Neighbour's TV

Newlyboughthouse

Hi

I live in a mid terraced house and live next to a young jobless couple. They have their television on in their upstairs bedroom and the bass is terrible. I can hear it through my ear plugs, can even hear it downstairs. They have it on until around 2am.

I have asked and asked and while they do tend to turn it down on being asked, it is the same story the very next night.

I now have major anxieties about going to bed as I just cannot sleep with it.

My question - has anyone had any experience with Environmental Health with things like this? I.e. how effective are they? I have texts politely asking them to turn it down and also have taken sound recordings.

Thanks in advance

Pixie5740

I can totally sympathise. A few years ago I lived next to someone who hung the television on the adjoining wall (their living room/my bedroom) and they had the volume cracked up loud into the wee small hours hours.

I have to say that Glasgow City Council were fantastic and it all stopped when my neighbour was threatened with an ASBO.

I was lucky in that my neighbour was renting and in Scotland landlords have a responsibility to ensure their tenants aren't a nuisance.

Newlyboughthouse

Ah awesome

In England the Landlord is under no such obligation is that correct? Does anybody know if Landlord is informed by the council if an investigation has been started?

attila_

Depends how you approach them and using the correct words works with. They should be able to pop round and install sound recording equipment.

I would say that it's creating a serious impact on your quality of life etc etc. if you're not happy with the way an environmental health officer deals with it you can take it to the relevant LA ombudsman.

I feel for you - inconsiderate neighbours can ruin someone's wellbeing!

magpiecottage

Start by keeping a diary over the course of a month or so.

If you can record it with a computer to an mp3 so much the better as you will have a time tag on it and can actually e-mail it to your environmental protection.

They can then, if necessary, issue an abatement notice.

However, if the noise is simply due to inadequate soundproofing they may be unable to help.

dj1471

If it's just the bass that's a problem, it may be possible to turn this down specifically within the TV settings. Alternatively it may be possible to plug-in a cheap pair of speakers which, being small and cheap, won't deliver much bass - they may in fact provide better audio quality than the built-in ones, which is how you sell it to them.

It may be worth exploring these options before destroying the relationship by getting the council involved.

Newlyboughthouse

They claim they don't know how to turn the bass down as it's a box TV.

Here is a text I'm about to send, as I can see it's going to be 'another one of those nights':

"Right for the last time please can u turn down ur bass on ur TV. I hear it through ear plugs and even hear it downstairs, ur welcome to come and listen if u don't believe us. I can't be arsed to go environmental health but will have to if this carries on one more night cuz it's affecting my health now. Been reading up and you could get a fine or ASBO or both. Got plenty of evidence as recorded it every night, I really don't wanna go down that route tho so plz..."

What do ya reckon?

magpiecottage

No - it is too agressive and will only make matters worse. It will also be poor evidence if it ends up in court.

You need a real letter. Ideally, send it from the post office and get proof of posting (free). If it does get to court that will be accepted as evidence.

It should say something like

Dear .....

NOISE NUISANCE

I am writing to you about the repeated unacceptable level of noise emanating from your property - specifically your television.

This is so loud that I can hear it throughout my home into the early hours of the morning.

I have previously explained this to you and asked you to stop verbally but you have failed to ensure this occurs.

I therefore regret that I must now give you notice that, should the nuisance continue I shall make a formal complaint about the matter to the Council and ask that it issue an abatement order against you.

I hope this will not be necessary but if you do not stop the noise I shall be left with no option.

You will need to allow two working days from posting to delivery (Sundays and bank holidays don't count) but essentially, if you post it on Friday then if they still do it on Tuesday night you can go to the council.

In the meantime, keep a diary of what is happening and if you can actually obtain video and/or mp3 evidence with a timestamp that may be useful.

topdaddy_2

Jesus christ why do people think texts are ok??
Ask them dont text them they are NEXT door. If that doesnt work dont ask them again, get on to your noise team at the local authority. They can, if needed, confiscate equipment.

Newlyboughthouse

magpiecottage wrote: »

No - it is too agressive and will only make matters worse. It will also be poor evidence if it ends up in court.

You need a real letter. Ideally, send it from the post office and get proof of posting (free). If it does get to court that will be accepted as evidence.

It should say something like

Dear .....

NOISE NUISANCE

I am writing to you about the repeated unacceptable level of noise emanating from your property - specifically your television.

This is so loud that I can hear it throughout my home into the early hours of the morning.

I have previously explained this to you and asked you to stop verbally but you have failed to ensure this occurs.

I therefore regret that I must now give you notice that, should the nuisance continue I shall make a formal complaint about the matter to the Council and ask that it issue an abatement order against you.

I hope this will not be necessary but if you do not stop the noise I shall be left with no option.

You will need to allow two working days from posting to delivery (Sundays and bank holidays don't count) but essentially, if you post it on Friday then if they still do it on Tuesday night you can go to the council.

In the meantime, keep a diary of what is happening and if you can actually obtain video and/or mp3 evidence with a timestamp that may be useful.

That's great thanks - but, how would the court know I actually sent that letter? They don't know the contents, only that I have proof of posting of sending something. A text message is clearly sent and the recipient is beyond doubt. Maybe I could send that in a text? Would be a bit weird but....

Newlyboughthouse

topdaddy wrote: »

Jesus christ why do people think texts are ok??
Ask them dont text them they are NEXT door. If that doesnt work dont ask them again, get on to your noise team at the local authority. They can, if needed, confiscate equipment.

Oh believe me, we have been round and asked politely numerous times! We have agreed that texting is an acceptable way of communicating so I don't have to get out of bed (so you see their noise has been an issue for some time!)