Noisy Neighbours

raeble

I don't consider three thirty in the morning to be late. Yes they did put a notice through the door but most reasonable people expect a party to be finished by at least midnight. However the neighbours two doors away don't appear to be reasonable. They are still continuing with their party at exactly the same volume as when I went to bed at midnight or thereabouts.

I can hear the music wordperfect in my living room, I feel the vibrations running through my body. I live in a terraced house, I don't know what level of noise it takes to go through two terraced houses but it must be loud. It is louder in the living room because I think that is level with the area that they have their sound system. I ought to go back to bed but I'm never going to sleep now. The police don't deal with noise and the council environmental health lot shut at two am. A letter is needed to my local mp methinks. As if that will do me any use. >:(

Pat__3

I think the police would come out if it is causing a nuisance or disturbing the peace as they call it, as there are laws about noise levels after a certain time a night, like cars not sounding there cars horns after 11pm I think it is.
But what you do have to watch for unfortunately is that these neighbours don't find out its you as they could target you, as some people can be very unreasonable as there having a good time so they don't get it, that they could possibly be being a nuisance to others.
If they do it on a regular basis I think the noise abatement people do something like come in with testing equipment on decibel noise levels or something.
I'm not really sure where to find this information out but the police could point you in the right direction as the reply from the MP could be a bit slow, or try the council they may have some info.
I'm really sorry that I can't be of more help, but I'm sure there will be someone on this site that will and hopefully get to you soon.
Hope you manage to get some rest. 8)

coupon_king_2

I had a similar problem to you Raeble except mine was a pub.
I too contacted my local council and was surprised at how willing & fast they were prepared to sort this out, granted it was easy because the pub did not have a music licence anyway.
The person dealing with it kept me informed for the next six weeks and made regular visits to make sure they stuck to it. I was also informed the council are cracking down on all forms of noise during unsociable hours whatever the source and their powers are far greater than they used to be.
While this may have been a one off and you may have to let it go this time if this becomes a regular occurance I would you suggest you try the council as I know only to well how annoying it is to have your children woken up at 3 am !!

bridiej

You'd think they would have invited their neighbours to the party, wouldnt you??

I know it's annoying, but if it's just a one off I wouldnt let it bother you too much - it's not worth falling out with people, and I'm talking from experience.

Used to live in a terraced house and the people next door had a "party" every Saturday night into the wee small hours, then we had to put up with the noise of them and their bedroom gymnastics - she deserved an Oscar for such a loooooooooooooooong performance!

In the end we put a note through their door asking them to please keep it down, and then suffered six months of a hate campaign. They got pally with their neighbours on the other side who all made it very uncomfortable for us to be in our gardens etc. Also they got a petition going to complain that we had two cars and we parked them on the same side of the street!!! Most of the other neighbours signed it, with a letter saying what a !!!!!! I was!!

So really, if it's just now and then I wouldnt let it worry you - far better to have one sleepness night than six months or more!

Tony_H_3

It's a catch 22 situation really isn't it, on 1 hand you have the initial nuisance. This has a detramental affect on how you enjoy your property. On the other hand you have the hassle (and problems) involved in resolving it.

As has already been stated, if its a one of or infrequent the best course of action is too quickly ask (verbally) that they consider neighbours and end their parties at a reasonable time. If your lucky this will resolve the problem leaving all parties to enjoy their personal spaces.

If this doesn't work and their nuisance is affecting you and other to an unreasonable level you have to take action. This is a slow & involved process liasing with "Local Councils", "Environmental Health" & "The Police". I can almost certainly assure you that things will get worse before they get better. You will have times when you think your efforts have "paid off" but you must follow through until you have achieved what you initially set out to do.

The outcome could be simply that they respect others in the neighbourhood, have orders such as asbo's, criminal action taken against them or that they are evicted. Which ever option you choose, make sure you follow it through to it's full extent.

Hope this helps.

Poppy9

Boy are noisy neighbours a pain. I live in a semi and when next door moved in a couple of years ago they got out their hammer drill at 8pm everynight and 9am every saturday and sunday. We asked him not to as it was affecting little poppys bedtime and also my hubbie is a shift worker. Night time stopped but no such luck with day time. To compound this they took up every carpet in the house and even though the stairs are at the furthers away from our house we can hear them running up and down stairs. Even doors slamming are magnified because there is no sound insulation that carpets provide. A year later they decided on a loft conversion. You just cannot believe the noise we endured. My poor hubbie had to beg a bed off family and friends as he could no longer sleep in the day. When the builder finished after 3 months we the owner then got out his hammer drill and sander. A year later this is still going on - I just don't know what he finds to sand and drill!!!!!! A fire door installed in the loft constantly slams aaaaaaahhhhh. What do we get from them - a letter arguing over garden boundary even though the original fence from when the houses were built 60 years ago is there! When I tackled them over the letter it turns out they were bitter because we refused to allow scaffolding on our property while they converted the loft. At the time we explained it was a security & safety risk for us especially as it was outside little poppys bedroom so they tied a ladder to our chimney and left it up for a week even though if it fell it would come through our glass conservatory roof. All attempts to get them to take it down over night (and they were tresspassing which we ignored) failed. In the end I rang H&S and they rang the builder and told him to take it down.

When we had work done we ensured our builder went around to clear up any mess that may have fallen. When their builder was there he didn't care that nails and broken tiles were falling in our garden. They also upset the neighbours the other side whose posh car on their own drive was covered in red dust from the cutting of roof tiles. No courtesy to tell him to move it or cover it before starting work. ???

bridiej

Yes, does sound like a problem but unfortunately there's nothing you can do if they want to work on the house during the day..... :-/

Have you thought of additional sound insulation for your walls / loft??

Poppy9

Our loft is fully insulated.  Thick brick walls between us.  I wouldn't mind them working in the day if they just gave us some notice.  Other neighbours are great and if the bedroom curtains are closed they won't even mow their lawns  :)  A friend who is an enviromental health officer was in our house one day and he could hear the noise from next door.  He said we should make a complaint and they could be forced to put in sound insulation under their floor boards or alternatively to recarpet.  He said in shared ownership properties you are often not allowed a wooden floor per the lease to avoid these noise problems.  Also said their telly is a nuisance because of the way the speakers are set up.  We should not be able to hear theirs over ours.  
Also forgot to mention Piano practice - blooming twinkle twinkle at 7am.  I can hear it in my shower which is on the outside wall not adjoining them!!!  

Trouble is if we make an offical complaint it inflames things more which I don't think is nice for us as a family.

The neighbours the otherside have made complaints about thier rubbish - at least 5 bags a week left rotting on the drive and about their kids climbing into their garden, breaking toys and even going into their house!

You would die if you knew what the owner of the houses job is - a behaviour psychologist!!!!!

bridiej

Feel for you...

Have you thought of getting the wife round while the husband is making the noise so she can see exactly how loud it is??

I know it's awkward, but maybe they just dont realise how much the noice travels into your house...

Dont really know what else to suggest..! :-[

Poppy9

Tried that in early days.  Now thinking about Uzi 9mm  ;D ;D ;D

Amazing how much excessive noise can get on your nerves.

I have lived in a flat, a terraced house and expect some neighbour noise - but nothing like this. In a previous house years ago the carpet fitter didn't turn up as arranged and left us without stair carpet for a week. We used to tip toe up and and slide down when our neighbour just happened to mention "when is your new carpet coming" LOL

bridiej

Unfortunately not everyone is that considerate!!!!

I think noise nuisance is def the worst.

Hope you can find a way through...!