Noisy Neighbours

KatieDee

I live in a very small block of flats in a normally quiet area. I accept that while living in flats, some noise is expected and can usually just ignore the bangs and occasional parties.

A few months ago I had new neighbours move above me. No huge issues but I've come to realise that they play music or watch TV extremely loudly, almost constantly, day and night.

It rumbles so loudly that even with noise cancelling earphones on, I can hear it. I slept for four hours last night, went to bed at 7pm tonight to catch up and was woken at 8pm with a loud buzzing TV. I'm starting to question my sanity a bit now - partner says to just ignore it but I can't because it's impossible to drop off to sleep with banging noises and music/TV droning. It was on until 3am the other day.

The difficult part is - I can't be 100% sure whether the TV noise is coming from above me or next door, so I don't want to risk knocking on in case it isn't them. More likely to be upstairs, as the noise is so muffled and it never happened prior to them moving in - I can also hear them banging around above me, so I know they're in the flat and using the bedroom while the noise is ongoing. Next door neighbours have been there forever and we've never had this issue before.

I just need some advice on how to handle this, as it's really starting to upset me. I don't want to be a nag and make them overtly aware of every bang they might make, or risk neighbour relations, but I pay a lot of money to live here and I can't even enjoy my own flat anymore.

I have the details of the landlord and was wondering about giving them a call and asking them to speak to the tenants, but this seems unfair without speaking to them directly first. I'd write a letter to the tenants but I don't really know how to word it. I could knock on their door but I know they work shifts, so I'm a bit worried about it being inconvenient. I'm a bit stumped and other than moving out of a flat I've been in for over two years and extremely happy with, I can't see a decent outcome.

I'd be really grateful for any advice on this.

tacpot12

I think you need to establish where the noise is coming from. Could you ask the next door neighbours if they have heard the same noises your have? If the noise stops immediately after you have discussed it with the, you will know that it was them, and they didn't realise that they were causing a problem until you mentioned it. If they confirm they have also heard the same noise and it is bothering them, ask them to keep a diary of when they are being bothered by the noise, and do so yourself.

Once you are clear on the extent of the problem, check back here to see if others agree that the problem is bad enough to take it further. Noise is always a difficult issue - what is low background noise to some drives others around the bend!

KatieDee

tacpot12 wrote: »

I think you need to establish where the noise is coming from. Could you ask the next door neighbours if they have heard the same noises your have? If the noise stops immediately after you have discussed it with the, you will know that it was them, and they didn't realise that they were causing a problem until you mentioned it. If they confirm they have also heard the same noise and it is bothering them, ask them to keep a diary of when they are being bothered by the noise, and do so yourself.

Once you are clear on the extent of the problem, check back here to see if others agree that the problem is bad enough to take it further. Noise is always a difficult issue - what is low background noise to some drives others around the bend!

Thank you for your response. This is my concern about it - these flats are new (built in 2006) so the soundproofing isn't fantastic. I don't think anything they're doing is intentional as they seem like really nice people - I don't want to come down on them like a tonne of bricks when they're literally just relaxing after work or whatever. I always remember in my old flat I got a really snotty anonymous letter from the neighbours accusing me of all sorts of odd things, that I honestly hadn't done. I assume it was a mix up or maybe they were sensitive to the noise, but I remember how much it upset me and made me nervous to do anything in the flat. I'd hate for them to feel like that.

I actually spoke to their adjacent neighbour to ask if she had heard anything - she is absolutely lovely and we talked about how much noise carries in these flats. She said she hadn't heard much but she hears a lot from her upstairs neighbour.

They have stopped now, bang on 11pm, which suggests to me that they're somewhat aware of noise levels (which is promising!). I'll wait until I've calmed down a bit, see how the rest of the week goes and have a friendly word if it doesn't improve. It might just be a matter of explaining how much sound travels and politely requesting that the TV is turned down a bit later in the evening.

yllop1101

I live in a flat and know how hard it can be dealing with noise. Noise is always worse. From above I find.
Even if you're not sure of the source, when you hear the noise pop upstairs and naively ask 'I'm not sure where this noise is coming from and was wondering if you can hear it, or perhaps maybe it's your tv'?
It sounds like you're pretty sure it's them, and if I'm honest it also sounds like you're making excuses to not go and talk to them, which is of course the best first step to take.
You could always come up with another conversation starter/excuses to pop up first, like to ask if they have something you could borrow (like a particular screwdriver for DIY).

