Bought a house with a noisey neighbour

audigex

You may legally have to disclose it if you're aware of it (although I don't know how true that is and would like to see the law)

Practically, who says you even noticed? Who's going to prove that you don't go to bed at 9pm and sleep fairly heavily, and have therefore never noticed it? Once I'm asleep I'm not woken by fire alarms or others talking loudly in the same room, so a bit of muffled shouting through a wall probably wouldn't wake me either.

As for the vendor: presumably he noticed too, but there's always a possibility he worked nights, stayed out with his partner a lot, did actually sleep early, or simply slept with ear plugs from childhood... as above, you'd have virtually no way of proving he knew.

A complain to the council is about as good as you're going to get. Sell the property on if you can and desire to. Don't expect a 19 year old to move out anytime soon, especially if he has no income... even with income, many aren't able to move out until their mid 20s

kleapatra

Hoploz wrote: »

Could you contact the council anonymously?

You would think wouldn't you? I've tried to complain about a house near me (running illegal garage, think noise, fumes etc, often all night) but no way am I putting my name anywhere near that complaint, they are known violent drug dealers. I tried to contact the council anonymously (several different departments as I wasn't sure if environmental health or planning were the best dept to deal with it) but both refused to even look at the complaint unless I gave them my name, address and DOB. I have no idea what difference knowing all my info makes to the fact these people make everyone in the vicinity's life a misery and they are breaking more laws than I have fingers but hey, typical jobsworth lacking in common sense council employees!

ilithian

Wow thanks for all the replies.

Mojisola - thank you for the advice, it is very good advice.. but it's also easier said than done - but we will try to keep it in mind. Nothing is worth our health after all!

I guess it seems that getting some ear plugs and living with it is the general advice here. We were careful not to make any official complaints before as we thought this may be the case.. I don't suppose anyone knows of a way to find out if the sellers had made any official complaints before?

And yeap, the son doesn't look like someone who is about to move out.. don't think he has anywhere to go sadly.

Thanks again everyone

lxpeanut

kleapatra wrote: »

I have no idea what difference knowing all my info makes to the fact these people make everyone in the vicinity's life a miserys!

They will get a lot of "complaints" from people that are just made because of disputes. Getting people to put their name to them deters people from making erroneous complaints. Also if they need more information from you they do need to know how to contact you.

You need to decide what is more important to you. Your health and well being or your house price. If the house price is more important then you need to try to learn not to get stressed about it or your life will be miserable. However if you value your sanity more then you need to complain to the council. Maybe get a few more neighbors to complain as well to give it more weight. Personally unless I was planning to move very soon anyway I would value my sanity more.

nubbins

ilithian wrote: »

Wow thanks for all the replies.

Mojisola - thank you for the advice, it is very good advice.. but it's also easier said than done - but we will try to keep it in mind. Nothing is worth our health after all!

I guess it seems that getting some ear plugs and living with it is the general advice here. We were careful not to make any official complaints before as we thought this may be the case.. I don't suppose anyone knows of a way to find out if the sellers had made any official complaints before?

And yeap, the son doesn't look like someone who is about to move out.. don't think he has anywhere to go sadly.

Thanks again everyone

Don't make an official complaint, if you can't stand it move. I was in the same sort of position years ago and like you was careful not lodge a complaint to anyone. I sold the property and even now when I think back I shudder to myself.
Anyone who says relax and think about your health probably has not lived with a situation like this, it takes over your life and completely ruins it. OP, when it gets to the point that you would rather be elsewhere than in the comfort of your own home its time to move on imo.

Mojisola

ilithian wrote: »

Mojisola - thank you for the advice, it is very good advice.. but it's also easier said than done - but we will try to keep it in mind. Nothing is worth our health after all!

It isn't easy and, if it is every night, almost impossible but do try to forget her on the nights that she is quiet.

nubbins wrote: »

Anyone who says relax and think about your health probably has not lived with a situation like this, it takes over your life and completely ruins it. OP, when it gets to the point that you would rather be elsewhere than in the comfort of your own home its time to move on imo.

If it's all the time or very frequently, it's impossible to ignore.

If it's on occasions but you arrive home thinking that 'tonight might be one her nights', you are fixating on her rather than her behaviour affecting you and this approach can be changed. It's your health that's important and how you view life is under your control.

moneyistooshorttomention

kleapatra wrote: »

You would think wouldn't you? I've tried to complain about a house near me (running illegal garage, think noise, fumes etc, often all night) but no way am I putting my name anywhere near that complaint, they are known violent drug dealers. I tried to contact the council anonymously (several different departments as I wasn't sure if environmental health or planning were the best dept to deal with it) but both refused to even look at the complaint unless I gave them my name, address and DOB. I have no idea what difference knowing all my info makes to the fact these people make everyone in the vicinity's life a misery and they are breaking more laws than I have fingers but hey, typical jobsworth lacking in common sense council employees!

Different Councils do differ on the "giving your name when making a complaint" policy. In your circumstances I would personally complain again and again and provide proof that some Councils will accept anonymous complaints.

My last Council had an option on their on-line complaints form to either give your personal details or click for "anonymous". My current Council demands you give your contact details. I've complained to both about various things - but, in the case of my current Council, if I had to make a complaint that HAD to be anonymous - then I would provide proof my last Council didn't demand it...ie so they have no right to ...and I wasn't going to do so...but I still expected Action.

EDIT; In your circumstances OP...I would be monitoring the age of Problem Son (as, at 19, I doubt he will be around much longer). No point in stressing too much about a Time Limited Neighbour (ie I don't stress too much about my pain in !!! nfh neighbour I now have because they are that old I know they wont be around that much longer by definition).

nubbins

Mojisola wrote: »

It isn't easy and, if it is every night, almost impossible but do try to forget her on the nights that she is quiet.



If it's all the time or very frequently, it's impossible to ignore.

If it's on occasions but you arrive home thinking that 'tonight might be one her nights', you are fixating on her rather than her behaviour affecting you and this approach can be changed. It's your health that's important and how you view life is under your control.

Have you lived with a situation like this?

Mojisola

nubbins wrote: »

Have you lived with a situation like this?

Yes.............

StumpyPumpy

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

EDIT; In your circumstances OP...I would be monitoring the age of Problem Son (as, at 19, I doubt he will be around much longer). No point in stressing too much about a Time Limited Neighbour (ie I don't stress too much about my pain in !!! nfh neighbour I now have because they are that old I know they wont be around that much longer by definition).

I wouldn't bet on it. In 2013 (the latest stats I can find), 26% of adults in the UK aged between 20 and 34 were living with a parent or parents.

And it gets worse. That figure is skewed by the fact that more men than women still live with their parents: which means it becomes 32% of men aged between 20 and 34... And that's not all, the unemployed are more likely to live with parents than the employed.

It sounds like this neighbour ticks all the boxes, but not in a good way. I wouldn't be putting any money on him flying the nest any time soon.