noise

rach_k

If you put on your TV at normal listening volume, is the sound of his music distracting? If not, I'd say you just need to accept that he's making a normal level of noise and he is allowed to do that. You don't actually have a right to silence that I'm aware of and he has a right to go about a normal daily life - that involves TV, washing machines, music, kids etc.

If you can hear music over normal TV and it's distractingly loud during the day, pop round and ask him to turn it down. If it's past 11pm and it's annoying without your TV on, pop round. I think you are being unrealistic about living next to normal people if you expect to never hear them.

concrete_kid

I can see both sides really.

People are entitled to enjoy their home, entertain friends, listen to music, for me they are all the things that are pleasurable in life! I don't think it's fair to deny this of people, or make them feel uncomfortable doing these things in their own house.

Can you not invite people over at the weekend and start enjoying your new place, you may see things in a different light? I don't think a new place feels like home until you have had people over to enjoy it with you. If you start becoming obsessed by their noise you are going to drive yourself crazy.

I think when it's happening makes a difference, if it's at the weekend and you don't have to be up early for work, I don't think it's such a big deal. I don't have this luxury as I work shifts, but I enjoy hearing people having a good time so usually just pop some ear plugs in if needs be.

For me if it was every weekend until 2-3 in the morning that's when it would be unacceptable.

My sister is having this problem at the moment, it's not often / late enough to complain so she has been using an app that plays relaxing sounds (rain, water etc) which she says has helped massively.

Good luck!

Liz3yy

I can sympathise. I've lived in both houses and flats where the noise from outside could at times be unbearable.

I grew up on a council estate where from the late 90's onwards until I move out in 2003, the local kids made our lives a misery. They would hang around on the corner by our kitchen screeching at all hours and would turn on anyone who dared challenge them. I used to dread going home during daylight hours and would go to extreme lengths to avoid being seen by them when leaving the house.

I believe that now the kids have grown up and moved on the area is a lot calmer, but it still gives me the shivers to think about it.

My first flat was opposite a train line so I had the noise of trains going by every 10 minutes. Oddly I didn't notice anything until trains weren't running due to engineering works or at bank holidays. Only real trouble I had was my first next door neighbour, a young girl around 18/19 who was fine alone but all hell broke loose when her mates were round at weekends I called the cops one night when a fight spilled out into the corridor at 1am....

I eventually found out who her landlady was and formally complained. She was evicted the following month. The next guy who moved in was no angel noise wise but at least he apologised in advance for parties or DIY.

My husband and I now live in a cul de sac in a semi detached that backs to a play ground. We were concerned initially it might be noisy but the previous tenant and letting agents assured us it wouldn't be. They were right, even with young families playing there and kids kicking a ball about its quiet and we don't notice a thing. Also our immediate neighbours are nice friendly people and don't make a peep.

Getting on your with your neighbours can go a long way towards easing tensions over noise. Even if it's just to introduce yourself when you move in and apologise in advance for any forth coming DIY, big deliveries or parties you have planned.

catoutthebag

I've skipped a few of the useless posts on page 3...you know who you are and there's the door.

So so far

Noise at 1230am - heavy
2 weeks later noise at 1am - less heavy but woke me up - ear plugs I bought worked but had to get back to sleep

Both on a weekend single night
Otherwise fine in the week and weekends in between

So weekend gone I get home on Friday ready to pack for an early morning flight.

He rushes out (he has done this 2 or 3 times when I've used my keys to open my door - seems paranoid of burglars?) And says he's got a friend round tonight so may get a bit noisy.

I say I'm up early

He says he's not in the business to pee anyone off and will 'try' keep it down and to knock on the door if it's too loud

I say I'm up early so I'll knock if it's too loud

He asks if I've got any of the ear plugs I mentioned

I say no

So anyway we say bye


I pack my bags and leave to my parents for the night. I was up at 5am so not going to risk it

There will have been noise. ...audible like last 2 occasions I imagine

I need to see what others think and if I'm being unreasonable

So pattern I predicted is correct. It's 1 weekend night every other weekend. So maybe 2 or 3 a month. He's been open and honest and approachable about it. He's not deliberately causing havoc. But on this last occasion he gags the impression that he was unwilling to want to turn volume down despite me saying I was up early - suggesting ear plugs as a solution. That shows some lack of respect and immaturity and sort of comes across quire childish (overgrown kid).

Anyway is 1 night every 2 weeks acceptable or tolerable. ..if plugs worked but you'd been woke up?

And was his conversation in the last instance acceptable?

sniggings

catoutthebag wrote: »

Anyway is 1 night every 2 weeks acceptable or tolerable. ..if plugs worked but you'd been woke up?

And was his conversation in the last instance acceptable?

That's your call, if we all say it's acceptable are you going to suddenly agree? doubt it.