Good luck, I hope you resolve it.

Norman_Castle

A few months ago I had new neighbours move above me. No huge issues but I've come to realise that they play music or watch TV extremely loudly, almost constantly, day and night.

First step is to talk to them and explain that their tv is very loud in your flat. Many people are ignorant of problems their noise may cause but will be quiet when aware. If they are decent, intelligent people you will get a positive response.
It becomes a noise nuisance when they refuse to reduce the volume.

KiKi

Hi there

I had this problem with someone who moved in next door, very recently. I could hear every word of the films they were watching. Literally every word, it was that loud. I didn't believe he wasn't aware how loud he was - but he really wasn't. People generally aren't deliberately awkward - they're often just ignorant of it. As you said - don't come down on them like a tonne of bricks, as the chances are they have no idea and have lived somewhere before where it wasn't an issue. They'll have no idea that you're really riled up!

I dropped a note to my neighbour which said something like:
"Hi there, I'm KiKi and live next door to you. I hope you're settling in really well and enjoying your new house! You probably aren't aware, but just wanted to drop you a note about the noise between the two houses. Unfortunately there's very little sound proofing in this property, so when music and TV is played loudly it can be heard quite easily in other properties. I don't mind 'living noise' at all - I expect to hear people moving around as that's part of living with neighbours! But at the moment I can hear your TV really loudly through the wall, and it's kept me awake until gone 1am for the last few nights, which has made my evenings pretty miserable. I'm sure it's not intentional - you're probably completely unaware of it! However, if you could turn your TV down after 11pm I'd be very grateful as I can hear every word of the films you're watching, and it's keeping me awake. Equally, if there's anything you can hear from my house, please let me know, as I'd hate to be disturbing anyone. Thanks so much in advance! KiKi."

I just kept it light and friendly - he knocked on my door that evening and profusely apologised and it's not happened since - thankfully!

Most people generally have no idea, and will apologise. But start from the position that they have no idea, rather than being all angry and upset about it (understandably) as it will make you seem unreasonable at a point where they've not been able to correct it.

HTH
KiKi

KatieDee

KiKi wrote: »

Hi there

I had this problem with someone who moved in next door, very recently. I could hear every word of the films they were watching. Literally every word, it was that loud. I didn't believe he wasn't aware how loud he was - but he really wasn't. People generally aren't deliberately awkward - they're often just ignorant of it. As you said - don't come down on them like a tonne of bricks, as the chances are they have no idea and have lived somewhere before where it wasn't an issue. They'll have no idea that you're really riled up!

I dropped a note to my neighbour which said something like:
"Hi there, I'm KiKi and live next door to you. I hope you're settling in really well and enjoying your new house! You probably aren't aware, but just wanted to drop you a note about the noise between the two houses. Unfortunately there's very little sound proofing in this property, so when music and TV is played loudly it can be heard quite easily in other properties. I don't mind 'living noise' at all - I expect to hear people moving around as that's part of living with neighbours! But at the moment I can hear your TV really loudly through the wall, and it's kept me awake until gone 1am for the last few nights, which has made my evenings pretty miserable. I'm sure it's not intentional - you're probably completely unaware of it! However, if you could turn your TV down after 11pm I'd be very grateful as I can hear every word of the films you're watching, and it's keeping me awake. Equally, if there's anything you can hear from my house, please let me know, as I'd hate to be disturbing anyone. Thanks so much in advance! KiKi."

I just kept it light and friendly - he knocked on my door that evening and profusely apologised and it's not happened since - thankfully!

Most people generally have no idea, and will apologise. But start from the position that they have no idea, rather than being all angry and upset about it (understandably) as it will make you seem unreasonable at a point where they've not been able to correct it.

HTH
KiKi

Kiki, you are just amazing. I can't thank you enough for that example of the most perfect letter ever. I wrote something myself, gave it to friends at work to read just to make sure it was friendly enough, but yours blows it out of the water.

I will type it up tomorrow, print a copy off and keep it aside to post if the noise continues.

I figured, rather than get irate over a few nights, I'm going to see how things are tonight before actually sending anything. If it happens again tonight, I will be sending a polite letter tomorrow.

Thanks everybody