Next Door Complains About Bass .. Need Advice

PasturesNew

chris_m wrote: »

Bass is frequently a problem with noise transmission, particualrly if it happens to be close to a resonant frequency of the building structure in which case it can carry like heck.

And somebody who does it for a living must know this, as it's Dub 101. Sound 101. Structures and Materials 101.

olly300

Catblue wrote: »

Precisely. The OP stated that he did not play any music in the flat after 7pm, presumably since his own son goes to bed around that time.

Imagine if a neighbour in the same apartment block is a part-time musician, works 9 - 6 every day and needs to practise his cello for two hours every evening. If the neighbour starts up his cello at 8pm every night for 2 hours, is that okay? After all he is a musician and needs to practise, right?

Would the OP say "Live and let live" in that situation and just put his son to bed after 10pm every night? Or would the OP think that it was entirely inconsiderate behaviour in an apartment block? I suspect the latter.

Professional musicians practising in the middle of the day is fine even if it's the drums or sax.

Someone learning a musical instrument or playing bass randomly isn't.

Plus professional musicians have a tendency to check with the neighbours before they start practising.

Norman_Castle

Professional musicians practising in the middle of the day is fine even if it's the drums or sax.

It's not fine, it's more acceptabe. Noise at any time can be a valid cause of complaint.

Catblue

olly300 wrote: »

Professional musicians practising in the middle of the day is fine even if it's the drums or sax.

Someone learning a musical instrument or playing bass randomly isn't.

Plus professional musicians have a tendency to check with the neighbours before they start practising.

Strangely, the OP did not check with neighbours first. And he neglected to mention his profession to the landlord before the start of the tenancy also.

I think it is strange to say that certain people making noise is okay, and yet other people making noise is not okay. Not in the least convinced by the 'professional' distinction, I must say.

Professional DubStep might be a lot more irritating than amateur piano for a lot of people, I would imagine.

chris_m

olly300 wrote: »

Professional musicians practising in the middle of the day is fine even if it's the drums or sax.

Depends on how good they are - I have bellringers practicing a couple of evenings a week just across the road from me. Luckily, they aren't desperately in need of the practice, pretty good actually :rotfl:

Ulfar

Catblue wrote: »

I think it is strange to say that certain people making noise is okay, and yet other people making noise is not okay. Not in the least convinced by the 'professional' distinction, I must say.

Professional DubStep might be a lot more irritating than amateur piano for a lot of people, I would imagine.

The problem with noise is that it depends on the frequency and the building. Unfortunately for the OP Bass is the worst and carries through building materials.

This is the sort of thing you have to consider when living in a flat.

Mr_Thrifty

Hi everyone. My hobby is playing with pneumatic drills and jackhammers and smashing up paving slabs, every evening between 7.00pm to 1.00am. I live in a densely populated block of flats however despite putting some curtains over the door and closing the windows (I usually practise the hobby in my living room because I don't have a garden), my anti-social neighbours keep complaining about the noise. What should I do? I have even started using a smaller jackhammer yet they STILL complain!! And please DO NOT stereotype me just because my hobby is playing with jackhammers and pneumatic drills, this is nothing to do with it!

Errata

As the OP hasn't responded much to the many helpful suggestions and advice from other members he's obviously been evicted.

Gwhiz

Mr_Thrifty wrote: »

Hi everyone. My hobby is playing with pneumatic drills and jackhammers and smashing up paving slabs, every evening between 7.00pm to 1.00am. I live in a densely populated block of flats however despite putting some curtains over the door and closing the windows (I usually practise the hobby in my living room because I don't have a garden), my anti-social neighbours keep complaining about the noise. What should I do? I have even started using a smaller jackhammer yet they STILL complain!! And please DO NOT stereotype me just because my hobby is playing with jackhammers and pneumatic drills, this is nothing to do with it!

Take up knitting. It is, ultimately, the more satisfying of the "at home" hobbies.

housebuyer_abc

Errata wrote: »

The OP isn't exactly 'playing music', they're running a business from domestic premises.

Whilst I sympathise with the OP's neighbour - music being played if you don't like it but can hear it frequently is soul-destroying

However can we stick to the realities of the question - and additionally try to stay correct.

There is nothing stopping a business being run from a domestic premise in UK law - there could be lease restrictions, mortgage restrictions or insurance restrictions that preclude this but the OP has not stated this is the case, so we have to assume that he is operating within his rights here.