Advice sought RE - problematic neighbours, looking for an amicable solution

af2909_2

Hi all,

Looking for some advice.

Went to see neighbours (who rent above us ours is a GF maisonette which we are FTB's of) in January asking them to keep the noise down after 10 in the bedroom as the ceiling isn't exactly thick (being a 1930's build )in a polite manner and asked how Christmas was.

Alas the noise got worse, and I informed the letting agent and land lord of the issue. The LA sent e mails (which were ignored) and then wrote to them, and during the day a note was left telling us not to park in their parking space (which we were not parking in anyway)

The noise stopped but has returned again - I have asked the LA to convene a meeting (much like mediation) and they have pretty much refused as they are not qualified to mediate (or at least that was the response they gave the land lord).

The tenants have also produced a !!!! and bull story saying they tried to talk to us but we ignored them, strange given that the note (mentioned above) made no reference to discussing things and was received a maximum of 24 hours after they received the letter from the LA, the LA did not inform us of this either (I found this out on visiting the LA again)

Would the citizens advice bureau chair a meeting to resolve the dispute, or am I stuck with having to go through noise abatement team?

I ask as I know that the noise abatement team could ask for soundproofing to be installed, and I don't want to burden the landlord with this as it is just the tenants being inconsiderate (as other tenants have been fine) and the fact that we are about to enfranchise the lease and we have a good relationship with them (as we have an absentee freeholder)

Also, as this is a clear breach of the tenancy agreement what right of complaint do I have with the LA (as they have done very little in terms of dealing with the nuisance) - I don't think they are members of ARLA.

Thanks in advance for your help :beer:

HarryBarry

How long does it go on for ? What exactly can you hear ?

Is it really them being a problem or are they just living normally?

This is why I hated living in a flat. People have all sorts of different life styles and noise was always an issue even if people were trying to keep it down.

Solution - Ear plugs.

BitterAndTwisted

Making a noise is not "a clear breach of their tenancy agreement" and you have no "right of complaint"with the LA or the landlord they represent.

Friendly negotiation was the way to go but you appear to have sabotaged any prospect of that the very moment you contacted the landlord and/or LA.

I suspect your only port-of-call henceforward would be to get in touch with your Local Authority's Anti-Social Behaviour Unit and seek their advice.

BJV

Its such a shame that you can not knock on their door and ask to talk to them face to face. This would be the quickest way as once you start to go down more official channels from what I understand it can some times get a little heated and build up a lot of bad feelings.

af2909_2

HarryBarry wrote: »

How long does it go on for ? What exactly can you hear ?

Shouting, loud talking, screeching laughter between 10pm and 1130pm midweek nights in the bedroom.

Certainly not normal living noise - walking, doors closing TV's etc. are part of the bargain in a flat. Hell even noise in other living areas !

Can be heard through ear plugs also

af2909_2

BJV wrote: »

Its such a shame that you can not knock on their door and ask to talk to them face to face. This would be the quickest way as once you start to go down more official channels from what I understand it can some times get a little heated and build up a lot of bad feelings.

I did that and they got considerably worse

af2909_2

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Friendly negotiation was the way to go but you appear to have sabotaged any prospect of that the very moment you contacted the landlord and/or LA.

As I say I did try that route - don't quite see how I sabotaged that.

Is it normal to scream with laughter and shout no noooo on top of your voice after 10pm in a bedroom on a weeknight when you have neighbours?

BitterAndTwisted

You spoke to them once. And then decided to not speak them again but go to the agent like they are the tenants' Mum and Dad. That's when you sabotaged any prospect of being able to negotiate with them.

You're on your own now if your Local Authority can't advise you

af2909_2

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

You spoke to them once. And then decided to not speak them again but go to the agent like they are the tenants' Mum and Dad. That's when you sabotaged any prospect of being able to negotiate with them.

You're on your own now if your Local Authority can't advise you

Well thank you for your sincere reply. Hope you never suffer with noise nuisance that impacts upon your sleep patterns :beer:

BitterAndTwisted

I have told you what I believe the situation is for you right now. Not that I agree with your noisy neighbours. I just think that it was foolish to end any possibility of discussion or negotiation with your neighbours by running off the agent as if they actually had any power or responsibility to resolve this issue for you. They don't.

af2909_2

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

I have told you what I believe the situation is for you right now. Not that I agree with your noisy neighbours. I just think that it was foolish to end any possibility of discussion or negotiation with your neighbours by running off the agent as if they actually had any power or responsibility to resolve this issue for you. They don't.

Even if the tenants are in breach of their agreement (ie not cause nuisance to neighbours)?

Lesson learned here - but given the type of people they are no doubt there would have been a fiesty response if I'd gone back again