Unbearable door slamming from neighbours!

Rinzler

Hello,

I live next door to a student property.

We haven't had tenants next door in quite a while due to covid however uni is about to begin and it has reminded us about the horrible noise that comes from next door.

This property has currently had builders and cleaners in getting ready for the next set of tenants to come in

Quite frankly the building has been built so poorly that the sound unfortunately heavily leaks into our property and it never used to before it underwent the transformation into a HMO.

The main issue is the doors. Oh my god they are so loud that they slam shut and shake my house! And as you can imagine with a group of 6 students who have friends over a lot of the time the noise is unbearable and it's making mine and my family's life living hell.

They will constantly run up and down the stairs, going in each others rooms with the doors slamming shut each time! We are aware that this is not their fault but the noise that comes from this makes me so angry, upset and depressed.

Like I can't even enjoy watching TV or a film until they move out for Xmas or summer as the door slamming is so jarring it ruins the mood. Just imagine having to live like this. 

The doors are so loud it makes me jump. I have to put white noise on at max volume to even sleep.

When the students arrive this will go on until the early hours especially now that most of the classes will be online. It keeps us up at night and can't sleep until they sleep. 

It has caused depression in most of the people living in my house and we have complained numerous times over the years to the landlord and estate agents but they are 'fire hazard' compliant doors so they won't do anything about it.

I was just wondering what to do? What my rights are? I do not want to live another year like this!

(We are currently looking to move too but that has become so hard for us at the moment so in the mean time I want this sorted once and for all)

oldbikebloke

you rights are to sell up and move 

you could make a noise complaint to your council's Environmental Heath Dept, which is the body responsible for such issues, but the chances of them accepting that door slamming is "unbearable" is practically non existent.
They will regard that as "noise from ordinary living" which does not constitute a "statutory noise nuisance" over which they are required to act.

as has been explained, they are fire doors required due to it being a student occupied property. So, so yes, they are heavy and can be noisy if they "slam". As you are looking to move anyway, why risk creating a formal neighbour complaint which you will have to declare when selling up and may then put off anyone from buying your place? 

As fire doors in a student property they have doubtless been fitted with self closers which is kinda the point for a fire door.
The fact the door "slams" implies either the self closer is not working correctly (too forceful), is over specified (too strong) or has been removed and the kids are closing the doors themselves (a serious mistake by the kids as they will die from the smoke of a fire). For the first two possibilities you could ask the landlord to check the action of the closer and replace them if needed with "softer" ones, but you cannot force him to do it, and legally he is looking after himself by ensuring the doors close!

RelievedSheff

Just move. It will be easier on you in the long run.

Don't raise a formal complaint as you will have to report this to potential purchasers when you do sell.

AdrianC

Your comment about "fire hazard compliant" would suggest that, with it being an HMO, they're legally required to be auto-closing spring-loaded firedoors...

Your right is... to move. Probably to somewhere that's not a studenty area.

[Deleted User]

My neighbours are also notorious door slammers, along with drawers, cupboards and anything else that makes any sort of impact noise. It irritates the **** out of me, so I can relate to how you feel. 

I don't see much point in going down the complaining route. Unless the noise is deemed anti-social then theres not a lot the authorities can do for you, and any complaints will also need to be declared upon selling which may hinder the sale should you choose to go down that route. 

You could look into soundproofing, however it is costly and not always effective especially against impact noise like doors. 

Its not an easy decision to make but given how much this issue is effecting you mentally, I'd also suggest moving.

mattyprice4004

There's realistically not much you can do - they're going about their daily life, the house is built poorly which is causing the transmission of sound and students aren't going to tiptoe around 24/7 at your request. 

I'd focus less on the noise, and more on moving - I used to live in a block of flats where you could hear everything and it drove me insane.
I sacrificed a few of my 'nice to haves' to put the extra money towards a detached house, and it's the best thing I ever did. 

Wanderingpomm

If it’s a HMO then it will have automatic door closers. These are prob too tight and causing the doors to slam. Ask the LL to adjust them so they close slowly. It’s usually quite easy to do 

theartfullodger

At least they don't own the place and bang on all the time about house prices, as well as slam the doors!

