Noise Issue with Neighbours

superpennycounter

Hi Guys

Could someone please offer some advice.

We own our house and when we moved in over two years ago the house next to us was vacant but up for rent/sale. Tenants moved in a little over a year ago and everything seemed fine - nice "professional" couple with three kids (all under 5 I would say).

However we have having issues with noise. He is constantly out there banging, sanding, hammering something (in fact he is hammering/sanding a way as I type this - can't see what as we have really high hedges!) and whilst two of their kids are just normal kids, one of them is a complete nightmare - constantly screaming/crying is she doesn't get her own way. Now we don't have children and whilst we like our friend's kids, we wouldn't want one ourselves. I know children make noise but frankly I think it is a bit ridiculous.

The noise is generally after work (i.e. say 4pm to 8pm) and at the weekends - not during the night so we're not disturbed then. The noise is driving my husband insane as he works really really hard and wants to come home and relax in our garden without all this background noise. He's not expecting complete silence (which is impossible as we don't live in the middle of nowhere) but to be able to enjoy the garden.

Should I just approach next door and ask them a) when his project is going to be finished and b) asking him to tone it down a bit as it is spoiling the enjoyment of our garden.

Husband wants to go direct to the landlord first but not sure... we live in a small cul-de-sac..

Any advice peeps?

Thanks all. x

richardw

Just be friendly, the project may finish soon and the child may have special needs that you don't know about.

Ivana_Tinkle

Are you sure they're tenants if he's doing loads of DIY? Sounds more like owner occupiers getting everything fixed up.

I agree that all you can do is make friends with them. Some kids do go through these phases - one of mine did - and they grow out of it eventually. You can bet the parents aren't enjoying it any more than you are!

I do understand your frustration, but at least they're not making a noise at antisocial hours, and I'm afraid it does sound like "normal" family noise - certainly nothing that you could put in a complaint to anyone about.

What would have to change for you to feel you could enjoy the garden again? The DIY is bound to stop eventually (and if you get friendly with them you could get a sense of how much longer it'll be), but three kids playing in the average suburban garden is never going to be quiet. As long as they're going inside at a reasonable time in the evening (not staying out there until 11pm, as my old neighbours' kids sometimes did!), I think that's the best you can hope for.

superpennycounter

richardw wrote: »

Just be friendly, the project may finish soon and the child may have special needs that you don't know about.

Thanks - I wasn't going to mention anything about the kid (as that what I thought as well) - I don't mind the noise as I can block those sorts of things out. I'm not very good at these sorts of things - do you think if I wrote a letter it would be okay or should I go round and ask (not very good at confrontation - although that's not what it would be).

mrcow

How long has this been going on? And how often?

It's been one of the worst/wettest years for ages so far. They couldn't have been out the garden annoying you for that long.

I think before you start upsetting people, you need to take a step back. Keep a diary of what the noise is, when it is and how long it continues. Then have a read after two months and see whether it is unreasonable.

Sometimes, when you look at the actual facts, it's quite different to what it may feel like.

Ivana_Tinkle

What would you be asking them for in your letter?

superpennycounter

Ivana_Tinkle wrote: »

Are you sure they're tenants if he's doing loads of DIY? Sounds more like owner occupiers getting everything fixed up.

Pretty sure they are tenants as we are on quite good talking terms and they would have told us they had bought it. Our cul-de-sac is quite close (no pun intended :rotfl:) - i.e. taking parcels in, having drinks, street parties, etc.

Ivana_Tinkle wrote: »

I agree that all you can do is make friends with them. Some kids do go through these phases - one of mine did - and they grow out of it eventually. You can bet the parents aren't enjoying it any more than you are!

I do understand your frustration, but at least they're not making a noise at antisocial hours, and I'm afraid it does sound like "normal" family noise - certainly nothing that you could put in a complaint to anyone about.

I know they will grow out if it but trying to tell OH that is another matter...

They are actually quiet at the moment and typically OH is not here!

The noise doesn't really bother me too much - I grew up in the suburbs so there was always noise whereas OH grew up in the country - hence the clash I think.

Ivana_Tinkle wrote: »

What would have to change for you to feel you could enjoy the garden again? The DIY is bound to stop eventually (and if you get friendly with them you could get a sense of how much longer it'll be), but three kids playing in the average suburban garden is never going to be quiet. As long as they're going inside at a reasonable time in the evening (not staying out there until 11pm, as my old neighbours' kids sometimes did!), I think that's the best you can hope for.

If the DIY could stop in the evenings, I think that would be a big help - the kids have generally gone in by the time I get home (around 6.30pm) but when OH gets home (around 5pm) they are still out in the garden. I think OH just needs to "grow up and stop through temper tantrums" - the only way we would get a quieter location is to move the middle of nowhere which doesn't work for me as I work in London.

OH threw a huge hissy fit earlier today - which involved him shouting his mouth off (very loudly - yes I can see the irony) about the noise they were making (it always stresses me out when he does that) - so I don't want to go round there today as I am pretty sure they would have heard him and if I then go round and ask them about the noise it may be very awkward.

I just don't know how to bring up the subject - do I just pop round and ask - don't want to cause a confrontation - not very good at this type of thing (yep - I need to man up)

I just want an easy life....

Annisele

superpennycounter wrote: »

OH threw a huge hissy fit earlier today - which involved him shouting his mouth off (very loudly - yes I can see the irony) about the noise they were making (it always stresses me out when he does that) - so I don't want to go round there today as I am pretty sure they would have heard him and if I then go round and ask them about the noise it may be very awkward.

In that case it sounds like they're now fully aware of your OH's annoyance.

I'd be tempted to go round and say something like "Not sure if you heard my OH; I'm very sorry about all that; we do find your DIY kind of noisy but my OH shouldn't have shouted in the way he did" and see how they react.

I wouldn't write to their landlord; the landlord is likely to want to stay out of any neighbour disputes. And if you're on good terms with the tenants, going behind their back to the LL is likely to kill your relationship with the Ts.

superpennycounter

Annisele wrote: »

In that case it sounds like they're now fully aware of your OH's annoyance.

I'd be tempted to go round and say something like "Not sure if you heard my OH; I'm very sorry about all that; we do find your DIY kind of noisy but my OH shouldn't have shouted in the way he did" and see how they react.

I think I will pop round tomorrow - I feel very embarrassed about it all.

I think OH is totally overreacting.

Annisele wrote: »

I wouldn't write to their landlord; the landlord is likely to want to stay out of any neighbour disputes. And if you're on good terms with the tenants, going behind their back to the LL is likely to kill your relationship with the Ts.

I won't write to the Landlord as I agree with you - just hoping OH will calm down by Tuesday - he is away until then.

Dan-Dan

Tell your OH to grow a pair and go round himself!

mrcow

If it's not bothering you, why are you the one having to deal with it?

It it's bothering your partner, let them go round and sort it out. It's not your problem!