If the ear plugs work, why not put them in when you go to bed, get him to agree to let you know when he has people over.

Seems your best option is to get himto agree to 1/2 times a month and if he doesn't keep to that, move.

catoutthebag

Yeah guess so.

The people I've spoken to sort of agree. Consensus is if it was every weekend or both weekend Fri and Sat nights then that would be unacceptable. But his general 1 night every 2 weeks is OK.

Sorry I'm not moving. I've spent thousands moving and will incur a penalty being 6 weeks into a 2 year fixed deal. No chance. Maybe in a year but not now. Not going to be pushed out anyway.

Positively, at least noise appeared lowered the 2nd time and he let me know the 3rd time.

Guess I have to bank on him telling me and the plugs working again like the 2nd time.

Kevie192

So you complain and expect your neighbour to alter his behaviour when all he's doing is having a friend over and playing a little music a couple of times a month? And THEN you have the nerve to call him an overgrown kid for suggesting you use earplugs if the noise bothers you?

I think you need a reality check. There is nothing you can do about his noise and things are about to get really hostile if you keep crying like a baby every time he dares to have a friend over. Grow up and stop acting like a child. YOU chose to buy a flat, knowing that noise would probably be a problem for you and now YOU have to deal with the consequences.

Geez, some people really will moan about anything...

sniggings

Kevie192 wrote: »

So you complain and expect your neighbour to alter his behaviour when all he's doing is having a friend over and playing a little music a couple of times a month? And THEN you have the nerve to call him an overgrown kid for suggesting you use earplugs if the noise bothers you?

I think you need a reality check. There is nothing you can do about his noise and things are about to get really hostile if you keep crying like a baby every time he dares to have a friend over. Grow up and stop acting like a child. YOU chose to buy a flat, knowing that noise would probably be a problem for you and now YOU have to deal with the consequences.

Geez, some people really will moan about anything...

just wondering what noise you put up with in your house/flat?

sarah_diamond

How can you say "there will have been noise" if you weren't there to find out? He said he would try and keep it down and asked if you had any ear plugs - presumably so you wouldn't be sitting in silence waiting to hear his music but you immediately went to your parents. I admire the fact that you want to stay in the flat as I'm sure you've worked hard to get it but I do feel that you're making more out of this than is needed.


If you had stuck around he might've been quiet because you'd told him you had an early flight, I would have probably asked if you had any ear plugs if I was him too but you said no so the chances are he'd have been more aware of the noise as you said you didn't have any.


I have just read this whole thread from the beginning and I think you need to just start enjoying your flat - stop putting too much emphasis on what your neighbour does that upsets you and start enjoying your space more. If he puts music on stick the tv or radio on (not too loud obviously but enough so you can't hear his). I don't get the impression he's doing it to annoy you, he just wants to enjoy his own space.


An alternative that I used in my last rental flat when my neighbours were getting rowdy was to go and ask them to come and stand in your flat so they can hear how loud it is. My neighbours hadn't realised that 4 lads on a Saturday night with music and Xbox could be heard in my flat so loudly and they soon got the idea.

Kevie192

sniggings wrote: »

just wondering what noise you put up with in your house/flat?

I don't really see what that has to do with this thread and the OP's perceived 'noise problem' but since you asked...

I live in a mid-terrace house. I moved here from a detached chalet bungalow so I knew I would have to expect some noise from time to time and that's what I get.

There is a family next door to me with a young baby so I get all the general noise you'd expect. Sometimes their dog barks. Their child sometimes screams in the middle of the night. I can hear them playing with the baby at 6am every morning when it wakes. The man works long hours so sometimes he does DIY in the evenings and I can hear him drilling from my bedroom. Sometimes they have friends over for a night and there is music and laughter.

But, do you know what? I don't really care. I have a dog too and sometimes he does make a little noise. Sometimes I watch a film in the evening and I am sure they can hear some of the bass. I'm pretty sure that from time to time they must hear bedroom activity too, since I'm a single man and my bedroom is right next to theirs. Sometimes I have friends over for BBQs and we will have music and laughter inside and outside. I've spoken to them about this in the past and their view is the same as mine. "Fill yer boots" they say to me, make as much noise as you like as long as you're enjoying yourself.

It's about being a reasonable human being and understanding what it means to live amongst other people and still enjoy your life. I would be really annoyed if there was loud booming music from the neighbours every night but that's not the case in my home or in the OP's. The OP is being overly sensitive about every little noise and in this situation I believe that it is the OP that is being the nuisance, not the neighbour.

Just accept that unless you can afford to buy a property on it's own in the middle of the field then you are going to experience some noise from a neighbour. Learn to appreciate the fact that they can enjoy themselves and that you can enjoy yourself and made a bit of noise from time to time too. The only person that is making this a problem is the OP.