Benzine

I can't add anything except to agree with the advice to sell up and move. Any official complaint would end up being revealed to a future buyer. We're in a similar situation at the moment and I do feel for you. It's frustrating and unfair. We decided to move as it's simply not worth the stress of staying. Good luck. 

k4ren2006

I might have a few answers as we've been through this for the past 7 years and oh boy, have we gone around and around in circles over this.  We've done the diary, reported to the council who came to the property in question and did a fire door test inside the students HMO.  We heard no noise whatsoever however when a new lot moved in, door slamming, constantly.  Another test was done with environmental health (EVH) officers, two in ours and two next door.  The officers opened and closed each one of the six doors.  We heard very little but there was some slight evidence of noise.  The EVH then closed our case as they deemed it as 'day to day' noise.  However, we fought on as the noise was much louder day to day than during the test.  We suspected some students were pulling or pushing the doors shut.  They denied it, of course.  So we escalated our then existing complaint to the council and raised with the Government Ombudsman.  They felt the EVH didn't do enough so again, another fire door test, same set up.  They tried to conduct it the same as before, by letting the doors close by themselves.  We pushed and pushed and eventually, the officer next door pulled the fire door...BOOM! There was the sound we had been suffering from for 3 years, day and night, dozens of times a day.  Again the students denied doing this but we knew what the cause was.  Thankfully, another set of students moved in but it started again.  We popped a note in and called around politely explaining to them that pulling or pushing makes a sledgehammer sound our side.  Plus when windows are open front and back, the slight click noise that was heard during the test is louder.  We also notice that the thumps are louder during the winter - probably the cold or the doors changing shape slightly.  We had two blissful, quiet, normal years through Covid but a new lot has arrived!  All bar one are perfect neighbours.  We have a Community Liaison Officer with the Uni who swore blind she'll help.  In fairness, she got the Council back out.  They say the doors are fitted correctly and the closer is correct but try telling anyone the one student is slamming....no chance.  She's paying 9k to the Uni, each year and swears blind she's not pulling the door....guess we're making this up then?  You're probably wondering why are we still here.  It's because I love my home, we have a fantastic community and by moving, we'll jump from the frying pan into the fire as we can't afford to buy and our social housing landlord has no decent homes available.  Everywhere around us is having student issues as the Uni has expanded and HMO's are rife everywhere. 

My advice, if you can, get evidence.  Without this then you're a mad person.  Sadly, fire door thumps don't record very well and it's difficult to predict when they'll come but try anyway.   Also, contact your local councillor and the Uni itself.  Be a thorn in their side and don't give up.  You will feel like it, many times.  Their job is to discredit you and protect their incoming fees.  Soundproofing will work a little but it won't stop the thumps.  We've lost space in our house by double and triple soundproofing each room (to stop annoying day to day noise, loud talking, music, alarms going off, playstation shouting parties etc).  A slamming door indicates the closer has failed.  It's dangerous and a fire hazard.  Stress this and request a fire door test be conducted in both properties.  They should also be in constant communication too during the test.  They weren't during our 1st test with them so that's how we got another one done.  The Council do have an obligation to ensure a property meets standards so go with the door closer failing.  Also, the Uni may have got the student to sign some sort of student charter that should deal with bad behavior, ask them while you report these students for being too loud.  One thing I do know, Universities hate having their reputation ruined so worth taking this in board.

Sorry for the long winded post but this is a serious issue and I know my mental health is shot with this very intrusive noise.

I wish you the very best of luck and you're not alone x

robinwales

Makita boom-box player (the type builders like to use outdoors to annoy the neighbours), wired into a Marantz PM6007 amp (mine is incredibly loud) and a pair of high quality high bass speakers facing the student wall of your house about a metre from the wall. Then play Smoke on the Water by Deep Purple at 80% volume. If they come round to ask you to turn the noise down (they will) then say OK, and turn the volume to 100%.

A less confrontational approach would be to give them a gift https://www.amazon.co.uk/Uni-Fine-Transparent-Dampening-Furniture-Hemisphere/dp/B089SH84C4/ref=sr_1_5?crid=18W62CVB2B0F6&dchild=1&keywords=door%2Bpads%2Bstop%2Bslamming&qid=1635268790&sprefix=door%2Bpads%2B%2Caps%2C249&sr=8-5&th=1