Neighbours showering at 1am - what can I do?

Scotbot

teachfast said:

Scotbot said:

teachfast said:

Natbag said:

Showering at 2am is acceptable, but slamming doors, singing and shouting into other rooms at your housemates when you don't live in a detached property isn't. It's selfish, especially when they have been previously asked to be more considerate of their neighbours. Sadly there isn't much you can do if they're of the attitude that they will do what they like when they like, other than wait for them to move out or move out yourself.

Or play your favourite tunes at 0730 when they are trying to sleep off their hangovers.

Sod the favourite tunes go for Verdi's Requiem or gospel music and make it 6.30 am

Verdi's Requiem is one of my favourite tunes!

If we're blasting classical then Rachmaninov would be my choice. And 0630 is absolutely perfect for Piano Concerto No. 2.

Nah if you want to annoy someone and wake them up Verdi's Requiem is by far the better option

lookstraightahead

You can start drilling work from 8am like my neighbours are doing. Get a new patio built 😂

TBagpuss

MoonChild91 said:

TBagpuss said:

I think it was suggested earlier but it's worth trying white noise _ I used to have similar issues with noise due to poor sound insulation and noisy neighbours, and I found that oscillating white or brown noise (so more like waves on the shore than a constant noise) was quite effective - I used a free app on my phone, and did find i had to experiment a bit to find the most effective frequency ( the app I used offered 'pink' 'brown' and 'white' noise - I found 'brown' worked best for me!) 

Thanks! I'll have a look for a similar app - I didn't think of this and would rather not fork out for a white noise machine in case it doesn't work. Do you remember what the one you used was called?

I have spoken to our landlord about it, but he just dismisses it by saying the house is old so the walls are thin - he's quite bad at making any improvements to the house unless they're a legal requirement so not holding out much hope on that front. 

I don't remember - I moved house 7 years ago and haven't needed it since! But as far as I recall I just searched for white noise in the app store and tried a couple of the free options with good reviews. 

Getting_greyer

Feel for you OP. Your room room orientation doesn't help, Shared walls can amplify normal domestic noise.

When I was in a terrace, my headboard was against the dividing wall from next doors lounge.  When they had people over for a drink the noise of laughing etc would travel up the wall.  I could have moved the bed but couldn't be bothered tbh. I didn't complain as it was just normal behaviour.  However once they stated banging out the karaoke at 2am I went over.  Lots of apologies that night and following day. Happened a couple times after that, but down to them having a beer and losing awareness.  People generally are considerate just sometimes ignorant of how their actions affect others. Especially when they have a beer in them.

I think best bet is to move your bed to a different wall.  I know you said you can't but unless your room is an isosceles triangle I'd still give it a go as you can't ask someone not to shower.   I'd also, go round and speak to them at the everytime they scream in the early hours. What's the worst that can happen?  Must be better than feeling impotent to do anything.

Hope it sorts out for you,

Hannimal

TBagpuss said:

OP, I think it's worth making a polite request - I'd approach it as "Unfortunately the sound insulation is crap, ad I know you're not being intentionally anti social, but I'd really appreciate it if..." and then ask if they can try to avoid singing in the shower, or  shouting up and down the stairs to each other, between (say) 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.

They are not being even unintenionally anti social. They are literally taking showers.

ic

Problem is, even if the OP gets the current student tenants to be quiet, come September there'll be new residents enjoying new found freedom away from parents, and the problem will start all over.  Sounds like it's going to be a pain year after year.

I also can't see the landlord making noise insulation changes - its incredibly expensive to cut the noise in an old property such that you won't hear next door.  It's cheaper for the landlord to lose a tenant and find another.

wannabe_a_saver

Hannimal said:

TBagpuss said:

OP, I think it's worth making a polite request - I'd approach it as "Unfortunately the sound insulation is crap, ad I know you're not being intentionally anti social, but I'd really appreciate it if..." and then ask if they can try to avoid singing in the shower, or  shouting up and down the stairs to each other, between (say) 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.

They are not being even unintenionally anti social. They are literally taking showers.

The singing is antisocial, it would be at that time if the morning without the shower too! 

MoonChild91

Getting_greyer said:

Feel for you OP. Your room room orientation doesn't help, Shared walls can amplify normal domestic noise.

When I was in a terrace, my headboard was against the dividing wall from next doors lounge.  When they had people over for a drink the noise of laughing etc would travel up the wall.  I could have moved the bed but couldn't be bothered tbh. I didn't complain as it was just normal behaviour.  However once they stated banging out the karaoke at 2am I went over.  Lots of apologies that night and following day. Happened a couple times after that, but down to them having a beer and losing awareness.  People generally are considerate just sometimes ignorant of how their actions affect others. Especially when they have a beer in them.

I think best bet is to move your bed to a different wall.  I know you said you can't but unless your room is an isosceles triangle I'd still give it a go as you can't ask someone not to shower.   I'd also, go round and speak to them at the everytime they scream in the early hours. What's the worst that can happen?  Must be better than feeling impotent to do anything.

Hope it sorts out for you,

My room is a bit awkward - I've got the doorway and another closet door on one wall without the room between them for a bed, then the one opposite to the noisy neighbours has a fireplace with a sink next to it, then the outside wall has a big window and radiator (our house is victorian so it's one of those that are almost ceiling to floor with a low windowsill?) which just makes it so awkward! I've got my housemate to help me move my bed so the headboard is next to the window with the long side against the noisy wall in the hope that it will make some difference so we'll see.

I resorted to earplugs finally last night as I was just getting desperate for sleep (I haven't had more than 6 hours any night this week), which is probably a good thing because they woke my housemate up in the early hours singing. I think he's going to have a word with them later on while I'm at work so fingers crossed!

stevenbecca

get up shower/hoover and make as much noise as possible as early as possible, cut the grass at 7am sunday morning. 

Skiddaw1

I wouldn't. Getting into a pi**ing contest rarely has the desired effect. It just ups the anti. A plate of home-made buns and a polite (and tactful) word often goes significantly further.

OP, hope your housemate was able to have a constructive conversation with them.