Problem with Neighbours

olly300

SmileyMcFly I been involved in various noise cases in different ways.

If the tenant who is complaining doesn't have a detailed log of when you create the noise then the complaint will not stand up in court whether you are taken to court by the landlord, management company or envirnomental health. The landlord can claim whatever they like but they are talking out of their a!!!

In addition if you are only making normal everyday* noise between the hours of 7am and 11pm and your flat is carpeted it is up to the landlord to insulate the flat for the tenant.

I suggest when you speak to your neighbour and point out that everyday noise between the hours of 7am and 11pm is not legally anti-social behaviour or noise nusiance, and that if she has a problem sleeping during the day because she is a shiftworker then she should buy earplugs. They are available at every chemist. (I use to use them sometimes when revising for exams.)

I suggest you also write back to the landlord and state that everyday noise between 7am and 11pm is not anti-social behaviour or noise nusiance and if another threatening letter is sent in the same anonymous way, you will have no choice but to report the landlord to the police for harrassment.

If it does happen go down to the local police station and get a crime reference number.

BTW police will not get involved in noise nusiance cases they will tell you to go to the Envirnomental Health. Environmental Health will require the person suffering to keep a detailed log so they can use it in court if it comes to it.

*Everyday noise includes music and tv playing at normal volumes. Children playing or crying is never regarded as noise nusiance whatever time of day it occurs.

SmileyMcFly

Hmm, I will just ask for the details then. The flat's are purpose built though someone else in the flat's are very handy with a hammer and whenever I hear noise I don't have a clue where its coming from.

Thanks again for your replies

diesel9181

is installing sound insulation between the 2 flats an option. i think you do this through your floor (im probably wrong tho). it sounds as if your neighbour is bullying you due to your age. dont apologise or accept any liability. sounds a bit of a ropey letter anyway, no address, name or signature, maybe it was just scare tactics. more likely than not its the construction of the building thats at fault and not you. is there a neighbour below the nurse? do they hear her. if the nurse can hear your conversations tell her to get a life and find something more constructive to do with her time !! lol

tawny1

Hi have you concrete floors or wooden floors, it could be the landlords job to make the place more soundproofed, sounds like you are being victimised here.

CB1979_2

no contact details of the landlord hmm she could well have written the letter herself.

defo ask for the details and take it from there, but as long as you're not making excessive noise then say sorry nothing i can do.

her choice to work nights not your fault!

BTman

Just have a party, send them all invites.

Edit to add:
People who do shift work get payed "shift allowance" which pays for the inconveniences of them working unsociable hours...

SquatNow

olly300 wrote: »

I suggest you also write back to the landlord and state that everyday noise between 7am and 11pm is not anti-social behaviour or noise nusiance and if another threatening letter is sent in the same anonymous way, you will have no choice but to report the landlord to the police for harrassment.

If it does happen go down to the local police station and get a crime reference number.

I agree totally, if these people continue to harass you complain to the police.

Make sure when you send the letter detailed above you include a photocopy of the original letter, in case it wasn't the landlord that wrote it...! (If the landlord finds out the tennant is impersonating them they'll throw the tennant out on their ear pronto!)

wherediditallgo

Don't be surprised if the letter didn't come from the landlord at all - with no contact details, signature etc, she could have easily typed up the letter herself. Is it on proper letterhead or just something anyone could have typed?

I would speak to the woman & explain that you didn't realise she was being disturbed by you, as you don't usually make any noise yourself, & you'll be more aware of her in future. However, I wouldn't admit anything to her or apologise either, as she sounds the sort to quote that back. She's got to understand that, though she works shifts, you don't, & you can't be expected to float above the floor in case she hears your toenail on the floor. The suggestion that you keep a diary is a good one - if she's so ready to call in the landlord, you'll need the diary to support your case if she tries to take the matter further.

But just because she's complained & the landlord's apparently taking her side, don't assume that you must be in the wrong, as some people can be downright unreasonable, & I think she's taking advantage of your age to get you to toe her personal line. When the elderly couple below me went into care homes, one of their relatives decided to let the one-bedroomed flat out to two young girls, who regularly had several male friends staying over for days at a time, & who didn't care how they disturbed other residents (washing machine on at 2am, doors banging throughout the day etc) but lost no time complaining about my tv & the music played by the resident below them. When one of them had complained to me twice, I decided to ask her to meet with me to discuss it, together with the resident living directly under them, who was being kept awake by their behaviour. On the night in question, I deliberately left the tv on while I went downstairs to their flat to see what could actually be heard, & it was on entering the flat I found out that one of them was sleeping in the lounge, on a piece of foam about 3 inches thick, with a thin rug on the floor, next to no furniture & no carpet. If she was sleeping like that, it was no wonder she could hear my tv & the other resident's music - she was inches away from both, with no insulation! I told her that, while I was prepared to turn the tv down a bit after 11pm, what I felt was acceptable was probably going to be different from what she thought acceptable, since she was expecting me to stop using my lounge in the way a lounge was supposed to be used, & in the way that had been acceptable to the previous residents for over 13 years. In addition, the sound from my flat was only normal household noise, & I cited the fact that I'd left my tv on throughout our meeting & it couldn't be heard at all. I used the opportunity to point out their own behaviour, & told them that if they continued with it, the noise department would be far more concerned about their behaviour (especially with so many of them in the flat) than they would be about mine. Once they realised that I wouldn't be bullied into living around them, their complaining stopped.

And the landlord's talking rubbish about the police. They won't be remotely interested in normal household noise, only breaches of the peace that happen in public places or things that happen in residential space that could pose a danger to other members of the public. The police were mentioned to intimidate you, but don't let it. Neighbour disturbance is dealt with by the noise department of your local authority, not the police. The fact the letter goes on about the police, court & solicitors makes me even more convinced the woman typed the letter herself, & said those things to worry you.

plane_boy2000

You mentioned that the property is shown as being registered to a company? If so I doubt that they would hve sent a scruffy badly presented letter and shoved it through your door - I suspect that your neighbour is trying to scare you by making you think that someone else is involved, and she actualy sent the letter herself.........

Approach her and tell her you have a letter from her landlord but your solictor needs his details to contact him direct...........and keep a look out for her reaction..............

One other option might be to get a few friends over and ask her if you can come in her flat to see what the noise sounds like - it may be worse than you think if the place is not well insulated.

Reminds me of my first place - flat in a block of six - three high. Woman above me used to have really loud sex at 2 in the morning which was a bit of a nightmare, but I am sure she would have been horified if she thought the noise was traveling, but the worst bit was when my GF came over the bloke on the other side of the corridor thought it was me and kept making comments about us keeping the noise down nudge nudge wink wink and making a joke of it!!!!

BettiePage

BTman wrote: »

Just have a party, send them all invites.

Edit to add:
People who do shift work get payed "shift allowance" which pays for the inconveniences of them working unsociable hours...

Lets hope she never nurses you or yours then with having had little/disturbed sleep.