks because there was so much noise going on? if so, how can that be compensated with money?
did they work in the evenings or nghts? if not, how do you know they were noisy if you were out at uni? have you materially lost anything? If not, how can they compensate you?

[keelesquirre]

I didn't complain as I knew they were unlikely to actually minimise the noise - this proved to be the case for other residents, and I knew from past experience they are difficult to deal with.

Yes the noise did disrupt my study and possibly lowered my marks - university grades correlate to career prospects and salary, this is a financial as well as intellectual implication.

They did not work evenings or nights. The final year of one's degree consists largely of self-study and as it was a finalists' block many people were trying to work during the day, including myself, that is how I know it was noisy.

I realise the main problem here is that I personally did not complain during the year. Can anyone offer any advice?

Thanks

[Ethel]

We all have to put up with neighbours' building noises from time to time, whether that neighbour be a domestic home or a commercial site. Building noise is considered normal noise provided it doesn't start before 8am, and stops at 9pm.

Your university would have study areas away from the halls, such as libraries.

Even had you complained I can see little grounds for compensation; as you didn't complain I would say your chances are nill.

[bednobs]

i have to agree with ethel, that if you felt it was materially affecting your ability to study, then you could have gone to the library or other uni facility. i cant understand if you were so worried about it and it was so unsuitable, you didnt either mention it or move out and ask for a refund of monies you have spent. I'm sorry because i know its not what you want to hear but my advice is to frget about it and get on with your life