Noise issue

GDB2222

It’s worth trying these - https://www.screwfix.com/p/door-cushion-domes-49-pack/18213

They are the little plastic domes that often come with kitchen cabinets. The point is that they don’t really need fitting, just sticking on, so you can pop them through the neighbours' letterbox and they can do the job in five minutes. Not a rolls Royce solution but a quick fix. And very cheap.

robatwork

If you have the money to throw at this priority in your life, could you offer to replace their hinges and drawer runners with soft close mechanisms?

BrowndOff

Yes. Once this bloody lockdown eases, I will raise it again. The person has said twice they will be fine with it. I've experimented on my own cabinets and pads and those small rubber domes are ineffective. I got some piston dampeners as they are quick to fit, and are effective. Thing is, I'm fine with hearing it a bit but not with such ferocity. Many days it's fine, either because I miss it, or they are out, or being aware. After a day or two I start to relax and then if I hear door abuse, I get the hump, for all my breathing exercises and mind tools. Honestly, the level is unreasonable but an easy fix/reduction. I'm trying not to appear like a moaner and biding my time. We will be here for a while, and when we sell, I am aware of the spif form, and realise it's all subjective. As it is, if I eventually fit them, then problem solved. I'll even mention it when we sell in the future, but they might move and we could get someone a whole lot worse ( music, drugs, who knows ), but if that happens, then I'd resort to council if no joy directly. Anyway, if for some reason I never get to fit them, I would speak to the council as it is hardly an unreasonable request ( no cost to them ) and hardly an inconvenience for next door.

BrowndOff

Tried them. They are too hard and pretty useless. I have tried all manner: foam, rubber, felt, but door pistons seem to be the easiest and effective solution - and will only take 20 minutes.

BrowndOff

robatwork said:

If you have the money to throw at this priority in your life, could you offer to replace their hinges and drawer runners with soft close mechanisms?

Yes. I agree; it is ridiculous, how affected one can get - and disturbing. I'm fine with general noise as long as it's not too intrusive, and the cupboards, being construed as an easy solution, and a lack of respect, each time it happens, I get wound up. Pistons are good, and I would double them up for each door. Soft close is a good thought. I'm not worried about a little extra expense if it helps my hang-up.

BrowndOff

Half of the wall my side in that room is a tiled void. I'm wondering whether that is helping to amplify the noise. I have options but addressing it on the other side is the quickest and easiest.

robatwork

You'll never eliminate the sound coming through no matter what manner of "solutions" you do on your own wall. 
Wish you well as it's obviously affecting your mental wellbeing and no amount of "put up with it" from anyone here will help you.

Bigphil1474

OP, I work in environmental health and we deal with noise nuisance complaints. You are trying everything we would recommend - speaking to your neighbours, seeing if it can be resolved amicably etc. Hopefully these fittings will reduce the noise impact to an acceptable level. If they don't, you have a few choices. 
The neighbours house being owned by the council should be a positive. Most council tenancy agreements usually include wording about not causing nuisance to other residents/neighbours etc. so that could be your first port of call. As the landlord, they may look to replace the kitchen - they are often replaced on a fixed time period in council houses, so if they are due, they might be able to bring that forward. You might be able to work with your neighbours on seeing if that is a possibility.
Second option is your local Environmental Health team. There is a legal requirement to investigate all noise nuisance complaints. Obviously, once you make a complaint, relations with your neighbours may sour, so worth considering that. Generally, we ask complainants to keep a diary of noise nuisance for 4 weeks to show the pattern and intensity of how you are affected. Once you've done that, either an officer will try and witness the noise themselves, or look to install noise monitoring equipment - the later may be difficult if the noise is sporadic and unpredictable.
You may find that if the noise impact improves after fitting these devices, you are less affected - or sometimes the opposite happens if you have become sensitised. That will be down to you. Good luck with it.

BrowndOff

robatwork said:

You'll never eliminate the sound coming through no matter what manner of "solutions" you do on your own wall. 
Wish you well as it's obviously affecting your mental wellbeing and no amount of "put up with it" from anyone here will help you.

I agree entirely. Just being in the forums helps a bit. I will not give up resolving it.

BrowndOff

Bigphil1474 said:

OP, I work in environmental health and we deal with noise nuisance complaints. You are trying everything we would recommend - speaking to your neighbours, seeing if it can be resolved amicably etc. Hopefully these fittings will reduce the noise impact to an acceptable level. If they don't, you have a few choices. 
The neighbours house being owned by the council should be a positive. Most council tenancy agreements usually include wording about not causing nuisance to other residents/neighbours etc. so that could be your first port of call. As the landlord, they may look to replace the kitchen - they are often replaced on a fixed time period in council houses, so if they are due, they might be able to bring that forward. You might be able to work with your neighbours on seeing if that is a possibility.
Second option is your local Environmental Health team. There is a legal requirement to investigate all noise nuisance complaints. Obviously, once you make a complaint, relations with your neighbours may sour, so worth considering that. Generally, we ask complainants to keep a diary of noise nuisance for 4 weeks to show the pattern and intensity of how you are affected. Once you've done that, either an officer will try and witness the noise themselves, or look to install noise monitoring equipment - the later may be difficult if the noise is sporadic and unpredictable.
You may find that if the noise impact improves after fitting these devices, you are less affected - or sometimes the opposite happens if you have become sensitised. That will be down to you. Good luck with it.

That is really helpful. Yes, I am trying to do it the right way. The family are fine, if a little dopey maybe, but don't seem to be doing it on purpose. I will approach again when this lockdown calms down, and keep good relations. All I want is to fit soft close hinges/pistons at my expense because people get forgetful, I know. Other sounds like footsteps do encroach a bit but I accept that - and conversation - but this particular noise has really affected me. I do cbt, and am on meds, but just reducing it will be the best medicine, I think. 
 The stuff about the council is something I will bear in mind, as I will not let it drop, and it's not unreasonable of me, especially as my mental state is documented, to ask for help if the tenants, for some reason, turn. It's all so simple, and shouldn't be regarded as a slight on them, as I have impressed on them before. We all want a happy home to come back to, especially these days.