Miracle

So I get back from lunch today, and it's like ... silent in the office.

No hammering, crashing, shouting, smashing sounds from the contractors in the next office. No horrible glue/ sweat/ paint/ thinner smell to assault my little nose. I wondered, perhaps they're done with the renovations? After all, the Bare Look is all the rage these days. Who needs a false ceiling, furniture or even lights?

Then my secretary informs me that the Contractor Man came over with a little card and asked us to call him anytime on his mobile if we were not happy. Plus the management of the building also called and gave us their staff's mobile numbers. Mystifying. Perhaps we are really becoming a nicer, kinder society. Or perhaps it is the National Day spirit?

Then my secretary tells me that no, it's because the building management have just received the little note that I had dashed off to them on Monday. Haiyah. Anyway, this is what the little note said:
________________________________________

Dear Sirs

We are the tenants of Units [XX-01/02]. The adjacent units (XX-03/04) were vacant for some time, but now a new tenant (XXXX) will be moving in shortly.

We have quietly tolerated months of noise and odour from firstly the reinstatement works performed to restore the premises to original condition and now, to renovate the premises for use by the new tenant. This is despite the fact that on at least 2 occasions, the noise and odour emanating from the adjacent premises has been close to intolerable. Our staff actually experienced headaches and nausea on these 2 occasions. Today, in particular (8 August 2005), notwithstanding that it is a working day for us (and for most Singaporeans), the renovation workers next door have not bothered to lower the noise level or even taken any precautions to ensure that the foul smelling paint and turpentine that is being used next door does not cause any business interruption for us.

We hold you, as Landlord, fully responsible and liable for this.

Despite the fact that you have clear rights in your lease agreement to regulate the manner in which renovations are carried out by tenants, you have either refused or failed to exercise any control whatsoever over the contractors, subcontractors or their respective employees who are carrying out these renovation works for XXXX. We note that you have regulations which specifically state when and how these renovations are to be carried out. We find it difficult to believe that these regulations have been complied with.

We have irrefutable evidence that the nature and extent of the nuisance was made known to you, as our staff had, on no less than 2 occasions today, and on numerous occasions in the past, contacted your management staff directly to complain. We were assured on both occasions that the situation has been addressed. However, at the time of this email, the situation has not been addressed as we can all hear workers shouting at each other through the walls, and our staff are also trying to leave the office as soon as possible as their eyes are watering and they have headaches.

From your failure to exercise the control that you have, the premises that we have leased from you cannot be properly used as an office, which is the very purpose for which it has been leased. Our rights against you in this regard are hereby expressly reserved.

By this email, TAKE NOTE THAT if the nuisance continues unabated when our staff return to the office on Wednesday 10 August 2005 at 8 a.m., we will have no choice but to take further action to rectify the situation without further reference to you, and we will look to you for reimbursement of our fees and expenses thereby incurred.

Kind regards
________________________________________

It's a little disheartening that I had to resort to writing this. Surely a phone call should have been enough? Clearly not.

Anyway, I don't know how the contractors managed to continue work without making any noise or smell whatsoever but apparantly that's possible. My guess is they're probably pushing the nails in with their thumbs.