What can I do about my noisy neighbour?

FutureGirl

I live in a block of 16 flats. Everyone is pretty quiet, except the couple who live underneath me.

The lady teaches piano in their flat and it's becoming quite a nuisance since she started doing it about 4 months ago.

From 9am to, sometimes, 7pm on both Saturdays and Sundays she has people coming and going teaching them the piano. The issue is that it's so darn loud! I can hear it over my TV. I have to turn my TV volume 3/4 of the way up just to try and drown out the noise but it doesn't help much.

We live in a gated community with an entrance and exit. The parents of her students all seem to want to drive in the exit gate, beeping until she opens it. Driving in the wrong way causing a nuisance when others are trying to get out of the car park (as it's only wide enough for one vehicle). Last weekend I came in the car park, as one of them was leaving and we almost had an accident because of it.

We have spoken to them and they basically told us to F off. (They aren't nice people)

They also argue quite a lot, banging lots of doors, and screaming and shouting at 3am. We have called the police a few times due to this (as I think he hits her by the sound of things).

My neighbour, who lived next door, has already moved out after 6months as they can hear all the arguing and piano playing.

Our tenancy doesn't end until September with a March break clause, and we can't really afford to move until March 2019 (as we're saving for our wedding).

I just want to know if there is anything I can do to get them to at least limit the times they teach the piano as it's driving me insane!

da_rule

Speak to your landlord who actually owns the leasehold property. There may be a covenant in the leases on the property preventing them being used for business purposes. If there is, then action can be taken. It would also be worth reporting it to the freeholder of the property.

marliepanda

Does the building leasehold permit running a business from the property? Are there any council restrictions on running such a business from the property?

Can you put on extremely loud metal massif yourself to disrupt her piano teaching? Try something like Angerfist that through the floor would disrupt a LOT!
Start making a diary of every incident from now on.

PasturesNew

Things to investigate:
- are they allowed to run a business from there?
- do they need permission from the Council to run a business from there?
- have you grassed them up to HMRC? Do it anyway....

moneyistooshorttomention

marliepanda wrote: »

Does the building leasehold permit running a business from the property? Are there any council restrictions on running such a business from the property?

Can you put on extremely loud metal massif yourself to disrupt her piano teaching? Try something like Angerfist that through the floor would disrupt a LOT!
Start making a diary of every incident from now on.

Never heard of Angerfist - and just googled for them on YouTube. Errr...yep...I see what you mean:rotfl:

....and yep....I'd certainly go with having a diary of every incident.

Whether to play Angerfist or no is probably restricted by having other (innocent) neighbours that would also be disrupted by it though:cool:. But - if there isnt - then thats another possible avenue...

EDIT; and I'd follow PasturesNew's suggestions..

marliepanda

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Never heard of Angerfist - and just googled for them on YouTube. Errr...yep...I see what you mean:rotfl:

....and yep....I'd certainly go with having a diary of every incident.

Whether to play Angerfist or no is probably restricted by having other (innocent) neighbours that would also be disrupted by it though:cool:. But - if there isnt - then thats another possible avenue...

EDIT; and I'd follow PasturesNew's suggestions..

I believe it wouldn't take more than a couple minutes at MOST of Angerfist before the piano lesson came to a grinding halt... therefore the impact on other neighbours should be minimal

I'd also maybe let them know in advance (they may also hear the piano) so they know and also don't have a heart attack...

lincroft1710

Led Zeppelin 2 is also a good deterrent

Cakeguts

Report it to the local council noise team.

kinger101

Playing loud music to get your own back probably ain't a good idea in a block of flats. You have 14 other neighbours. (I've done it in a semi, My Bloody Valentine was my weapon of choice. Though Sun Ra might have been an interesting option too).

Speak to the freeholder/management company, or their noisy tenant's LL if they're sublet). Might be good if you could find similarly annoyed neighbours to back you up.

Maximum100

We have been putting up with a loud music, partying neighbour for years , who becomes innocent and well behaved for a while after authorities have visited. Simply a nuisance.now her housing authority is involved

Like suggested above, check if she actually should be conducting lessons from home. Also, are their any other witnesses to it , I mean householders bothered by her? As it makes your case stronger.
Get in touch with your local council noise pollution team and keep a diary( as they will ask you to do so any way).

FutureGirl

Brilliant, thank you all.

We've considered just moving, but with a wedding next year we can't really afford to move until March 2019!

I am private renting, so I have no experience with anything to do with the leasehold or any covenants in place. I will speak to my landlord to see if they can shed any light on the lease for the building.