Die noisy neighbour DIE

DigForVictory

Wax ear plugs, headphones & occasional outbusts of classic fm. At least you know it's 12 months at worst!

Builders usually have rules about when they may cause noise - and a courteous neighbour will appreciate that their DIY may not be appreciated at Oh God Hundreds. The discourteous can be reminded...

pastelpinkpoodle

Hi - I've had noisy rental neighbours moving in and out for several years and have become adept at shutting them up. I've had "Mr Call of Duty" playing non-stop (with surround sound turned full up and all the windows open). I've had "Ms. I love Rap the best when every other word is 4-letters", played at top volume, speaker in the open window, even when she's not home. I've had countless eastern Europeans on the terrace, in the alley, in front of my building, drinking and shouting until 4am and having endless shrieking arguments in whatever they're speaking. All silenced.


First, you do not need to send to the USA to get good earplugs. Go onto ebay.co.uk and search for Spark Plugs ear plugs. They sell by the "each" and you should be able to get 100pcs (50 pair) for about £8.00, free postage. (I order mine from midland-moto and usually have them in hand the next day.) They are soft foam and very comfortable, fit most ear sizes and last about 1 week per pair. I've worn them to sleep non-stop for about 3 years now. Yes, I can hear my alarm go off in the morning (eventually) and no, the neighbours really have to be screaming with all MY windows open for me to hear anything, so they're quite good. (And yes, I live in a busy town centre.)


Second, IF the music/tv/video games can be heard from the STREET, the police MUST respond to a complaint call, especially between 11pm and 6am. But they also need to respond during the day as well. So, step outside and take a listen. If you hear anything, give your local police a call and COMPLAIN, making sure you tell them you're hearing loud music/tv/video games in the street outside your building. Yes, they'll try to ignore your complaint and sometimes claim they can't do anything, but loud music/noise IS antisocial behaviour and it IS the police's remit, whether they want to do their jobs or not. (Be prepared to make a stand on the issue and insist the police act on the antisocial behaviour.)


Third, OUR local Environmental Health Dept. has an Environmental Health Officer on duty, with a police officer, between 5.30pm and 3am Tues afternoon - Sun morning. It sometimes takes me 30 minutes to get through, calling over and over until they answer their mobile phone, but it's worth it. They come to either your house (to listen to what you're hearing) or stand outside your building, take a listen, and then go calling. In our case, he can and does hand out immediate £5,000 fines to EVERY occupant of the noisy flat/house. Within 2 weeks we managed to effectively shut down two huge student houses - both having HUGE parties every weekend, both without required HMO permits - completely.


Fourth, fight fire with fire. CAREFULLY. You don't want noisy neighbour to get the upper paw on you! You know when the noisy neighbour is home and quiet, like when he's sleeping. Perfect time to clean all your carpeting or have a long, long session with the hoover just under his bed. HE can hear YOU too, you know. Take up hammering nails as a hobby - the little ones into a board - tapping unrhythmically for 6 or 10 hits every minutes or two. Keep it up for several hours, intermittently. Test your sander on a piece of wood set propped up on the wall where you guess his headboard lies - or the tv set. He'll hear it right over his tv/stereo/etc. You get the idea. Sound travels up as well as down....


Remember - if YOU are not willing to complain and make a nuisance of yourself to stop the noise - going the extra bit to cause your neighbour as much trouble as he's causing you - the Council will just blow you off, as will the police.

aileth

We had nightmare neighbours, who have thankfully just moved out.

The way we got them to shut up when they started blasting their dub-step or whatever sh*te it was, was to blast Come Dine With Me at max volume back at them. For some reason, of all the things I had on my Sky box, this was LOTS louder than the others.

10 minutes of squealing diners was enough to shut them up for the whole night. When it got especially bad, we left an hour long episode on max volume and went out for a drink.

clingingtothewreckage

Dear Pixie
Now you have complained to the Council keep a diary of the problems - it should include date, time problem started/finished, source of problem, and how it impacts on your life in your home. If it wakes you up in the middle of the night say so, if you can't hold a normal conversation in your home say so etc. etc.
I would keep this for a few days and then contact your Council again and ask to speak to Environmental Health and make a complaint about a noise nuisance. Explain that you have been keeping a diary and tell them whether you have asked the offender to turn the noise down. In your area the ASB and noise team may be the same but in a lot of areas they are separate and the information you provide should enable EH to decide if you are suffering from a possible Statutory Noise Nuisance under The Environmental Protection Act 1990. If they feel that there is a possible case they may install sound monitoring equipment in your property to gather evidence which could be used as the basis to serve an Abatement Notice.
It may be very tempting to start making noise to annoy your neighbour but do not, as this will not help any investigation and could prejudice possible formal enforcement action.
Hope this is helpful.
I will apologise in advance if more than one message appears as I am a Newbie and this is the second one I have typed.

Billie-S

I can't add a lot more to what has already been said Pixie, but I just wanted to say that your thread title made me laugh. :rotfl:

Can't believe the selfishness of some people. If your tv and music can be heard by anyone outside your property, then it's too loud. Use headphones! Not everybody wants to hear your music and/or the film you're watching.

We have a neighbour who puts on a very loud action film: special effects and everything, booming through his sound bar. Luckily though, it seems to be about 4 to 6 times a month, for 2 hours at a time, which is fine. If it was every night, I would have to have a wee word.

