Problem neighbour

Alice_Walker

fishpond wrote: »

Get in touch with the local council, who will send a letter to the offender.
If that doesn't have the desired effect, then either take it further, or get some earplugs.
I feel your pain.

At best they'll send a letter saying "we have received a complaint". They're not going to take any action against someone for playing music in daytime in the very few days of sunshine we get.

As well as headphones or the radio, OP could try a white noise app.

missbiggles1

DFlights wrote: »

Hi all, I need some advice on how to move forwards with this issue.

I work from home and live with my partner, who has a regular job. My studio is the smallest bedroom at the back of the terraced house, which we rent privately.

For months now, my neighbour has been sitting in her garden during the day for hours at a time, playing pop music on her phone. As this drifts into my work room, it disturbs me and can even be heard through the window if I close it (double glazed window). This isn't just the odd day she does this, it's every single day unless the weather's bad.
I've also been unable to sit out in my garden because of the music, as it's really unpleasant. I get that occasionally, people will have parties and bbqs and I accept that I will have some noise from a terraced house, but this is every day, from around 10am - 11am onwards, until she feels like going indoors. Sometimes she's out there for hours, sometimes I'm lucky and it's minutes.

I tried to talk to her today about it but I think she just doesn't care; I asked if she had headphones/earbuds for her phone; she said no. I offered her my unused, new ones (which came with my phone but which I've never used, because I don't listen to music on my phone).
I also explained that I work in the back bedroom and that the music is disturbing me and interrupting my work. All I got was a shrug from her, which was a bit rude. I ended up just walking back inside.
I don't want to have to keep my windows closed in hot weather, and I don't want to always have to wear either earplugs or my own headphones to block out the music, and the polite approach hasn't worked.
I don't know of the local Environmental Health will consider it enough of a nuisance, as it isn't very loud (though I can hear it through my double glazed, shut window) and isn't on at an unsociable hour.
But I haven't been able to sit in my garden for months, or have an uninterrupted day of work, either. And I can't move all my work items elsewhere in the house as there isn't room to set up a studio at the front of the house (lots of sculpting materials, oil paints, thinners - hence why I should really be leaving the window open).
From today, I've started a noise diary, but what else can I do? We rent privately too, so contacting their landlord might mean some form of retaliation in kind.

I don't really understand why you can't switch rooms and have a front bedroom as your studio. I know you said you need the space but you also said that the room you use is the smallest which doesn't seem to make sense. Have I misunderstood something?

bouicca21

I used to have a neighbour - well actually on the next street - who played music so loudly I couldn't hear my own radio. I also work at home, I need to concentrate, and thank my lucky stars that the neighbours here are reasonably quiet. I would not dream of playing music in the garden other than with headphones and I take care to make sure that the noise of my tv does not seep out through the patio doors. An occasional party is one thing, every day is a nightmare.

Yes the council will take it seriously but will need several prods before taking action other than a warning letter. The nitty gritty is going to be 'how loud' - loud enough to disturb you is not necessarily too loud.

Alice_Walker

bouicca21 wrote: »

I used to have a neighbour - well actually on the next street - who played music so loudly I couldn't hear my own radio. I also work at home, I need to concentrate, and thank my lucky stars that the neighbours here are reasonably quiet. I would not dream of playing music in the garden other than with headphones and I take care to make sure that the noise of my tv does not seep out through the patio doors. An occasional party is one thing, every day is a nightmare.

Yes the council will take it seriously but will need several prods before taking action other than a warning letter. The nitty gritty is going to be 'how loud' - loud enough to disturb you is not necessarily too loud.

Given the amount of rain we get, I'm struggling to believe this is anywhere near everyday, unless the neighbour is sat out there in her waterproofs!

Bossypants

If she's listening on her phone it's unlikely to have much bass and will therefore be easy to drown out. I recommend investing in a good sound system and start experimenting with white noise. This is what has been keepimg me sane recently. I'll post some different free white noise generators when I get home, you can get all kinds of sounds, you just need to figure out what you get on with and what helps you focus the most.

Good luck, I feel your pain, believe me!

freeisgood

I wonder if you said to her or left her a note...that for every week you didn't hear her music, you would slip a fiver through her door at the end of it....it might work. Though if she tries to "up it", then moving is your best option.

SnooksNJ

Get a window AC unit.
http://www.lowes.com/pd/Frigidaire-15-100-BTU-850-sq-ft-115-Volt-Window-Air-Conditioner/50139494

fishpond

Alice_Walker wrote: »

At best they'll send a letter saying "we have received a complaint". They're not going to take any action against someone for playing music in daytime in the very few days of sunshine we get.

As well as headphones or the radio, OP could try a white noise app.

Yes, they will and do.

FBaby

You talked to her today, and she shrugged rather than told you to get stuff, so give her the benefit of the doubt, maybe she will actually lower the volume on Monday.

sniggings

martinthebandit wrote: »

Yet you wanted your neighbour to?

They are the ones making the noise!