Noise complaint

loopydonna

Not sure if this is the best place to put this or not.

My friend has lived in her semi detached house for 16 years. They have always had an older couple as neighbours but they recently moved to a bungalow as they were struggling in the house. My friend and her husband have had 4 children over the years and have worried that children crying, fighting, general carrying on etc., caused noise next door could hear, but the older couple said not to worry about it as you can't expect children to be completely silent all of the time. They continued to have a good relationship with them.

Another older couple have bought the house and moved in, and my friend has had nothing but complaints about noise. It's not excessive noise, just the same as before but the couple expect perfect silence all of the time. When they hear a noise, they bang on the walls, which sets the dog off barking, then they knock on the door complaining that the dog is barking and disturbing them, even though they have been told it's their knocking that makes the dog bark.

I was round yesterday and the little one wanted some music on to show me some dancing she had learned. Even though the music wasn't loud - my friend and me could still talk over the top of it, they did the knocking on walls, dogs barking, complaint at door thing.

The couple have also made it perfectly clear they disapprove of having 4 children, and have said they are irresponsible and just had children to fiddle benefits, even though my friend and her husband both work and only claim the child benefit that everyone gets!

They have now threatened to report her to environmental health for making excessive noise and said they are keeping a noise diary. My friend is really upset and worried about what could happen to her if they do that. They are making her life a misery complaining about day to day noise.

The old people have also complained about the neighbours on the other side who have young children and a trampoline in the garden and they say their children are too noisy when they play in the garden.

The street is a quiet cul-de-sac with a number of families with young children in it, and there is a playing field at the back of my friends over the garden fence. The old people have complained about the noise from children playing in the street and playing on the field too, and they refuse to return any balls that accidentally go over the back fence.

Can my friend counteract their claim, as they are causing the dog noise by banging on the walls, and causing her a nusiance by complaining at every tiny noise?

She also hears noise from their house, such as the TV and radio playing and when they use the hoover, but its not a nusiance, just what you expect living next to someone. Should she keep a diary of that too?

She's at a loss why they moved into a street full of children if they don't like the noise children make.

ariarnia

Have an informal chat with someone in your local council office (many have a drop in place for enquiries in the local community), they'll prob tell her to keep a noise diary as well.

If/when the council come round to your friend they will want to use a noise meter to judge the level of sound disturbance. Tell her to show them her diary listing when they bang on the walls and set of the dog.

Assuming the other couple have a forwarding address, you could always ask them for a letter of recommendation attesting that the noise levels were never excessive during their residence. These neighbours may be labelled by the council as 'difficult' neighbours and they'll just ignore the complaints after the first couple.

nesssie1702

Speak to someone from your local Environmental Health Department and ask their advice. What they might suggest is an informal approach to start with. Mediation might work if your new neighbours are willing to participate.

WestonDave

Keep a diary of their own of when the neighbours trigger noise - e.g. set the dog off by banging on the walls (might be worth noting down any potential triggers to that - e.g. tape playing on player - volume set at level 4 etc).

I would imagine if the neighbours gather enough evidence sound recording/metereing equipment will be installed to test what is going on, which will prove just normal background noise - the whole thing will get chucked out as being nonsense and after that any further complaints will be taken with a pinch of salt.

keith969

They are unlikely to get EH interested as from what you describe its just normal family noise. If they continue to complain, your friend may be justified in reporting them to the police for harassment.

Blackpool_Saver

start compiling evidence as suggested, particularly a letter from the previous neighbours....