Good luck Pixie. You do have my sympathy.

GDB2222

I wonder whether you and the neighbours could club together and buy this guy some headphones? I know it's not your business to do so, but you have the problem, and this might solve it.

moneyistooshorttomention

pastelpinkpoodle wrote: »

Hi - I've had noisy rental neighbours moving in and out for several years and have become adept at shutting them up. I've had "Mr Call of Duty" playing non-stop (with surround sound turned full up and all the windows open). I've had "Ms. I love Rap the best when every other word is 4-letters", played at top volume, speaker in the open window, even when she's not home. I've had countless eastern Europeans on the terrace, in the alley, in front of my building, drinking and shouting until 4am and having endless shrieking arguments in whatever they're speaking. All silenced.


First, you do not need to send to the USA to get good earplugs. Go onto ebay.co.uk and search for Spark Plugs ear plugs. They sell by the "each" and you should be able to get 100pcs (50 pair) for about £8.00, free postage. (I order mine from midland-moto and usually have them in hand the next day.) They are soft foam and very comfortable, fit most ear sizes and last about 1 week per pair. I've worn them to sleep non-stop for about 3 years now. Yes, I can hear my alarm go off in the morning (eventually) and no, the neighbours really have to be screaming with all MY windows open for me to hear anything, so they're quite good. (And yes, I live in a busy town centre.)


Second, IF the music/tv/video games can be heard from the STREET, the police MUST respond to a complaint call, especially between 11pm and 6am. But they also need to respond during the day as well. So, step outside and take a listen. If you hear anything, give your local police a call and COMPLAIN, making sure you tell them you're hearing loud music/tv/video games in the street outside your building. Yes, they'll try to ignore your complaint and sometimes claim they can't do anything, but loud music/noise IS antisocial behaviour and it IS the police's remit, whether they want to do their jobs or not. (Be prepared to make a stand on the issue and insist the police act on the antisocial behaviour.)


Third, OUR local Environmental Health Dept. has an Environmental Health Officer on duty, with a police officer, between 5.30pm and 3am Tues afternoon - Sun morning. It sometimes takes me 30 minutes to get through, calling over and over until they answer their mobile phone, but it's worth it. They come to either your house (to listen to what you're hearing) or stand outside your building, take a listen, and then go calling. In our case, he can and does hand out immediate £5,000 fines to EVERY occupant of the noisy flat/house. Within 2 weeks we managed to effectively shut down two huge student houses - both having HUGE parties every weekend, both without required HMO permits - completely.


Fourth, fight fire with fire. CAREFULLY. You don't want noisy neighbour to get the upper paw on you! You know when the noisy neighbour is home and quiet, like when he's sleeping. Perfect time to clean all your carpeting or have a long, long session with the hoover just under his bed. HE can hear YOU too, you know. Take up hammering nails as a hobby - the little ones into a board - tapping unrhythmically for 6 or 10 hits every minutes or two. Keep it up for several hours, intermittently. Test your sander on a piece of wood set propped up on the wall where you guess his headboard lies - or the tv set. He'll hear it right over his tv/stereo/etc. You get the idea. Sound travels up as well as down....


Remember - if YOU are not willing to complain and make a nuisance of yourself to stop the noise - going the extra bit to cause your neighbour as much trouble as he's causing you - the Council will just blow you off, as will the police.

:T:rotfl:

Sounds like you should set yourself up in business as a "deal with noisy neighbours" consultant:rotfl:

One thing you forgot on the "fight fire with fire" tactic if necessary (and if its possible, ie you wouldn't be inflicting it on a totally innocent quiet neighbour as well) is some "they won't be able to stand it themselves" type music. I used to have some tapes of Chinese music that came in handy for that (now that is very much an "acquired taste":rotfl:). Something like Tibetan overtone chanting as well...whew...I doubt anyone except a Tibetan or a Western Tibetan Buddhist would actually like that....(try googling for it on YouTube and see what I mean).

System

I have a decent set of Yamaha speakers on my pc. My pc is where I play my music. Its so tempting to blast the music but I think of my poor neighbour next door. I know he's pretty deaf but the vibration if I'm tempted to turn it up makes the house shake so I go easy on it.


I did think of getting a good set of headphones for when I'm on my pc but never got round to it and apart from that I'd never hear the doorbell.:D

The other side of the coin, being deaf i can very often hear his telly when I go to bed. His doorbell is set on loud and so is his phone and we can hear him in conversation.


Fight fire with fire? Though tempting, this isn't a route I'd be tempted to go down even if I thought I'd got good cause.

starsandmoon

I work in this field. You need to ring 101 every time he makes a noise. The police dont have any powers but this will ensure there is an evidence trail and it all helps with eviction. Is the flat housing association/private rent? If he owns it he would end up with an ASBO and if breached would be imprisoned.

Dont retaliate with noise of your own tempting though it is as the case will then be classed as a tit for tat neighbour dispute and wont be taken as seriously.

I have had noisy neighbours who after a few months were evicted but they were HA and they were very proactive and helpful. Local councillor was involved and the council ASB team.

aileth

There's a neighbour a few doors down from us who insists on holding her phone blasting out music whenever she's sat outside or going to the shop. My OH always passes her when walking the dog and offered to buy her some headphones last time he saw her. Her response was less than neighbourly to say the least!