Noisy Neighbour - Not sure of next steps

Jimmy_Boy

Thanks James for sharing your experiences and offering suggestions.

To be honest I feel like ive hit a brick wall and have kind of given up. I am in the situation I have described and also have a job which can be quite stressful, along with long hours and I am generally very unhappy there - these 2 things kind of feed each other : the lack of sleep, depression, anxiety etc... from my neighbours, then going to work and getting stressed with the job, long hours etc... I feel like I have been running on empty for a very long time and to the point where I seriously dont think i can sustain the two for much longer without having some sort of breakdown.

I am now seriously thinking of quitting work as this takes one area of stress away from me and MAY allow my blood pressure / stress levels to drop a little.

I dont know exactly what im going to do yet, i'll keep you posted

snilloct1957

Hi Jimmy_Boy
I haven't read all the threads but know enough about noisy neighbours to give you some hints. It's clear that this problem is very upsetting and affecting your life big time. It may be you need to involve your local councillor, as he/she can help as a liaison with the social housing provider. The Environment Protection Act 1990 can be a useful tool as it provides a legal framework for dealing with noise pollution, which is what you're suffering. I know, I've been there. In my case the council got right behind me and the problem was solved. The neighbour was a right s**thead who didn't consider anyone but themselves. They crossed a line and were dealt with by the landlord and the local council. I wish you all the best with your problem.

Jimmy_Boy

Hey snilloct1957

I did get in touch with my councillor who got in touch with the council, but ultimately as far as anyone official is concerned, it just 'living noise' and goes nowhere. This is why I say ive kind of given up. Ive lost all my fight and dont feel like I have the energy to persue it at the moment as each turn I take leads to a brick wall / deaf ears.

Have considered moving out and renting my place out, but thats not without it's own problems.

As above, im considering quitting work to take away one big area of stress in my life, may see the doctor and see if I can get signed off for a period of time to try and get some rest (although as stated, this is difficult). Im unsure, but will update here on any future developments.

I must add... ive been heartened by the replies here, it makes a pleasant change from the usual trash talking forums.

Thanks.

onwards&upwards

Jimmy_Boy wrote: »

Hey snilloct1957

I did get in touch with my councillor who got in touch with the council, but ultimately as far as anyone official is concerned, it just 'living noise' and goes nowhere. This is why I say ive kind of given up. Ive lost all my fight and dont feel like I have the energy to persue it at the moment as each turn I take leads to a brick wall / deaf ears.

Have considered moving out and renting my place out, but thats not without it's own problems.

As above, im considering quitting work to take away one big area of stress in my life, may see the doctor and see if I can get signed off for a period of time to try and get some rest (although as stated, this is difficult). Im unsure, but will update here on any future developments.

I must add... ive been heartened by the replies here, it makes a pleasant change from the usual trash talking forums.

Thanks.

I’d be really wary of giving up work, would that not mean you were spending all day in the flat and it might have you on edge 24/7 waiting for noise and make your mental state even worse?

Have you tried white noise at all? Even radio 4 or 5 live on constantly?

Jimmy_Boy

onwards&upwards wrote: »

I’d be really wary of giving up work, would that not mean you were spending all day in the flat and it might have you on edge 24/7 waiting for noise and make your mental state even worse?

Have you tried white noise at all? Even radio 4 or 5 live on constantly?

I know, but it's getting too much now. I listen to white noise every night on headphones as it's the only thing which allows me to somewhat block out the noise and get to sleep, but as described previously this is now hurting my ears somewhat as I have been doing this now for at least 3 years.

onwards&upwards

Don’t have it on headphones, have a radio or TV.

Jimmy_Boy

I find it ineffective without headphones on. Ive said it before, but the main issue I have is with what I describe as 'boom' sounds. Sounds that are probably around the 100Hz - 400Hz frequency. I can have the TV on really quite loud but I still hear those boom's. Ive also said before, I believe I am hyper-sensitive now due to the amount of time its gone on, so one could say that I am part of the problem now.

k4ren2006

Hey.
I can totally relate to Jimmy Boys story as we've gone through pretty much the same over the past 4 years with a student HMO (mainly fire door noise).
Our Council is unbeliable. They're conducted 3 fire door noise tests and have heard how loud the doors are (during the last test) and have now decided it's behaviour as the doors are louder when they are pulled/pushed/slam with Windows open. We've been to our MP (2 year battle), several Assembly Members, Cllr, other people's Cllr, legal advice and so on but noisy fire doors aren't illegal and cant be classed as a noise nuisance...go figure. Gov Ombudsman also sided with the Council.

I too have been going around the bend and I rarely leave the house as my anxiety (which I've never had before this) is awful.

