Inconsiderate neighbour - noise

AliceBanned

Hi
I live on the first floor of a three-storey block. I don't hear the neighbours much at all but the woman downstairs has been a frequently noisy since she moved in, about 2 years ago.


It isn't enough probably to warrant a noise nuisance via the Council. We both own our one-bed flats. She has the window open all the time because she uses it as a cat-flap. It is a leasehold flat with no cat-flap on main door. When she moved in with her husband they were very loud 'in the bedroom' in the middle of the night, and sounded like they were also drunk/on drugs possibly. I put up with it and after waking me a few times I started banging on the floor. They have now split up and she is with someone else who seems not to be as crass as displaying their sex life to the whole block though I do occasionally hear it. I found it hard to have a face to face discussion so have built up some resentment and just bash on the floor or slam a door and she now knows it annoys me. Sometimes she plays her radio super loud the next day. The situation has gone beyond it every being amicable and I don't care about that, I am not bothered by her too often but when I am it is bad and affects me the next day due to sleep deprivation. It is really awful being in deep sleep and woken at 1 or 2am.

However - the other day she was hoovering at 5.40-6am :eek:and I had just had enough. The sound travels quite a lot but really she shouldn't be hoovering at that hour!! I realised then that she is the problem, I'm not being over-sensitive. She has also woken me by coming in drunk at 1am and putting music on, maybe not loud enough to disturb everyone but being above her and it coming from her bedroom it disturbed me as my bedroom is above. Many times I've slept on my sofa instead. A young family in the flat next to hers on the ground floor have recently sold up and moved out but probably unrelated to the noise, as they have a toddler so are probably outgrowing the flat.


Should I just put up with it as I plan to leave in 1-2 years? I couldn't believe the hoovering, there is no way this is necessary. AFter this I put a note through her letterbox telling her to read the lease - the rules on noise are in there and telling her I need sleep and making some comment about starting hoovering at 5.40am. I haven't heard back an I presume she doesn't give a toss. Should I make a more formal complaint? The freeholder is a housing Assoc (Metropolitan) but pretty useless with most complaints tbh. I have kept a record in my phone of some of the incidents and the dates but I think they are too infrequent for any authority to take any notice. I don't inflict this on my neighbours so I find it hard to understand such selfish behaviour, especially the hoovering as usually she is loud because she has been out drinking and I can let her off for this happening occasionally, we do live in a block but doing something to create unnecessary noise at such an early hour, really I have lost patience and any respect for her.

jamie_128

It sounds like you need to have some guts and actually speak to her instead of being passive aggresive, some people just need to be made aware of the noise and nuisance they are causing otherwise they will continue.

ashe

If you’re considering leaving, which you are, be aware you will have to disclose issues with neighbours especially where official complaints have been made. That will make it difficult for you to sell.

Not sure how strict laws are around it but if you’re already banging doors and sending passive/ aggressive notes , you might even have to declare that.

KatrinaWaves

How frequently is it if it’s too infrequent for the council to do anything?

Norman_Castle

Should I make a more formal complaint?

Probably not. Its unlikely to make much difference as much of the noise will be dismissed as normal and none sounds bad enough for action to be taken. If it was you're still dealing with someone who is drunk and difficult and you will have to declare the complaint when you sell.

xylophone

Consider moving in the next six months or so?

Davesnave

It's very unlikely you are in a situation which needs to be declared when you sell, but you're heading that way by writing evidence that might be used against you at a future time, so don't do that.


Would the council intervene? Highly unlikely unless the situation worsened, so while the annoyances are frustrating, I'd stick it out. You have an objective and an end in sight, so if possible, put all your energies into hastening that. At least the noises aren't so far in typical viweing hours.

onwards&upwards

So just to be clear, the noise nuisance is her having her sex life and coming home late occasionally?

As a result of this you’ve got into tit for that where you deliberately bang on the floor so she then deliberately makes noise to annoy you?

Either relax a bit or move i’d say.

[Deleted User]

Sounds like she's doing it on purpose to annoy you now. Just go and speak to her about it face to face instead of leaving her notes and banging on her walls.

Norman_Castle

onwards&upwards wrote: »

So just to be clear, the noise nuisance is her having her sex life and coming home late occasionally?

Just to be clear, the noise nuisance is about repeatedly being woken throughout the night.

MEM62

AliceBanned wrote: »

When she moved in with her husband they were very loud 'in the bedroom' in the middle of the night, and sounded like they were also drunk/on drugs possibly.

You can tell that people in the flat below are drinking or on drugs by listening? I think not.

AliceBanned wrote: »

They have now split up and she is with someone else who seems not to be as crass as displaying their sex life to the whole block though I do occasionally hear it.

Probably not unusual in a modern building where sound insulation isn't always great. What is your expectation, that they abstain altogether?

AliceBanned wrote: »

I found it hard to have a face to face discussion so have built up some resentment and just bash on the floor or slam a door and she now knows it annoys me.

And you are accusing your neighbour of being inconsiderate? (Phrases involving pots and kettles springs to mind) Any reasonable person would start with a conversation.

AliceBanned wrote: »

I realised then that she is the problem, I'm not being over-sensitive.

You are both the problem. I am sure that , in your view 'she started it all' to use a playground expression but your response has not been reasonable. The way that you have dealt with the matter is the least likely to resolve it and, in most cases, will only escalate the resentment and poor behaviour on both sides.

AliceBanned wrote: »

Should I just put up with it as I plan to leave in 1-2 years?

No, you shouldn't put up with it. Neither should you deal with it in the manger that you have. You are neighbours !!!!!!. Go have a cup if tea with her and resolve your differences like adults.