Letter to Neighbours About Your Building Work or Access
Renovating, building or doing repairs, and want to tell the neighbours before the trucks arrive? A friendly letter that explains the work, the dates and hours, what they might notice and how to reach you, and, if you need it, politely asks for access to their land. A courtesy letter, not a formal notice.
What this document does
- Explains the work in plain words, with the dates, the working days and the hours.
- Tells them what they might notice, such as noise, trucks or a skip bin, and thanks them for their patience.
- If you need it, politely asks for access to their land, exactly as you describe it, and says nothing happens without their agreement.
- Gives your phone number or email so they can raise any concern with you first.
- A courtesy letter, not a formal notice. We check the formal notice rules in your state before you pay.
- You read it first, then download it to print and drop in their letterbox, or email it yourself.
What we'll ask you
Plain-English questions, one at a time. No legal knowledge needed — if you don't know an answer exactly, your best estimate is fine.
- What is the letter about?
- Has your builder, building surveyor, certifier or council told you that you must give this neighbour a formal notice, or get their consent on an official form, for this work?
- Who is the letter to? Your neighbour's name, or write 'Neighbours' for a letter to several households.
- Is there a court order, police order or intervention order that stops you contacting this person?
- The address of your property, where the work is happening.
- What work is happening, in plain words? Add the builder or trades if you like.
- When will it start and finish, and what days and hours will the trades work?
- What might the neighbours notice? For example noise, dust, trucks or deliveries, a skip bin, scaffolding near the boundary, or services turned off briefly. You can skip this.optional
- If you are asking for access: what access, where, for how long, and how you will protect or restore their property. Skip this if you are not asking for access.optional
- Your phone number or email, so they can reach you with questions or concerns during the work.
- How should the letter sound?
- You review it first · Nothing is sent to anyone else
- 2 free amendments included
- All Australian states and territories
- Stripe secured · 256-bit encrypted
From your answers to a finished Building Work Letter in three steps
Answer 11 quick questions
Who signs, what is agreed and the key terms. Plain English, one question at a time.
We write it, calmly and clearly
Your Letter to Neighbours About Your Building Work or Access is written from your answers in plain English, in the tone you choose, then formatted as a clean one-page PDF. Usually ready within about five minutes.
Review, confirm, receive
The draft lands in your dashboard for you to read. Change anything that isn't right (two free amendments), confirm it, and we email you the final PDF. Nothing is sent to anyone else.
Ready? Start now.
No card required until the end. No account needed to start.
Start My Letter — $29 →$29 flat fee · You review it first · 2 edits included
Everything about the Letter to Neighbours About Your Building Work or Access
How much does the Building Work Letter cost?
A flat $29 AUD, including GST. There is no card required to start, no subscription and no hourly rate. You see a summary of your answers before you pay.
How long does it take?
There are 11 questions, which take a few minutes to answer. The letter is usually ready in about 5 minutes after payment, any time of day.
Do I see it before it is final?
Yes. The letter lands in your dashboard for you to read. You can change the wording yourself or ask for a redraft, then confirm it and download the PDF to print or email. We do not send it to anyone.
What if I need changes?
You read the full letter on your dashboard first. You can change the wording yourself or ask for a redraft, with 2 edits included.
Is this a formal notice?
No. It is a friendly letter. Some building work needs a formal notice or the neighbour's consent on an official form, for example protection work notices in Victoria, a notice for work affecting the stability of neighbouring land in South Australia, and the BA20 and BA20A consent forms in Western Australia. If your builder, building surveyor or council says you need one, this letter can't replace it, so we don't sell it for that.
Can I ask for access to their land?
Yes, politely. The letter describes the access you need and says nothing will happen on their property without their agreement. In New South Wales, the Access to Neighbouring Land Act 2000 lets the Local Court order access for some work, but only after a reasonable effort to reach agreement. In Western Australia, access for building workers is agreed on the official form BA20A, so we don't sell an access request there.
What about a dividing fence?
A dividing fence has its own notice rules under your state's fencing law. Claim Done's Dividing Fence Notice covers it.
Can one letter go to several neighbours?
Yes. Write 'Neighbours' as the recipient and the letter opens 'Dear neighbours'. Print a copy for each household.
Other everyday letters
Put it in writing today.
A few quick questions and your Letter to Neighbours About Your Building Work or Access is ready in minutes. No card required until the end.
Start My Letter — $29 →