LISBON (Reuters) – The construction site outside Brazilian journalist Giuliana Miranda’s suburban apartment in Lisbon did not bother her much – until remote work began and the drilling noise drowned her interrogators at Zoom. Soon he moved home.
But luck was against her. Just before homework became compulsory again last month, two of her eight neighbors in the new building began renovating their apartments. Two more have started since then.
‘The construction site had permission from the Council to start at 07:00 and also to work on Saturdays. I moved because of the noise, “she said by telephone. “But … now, the new building has four people renovating their apartments too!”
A new piece of legislation in a decision passed Thursday that would extend Portugal’s nationwide exclusion for another two weeks could finally make Miranda and others rest and peace to concentrate when neighbors hit walls and tear up floors.
According to the decision, the government can limit the decibel levels in residential buildings during the working day, so as not to disturb remote workers. Currently, it can take place on weekdays from 08:00 to 20:00, and some projects are licensed to work on weekends.
The government did not respond to a request for further details about its plans.
Hugo Fernandes, a 44-year-old musician who said he had been suffering from the noise of the renovation work in the building next door for more than two years, has high hopes.
A new rule can change things. “We have complained to the council before, in vain,” Fernandes said. “It’s unbearable and as a musician working from home, it’s just impossible.”
Yet, loopholes in the legislation can make those who struggle with noise from construction work outside their building happy. The rule stipulates that noise levels must be regulated inside a building – it does not determine whether noise can be stopped from the street.
But for businesses hired to do apartment renovations, the legislation could pose a problem – especially if it is open, said Ricardo Gomes, head of the Portuguese Association of Construction Companies.
“The sector will suffer short – term damage, yes – but the real question is how long will such rules last?” Gomes said. ‘COVID will finish but not work remotely. Like anything imposed in an emergency, these rules should be limited. ”
Reporting by Victoria Waldersee; Edited by Alex Richardson