Neighbour Troubles (again, sorry)

pinkshoes

She sounds like a really annoying neighbour!

One of my neighbours constantly have their doors open when the weather is nice with radio 2 blaring away. I never complain as I have three kids who are often out in the garden being very noisy!

I have recently purchased a second hand violin for £50 and am teaching myself via youtube videos. I find it very enjoyable and relaxing. I have also noticed that since practicing with the patio door open (it gets hot in the room), my neighbours have been more considerate about their radio volume... as am I when practicing, and now go in the garage!

She is only doing it to wind you up, so either take up an instrument instead of reading, or wear some headphones. Trying entering competitions to win some, or ask on a local FB group if anying is selling any.

justaquestion

Play you own music only be louder and if she/he likes pop play opera!

DFlights

We are not living beyond our means. My partner works full time. We each bring in enough money to cover all rent and bills, but due to past problems, our savings are not what they were, we're building them up. This will take time. Our rent is the cheapest in the area, I've looked, and we couldn't move far anyway due to partner's job. I don't feel that I should have to explain any of this further. I was seeking a solution to a very real problem, thank you those who have offered helpful suggestions. I'll be looking into noise cancelling headphones and white/pink noise apps.

enthusiasticsaver

She sounds annoying and inconsiderate and I would be miffed too that I could not enjoy some peace and quiet in my own garden. I think I would go with the headphones idea as it sounds like appealing to her wont work and maybe out of boredom as she doesn't work she has decided winding you up is fun. Ignore her.

Nicki

enthusiasticsaver wrote: »

She sounds annoying and inconsiderate and I would be miffed too that I could not enjoy some peace and quiet in my own garden. I think I would go with the headphones idea as it sounds like appealing to her wont work and maybe out of boredom as she doesn't work she has decided winding you up is fun. Ignore her.

The neighbour escalated her behaviour by turning up the volume and increasing the frequency of the music after OP complained. As has already been established the volume on a phone is not loud in any event. Looking at this from the other perspective I'd be miffed if a neighbour told me I could never enjoy some music at a low level during daytime hours in my own garden. I think the OP behaved unreasonably at the outset and is the author of her own misfortune. I can't see there is anything she can now do other than wait for the neighbour to get bored and be more careful at cultivating good neighbourly relations when she next gets new neighbours.

Hedgehog99

Hopefully by ignoring her petty behaviour, the novelty will wear off when she sees she's no longer annoying you.

If you have a parasol, even better - sitting under that so that she cannot see you from her windows will mean she can't see you using headphones or see any "reaction" from you at all.

Your local council environmental health department should have a noise monitor which will measure whether the noise is at an acceptable level. The nasty tinny sound from phones and small speakers is extremely annoying so you have my sympathy. I too had to ignore a petty neighbour. It's hard, but it's the dignified thing to do.

Dreamnine

You have my sympathy; I hate unwarranted noise and your neighbour sounds like a mean and petty person.

Modern smartphones with dual speakers can certainly get loud.

KiKi

I'm amazed that people think it's okay to listen to music in your garden for hours at a time. Whilst it may not be loud or unlawful, it's incredibly annoying. Why should other people have to listen to someone else's music (through awful phone speakers as well!) for hours at a time??

I have neighbours that do this - thankfully only every few days or so - but it means I can't enjoy my garden or have my windows or doors open at that time. Not because it's really loud, but I can hear it, and phone speakers are often tinny and hissy, and you can hear it at a constant beat.

I love to watch F1, and I love to have my back door open most of the day as well. So if my back door is open, I make sure I turn the TV right down, because I don't see why any of my neighbours should have to listen to my television.

Every now and then - fine. But for hours a day? I think you were right to ask her to be more considerate, OP - obviously it didn't work, but I'm surprised that people are saying you're massively overreacting. Being forced to listen to something you don't want to for hours on end every day is unfair and IMO anti-social. And yes, you can wear noise cancelling earphones, but why should you have to?! I feel for you. I don't have any helpful advice, though, other than that which has already been given.

KiKi

sillygoose

I would setup my oscillating bar lawn sprinkler and not be too careful with setting the end stops to make it fall exactly short of the fence. Find out if her and her phone are light shower proof... oops!

Sorry but she has declared war first.

Davesnave

Phones may not be loud, but portable speakers go to 20 watts, which is equal to indoor mains equipment.

I looked into all this when a neighbour used to go out and leave his dogs barking. I'd made recordings of them, lasting hours, and I thought he might like to share their delightful behaviour on his return. However, things then changed, fortunately.

At my last house, I had neighbours who would be an occasional nuisance by having loud, outdoor get-togethers on random hot evenings in term-time. I didn't think it fair to intervene before midnight, even if my kids couldn't sleep, but after that I considered them fair game. All I'd do was quietly lift the lid on my comfrey compost barrel and give the liquid a vigorous stir......It was pretty close, but hidden by a big bush.

They probably thought it was the drains, as there were plenty down the back of their Victorian terrace. Anyway, it seemed to work reasonably well, even on the inebriated.

Just a thought!