Neighbour Problems

Princess_Jane

I hope this is the right place, please move if it isn't.

It's written by my OH as he has experienced it all first hand. Hope someone can help.

Hello,

my partner and I have been in our new house a year and have never had much to do with our only direct neighbours (we are an end terrace) - hello, moving cars so they can park where they'd prefer to etc.

But two days ago we got a letter from the council regarding a neighbour complaint under the Environmental Protection Act.

It claims we are doing DIY and playing loud vibrating music into the late evening.

I contacted the council and they couldn't tell us who had complained, but said 'they' would be given a diary to complete then the decision would be taken on whether to put noise metering equipment in.

This afternoon the police came. The officer IMO was quite rude - introduced himself by saying "I'm sure you know what we are here for." He went on to say there had been a number of complaints to the police about us doing DIY between midnight and 2am.

I'm a taxi driver and he warned me I could lose my badge if I got an ASBO for nuisance behaviour.

I work 10-4am or later seven days a week. My OH goes to bed at 11pm and gets up at 6am, I'm sure she'd have something to say if I was doing DIY in the early hours!

We have been doing some work on the house, but I do it all in the afternoon after I get up.

We are now keeping a diary about what's going on and when complaints are being made but we are quite worried about how this could pan out, as the police seemed firmly on the neighbours' side - but didn't ask me to turn the TV down!

We live in a house owned by my parents, which we pay the mortgage on, so we are private tenants I guess.

Our neighbours are about our age - couple in their early thirties. We can never hear any noise from their house, no walking about, TV anything.

Poppy9

If their complaint is without grounds then you have nothing to worry about.

Firstly the neighbours will keep a noise diary. This will then be inspected by EH. Based on this diary they may do some noise monitoring from the house of the neighbours that are complaining. If they feel this noise is excessive then they will contact you about the issue.

However if you are not making any noise then you have no worries.

Loopy_Girl

How very odd

Strange that the police came during the day as well as, when I had the neighbours from hell in my old house, I used to phone when the issues were happening and they went to the neighbour at that time (usually 3am:mad: ).

Do you think you could approach them and say you are troubled they felt the need to complain to the police and the council and say you are very keen to get a resolution?

Basically what you are saying is that the hours they are complaining about, you are out grafting and o/h is in the land of nod!!! What a strange situation - are they sure they have the right address?!!!

sooz

I'm very suprised a police officer came to see you about it.
AFAIK the police no longer deal with noise issues. All their powers were given to the Enviromental Health dept of local councils. And noise complaints are a very very long drawn out process (I've been complaining about the noise from a local business for a long time)

Were you shown a badge? Can you call the police station to check if they sent someone out? I suspect the neighbours have got a 'friend' to visit you, pretending to be doing so under an official capacity.

Princess_Jane

sooz wrote: »

I'm very suprised a police officer came to see you about it.
AFAIK the police no longer deal with noise issues. All their powers were given to the Enviromental Health dept of local councils. And noise complaints are a very very long drawn out process (I've been complaining about the noise from a local business for a long time)

Were you shown a badge? Can you call the police station to check if they sent someone out? I suspect the neighbours have got a 'friend' to visit you, pretending to be doing so under an official capacity.

Unless they have friends who carry tasers!

My OH's dad is a former police officer, and these were the real deal, uniforms, police car etc.

He is going to the police station tomm to complain about the officer's attitude so all will be revealed I guess..

sooz

Loopy_Girl wrote: »

How very odd

Strange that the police came during the day as well as, when I had the neighbours from hell in my old house, I used to phone when the issues were happening and they went to the neighbour at that time (usually 3am:mad: ).

Perhaps the police still have some powers in Scotland. In England, I've had surreal conversations with the police about a riotous house party, & was told to call a council number & leave a message on their answering machine. Someone from the council checks messages whilst they are out on duty til 3am on Fridays & Saturdays.

Loopy_Girl

sooz wrote: »

I'm very suprised a police officer came to see you about it.
AFAIK the police no longer deal with noise issues. All their powers were given to the Enviromental Health dept of local councils. And noise complaints are a very very long drawn out process (I've been complaining about the noise from a local business for a long time)

Were you shown a badge? Can you call the police station to check if they sent someone out? I suspect the neighbours have got a 'friend' to visit you, pretending to be doing so under an official capacity.

You could be right....I have to say the police did come in instances I called but thinking about it, there is no way on earth a police officer makes his feelings known about who they believe. Christ they go out to a domestic violence situation and still speak to the person who has done the violence in a calm manner and gives then a chance for their side....hmmm, what a strange situation

sooz

Princess_Jane wrote: »

Unless they have friends who carry tasers!

My OH's dad is a former police officer, and these were the real deal, uniforms, police car etc.

He is going to the police station tomm to complain about the officer's attitude so all will be revealed I guess..

I'm not saying they dressed up as the police, but got a genuine friend in uniform to stop by after work.

Loopy_Girl

sooz wrote: »

Perhaps the police still have some powers in Scotland. In England, I've had surreal conversations with the police about a riotous house party, & was told to call a council number & leave a message on their answering machine. Someone from the council checks messages whilst they are out on duty til 3am on Fridays & Saturdays.

We do have the council noise people but to be honest, I had so many problems with the family that the police used to have to come as, as soon as the council people went away, they went back tp partying whereas the police threatened them with a breach of the peace should I have to call again.

Loopy_Girl

Have you done something trivial to hack them off like park in their parking space or something to make them want to start to do this?

Thing is, if it came to anything then the council would need to try and get other witness'. If you are doing DIY and playing loud music then other neighbours would hear whether their walls are on yours or not

Princess_Jane

Oh, and the police arrived half-an-hour after my partner switched the TV on for the first time that day.

Which seems v v quick for a non-emergency call!

Yet the TV is on the same volume now at 11pm, and no complaints.

Could we request copies of the complaints made against us to the police under the Freedom of Information Act? I'd like to see how the times and dates match up.