Unreasonable complaining from a neighbor

my_neighbour

I just wanted to say thank you for all people who reply me here. You cannot imagine how much emotional supports each comment provides me. It is so difficult at least for me to stand alone when it comes to neighbour complaints...!

Hi,
I wonder if anyone can assure my situation.

Cutting details, there is a neighbor of mine who has been complaining about 'noise' which is small, similar to a small motor moving like an air conditioner or a pc, but constant and can be annoying in a quiet night. I can also hear the same in my flat when it is quiet. The building is old, and any noise including people's talking voices travels through walls and floors. I am a new tenant and the neighbor is not.

A problem is that that neighbor thinks it's me who makes that noise. I have nothing on apart from essentials such as a fridge/freezer.

There is a complaining once from the neighbor against me (an informal letter/email/text) and another came in (again, an informal letter/email/text).

Questions;
1) Can I terminate my lease on a basis of the neighbor's complains;
2) What should I do if I cannot help the situation at all for the neighbor?

Thank you for your advice.

menachem

The first that you can do is check your tenancy agreement. If there is break clause on how you can end your lease.

Davesnave

How about you arrange to visit your neighbour when things are quiet one evening? Then you can listen to this noise, if there is one, and decide if it could be coming from your flat.

However, even if it is, say, from your fridge motor, there won't be much you can do about it.

It seems an odd situation that your neighbour has to text you, rather than visit and see for themselves that you are not doing anything abnormal. Their complaint is not a valid reason to end your tenancy early, nor should you consider doing so over something so small.

If you cannot help the other tenant because the noise lies beyond your control, you have no need to worry further. They must seek a solution elsewhere, or learn to accept whatever it is. They should not keep texting you.

my_neighbour

menachem - yeah, that's just a standard clause of a 6 month break clause which is due soon, but i wonder if I could move out before that comes into effect.

Davesnave - I visited and did everything I could do, but the neighbour still hears and I can hear the same noise, too. It is obvious that that noise is from somewhere other than my flat since it is on even when the fridge/freezer is off (I tried). The neighbour however says that it had started ever since my move in date and been on constantly. However, the fridge/freezer comes with the flat so had been there before I moved in, and the neighbour complains hearing the noise even when I was away from the flat for a long period of time.

Is this a new kind of neighbour harassment (against me) by stating something unreasonable like this?

I fear the neighbour sent a complaint to the landlord and what would happen then to my reference to secure the next flat. I have not caused any nuisance to any other neighbours before and have been in very good relationships with previous landlords, so cannot predict what happens next.

00ec25

my_neighbour wrote: »

menachem - yeah, that's just a standard clause of a 6 month break clause which is due soon, but i wonder if I could move out before that comes into effect.

Davesnave - I visited and did everything I could do, but the neighbour still hears and I can hear the same noise, too. It is obvious that that noise is from somewhere other than my flat since it is on even when the fridge/freezer is off (I tried). The neighbour however says that it had started ever since my move in date and been on constantly. However, the fridge/freezer comes with the flat so had been there before I moved in, and the neighbour complains hearing the noise even when I was away from the flat for a long period of time.

Is this a new kind of neighbour harassment (against me) by stating something unreasonable like this?

I fear the neighbour sent a complaint to the landlord and what would happen then to my reference to secure the next flat. I have not caused any nuisance to any other neighbours before and have been in very good relationships with previous landlords, so cannot predict what happens next.

so if it is "obvious" the noise is not from your flat, where is it coming from and why don't you investigate what is causing the noise at that location?

as is always the case in everyone of these situations....

1. you do not have grounds for terminating your contract just because you want to move out. If you move out your reference will be a lot worse than anything to do with the neighbour's comments

2. you can ask your LL if he will agree to you leaving early. He can refuse. He may accept, but if he does he can set whatever conditions he wants, you may not like those and decide it is too expensive to meet them (eg he wants you to pay for the costs he incurs in re-letting the property)

3. you can wait until you can exercise the break clause - if there is indeed one "due soon" and it is what you think it is.

4 you could wait until the contract ends and them move out.

my_neighbour

00ec25 - there is something causing some noise behind walls (there are multiple rooms next to one another on one floor) causing the similar noise but I do not think it is my obligation to go that far to 'investigate' neighbours in order to identify where it comes from...got your points in relation to an early termination, though.

Robin9

Have you advised your LL about this noise?

PasturesNew

Get together with the neighbour to knock on everybody's doors and see if they, too, can hear the noise - to try to work as a group to nail it down.

my_neighbour

Robin9 - no, as I do not want to be involved in any issues/complaints. I perhaps should consider... However, I can hear what TV program the downstairs watching or what the next doors saying over the phones in this flat, hence, some noise issues must be put up with... The neighbour complaining should and would know that as the neighbour lives in this building longer than I do.

my_neighbour

Pastures new - we did, but again all others do not want to be the one and deny... I can hear the noise but not to the level of submitting my complaint against it.

Marvel1

If it's not your flat, does not bother you, I wouldnt bother investigating either.