The biggest insult to injury is, becuase of our persistence, the HMO landlord feels harassed and we got a grilling from an acting South Wales Police Inspector (a common trick these landlords use) which has now made the situation 10 times worse.

The only saving grace is we do get a few weeks peace until September but honestly, as others have said, unless you experience unwanted noise, you don't know how bad it can be. You can't wear headphones or earplugs 24/7....you just have to put up with it

mimi9393

I am after a bit of advice. I live in a house conversion (Victorian) on the ground floor with an upper neighbour. We moved here one year ago at which time the tenants upstairs consisted of a mother and her adult daughter but they did also have a lodger ( albeit not necessarily legally). He moved out within a few months and then all he’ll broke lose. The mother has encouraged her other daughter to move back home (young adult) with her 3 year old child. This has created an influx in several young adults visiting at unsocial hours (past 10 pm weekdays). The child has no control and bounces about like an elephant sometimes until midnight. The child’s father also a young adult also stays most nights. The issue is that this young lady occupies a council house in another area which she has left for nine months to stay here with her mum albeit this is a private arrangement nothing agreed by the landlord/council. I know as a secure tenant no permission is needed but what about occupancy rules etc. The noise issues are insane!! Most nights they are in and out the shared entrance door smoking in the porch which is semi enclosed it is impossible for anyone to come through that door with sometimes two/three young people stood there smoking.

i have spoken to the mum who appears to literally bury her head you know where. I don’t think I should have to speak to her daughter directly as she is quite frankly in my eyes a visitor here. As this is where she grew up it seems she believes rights follow albeit as stated she has chosen to leave her council house (who knows if it’s sublet) to stay here so she can socialise with babysitting in tap!!! Any ideas where I stand with the increased noise and nuisance given the circumstances? I don’t think the daughter and child and all her friends should be causing my family so much disturbance. Is this classed as ‘normal living noise’ ? Given the increase in residents on the basis described? Other factors here are that they have occupied the flat pre/ housing changes so it is four rooms- but counted as a 2 bedroom by the council which in my opinion facilitated this “overcrowding’ if they were in 2 bedrooms it would not be possible or convenient for them? If 2 adults and 1 child occupy a room, then 1 adult and 1 adiult (5) I know it isn’t literally over occupied per say but the child would not have his own room. How should I address this given my requests for not loitering in groups in the shared doorway , loud noises through the timber floors, bass and other nuisances are not being taken in by my neighbour when I speak to them?

building_with_lego

mimi9393 said:

I am after a bit of advice. I live in a house conversion (Victorian) on the ground floor with an upper neighbour. We moved here one year ago at which time the tenants upstairs consisted of a mother and her adult daughter but they did also have a lodger ( albeit not necessarily legally). He moved out within a few months and then all he’ll broke lose. The mother has encouraged her other daughter to move back home (young adult) with her 3 year old child. This has created an influx in several young adults visiting at unsocial hours (past 10 pm weekdays). The child has no control and bounces about like an elephant sometimes until midnight. The child’s father also a young adult also stays most nights. The issue is that this young lady occupies a council house in another area which she has left for nine months to stay here with her mum albeit this is a private arrangement nothing agreed by the landlord/council. I know as a secure tenant no permission is needed but what about occupancy rules etc. The noise issues are insane!! Most nights they are in and out the shared entrance door smoking in the porch which is semi enclosed it is impossible for anyone to come through that door with sometimes two/three young people stood there smoking.

i have spoken to the mum who appears to literally bury her head you know where. I don’t think I should have to speak to her daughter directly as she is quite frankly in my eyes a visitor here. As this is where she grew up it seems she believes rights follow albeit as stated she has chosen to leave her council house (who knows if it’s sublet) to stay here so she can socialise with babysitting in tap!!! Any ideas where I stand with the increased noise and nuisance given the circumstances? I don’t think the daughter and child and all her friends should be causing my family so much disturbance. Is this classed as ‘normal living noise’ ? Given the increase in residents on the basis described? Other factors here are that they have occupied the flat pre/ housing changes so it is four rooms- but counted as a 2 bedroom by the council which in my opinion facilitated this “overcrowding’ if they were in 2 bedrooms it would not be possible or convenient for them? If 2 adults and 1 child occupy a room, then 1 adult and 1 adiult (5) I know it isn’t literally over occupied per say but the child would not have his own room. How should I address this given my requests for not loitering in groups in the shared doorway , loud noises through the timber floors, bass and other nuisances are not being taken in by my neighbour when I speak to them?

Start a new thread- you'll get lots of replies here for the original post (which is from 2018).