Neighbour's Household Has Too Many Children?

Robin_TBW

HarryDavies01 said:

Think YOU should move out! 

Me, the quiet one who doesn't slam doors, disturb others or scream at any point of the day... Yeah, seems legit.

Robin_TBW

wannabe_a_saver said:

What are you expecting them to do about it? 

Shut up, be considerate of others in the building or move somewhere with more space.

Kim_kim

Robin_TBW said:

I'm not sure if this is the right place to put this or anything but I have a question I would like a bit of opinion on really.

The neighbours in question live in a two bedroom flat in the same block as me. The bedrooms are a fine size, not massive but not box rooms and they are a couple and have three kids living there as well. Probably around the ages of 7, 8 and 11 I'd say? Obviously because of this the kids generate a fair bit of noise, different ones are in and out of the block and living on-top of one another then means lots of crying fits and arguments which I can hear through a wall. It's really annoying having to listen to them so much. I've no doubt there's nothing... "bad" going on in the home, but should this be their home? Outside of the kids, the parents are absolutely fine neighbours.

Am I stepping over a line and this is none of my business? One of the kids is coming up to being a teenager and the five of them share two rooms. It's just... bad... right?

Thankfully it’s not an offence to be poor & of limited means. 

Maybe you would like to gift them some money so they can afford a bigger property. 

littlegreenparrot

I'm not sure what your question is to be honest, apart from having a bit of a moan. 

'Should this be their home?' Why shouldn't it be? What do you think you can do about it? 

I was one of 5 siblings with our parents in a 3 bed semi. Although sharing a room can be irritating that's as bad as it gets. I'm quite sure we were very noisy but you can't prevent children behaving like children. 

Given their ages it will probably calm down in a couple of years. In a few years they will be plugged into head phones and you'll hardly get a word out of them. 

wannabe_a_saver

Hopefully they're high on the list for social housing due to being overcrowded.  Then they can get away from their unpleasant neighbours!

HampshireH

Their living arrangements are absolutely none of your business.

Most people wouldn't choose to all live on top of each other given the choice.

You can deal with the noise if it's a statutory nuisance (which it doesn't sound like it is to be honest)

However the best thing to do is probably have a conversation.

Maybe suggest door closures to prevent slamming, soft spots on kitchen units to give the same.

Rugs if they don't have carpets, to absorb some of the noise of running around.

Small and effective changes which aren't expensive and are likely to be seen as solutions rather than accusations

JamoLew

I'm sure they absolutely love living there and would hate to be in a 4 bedroom detached in the suburbs

Pollycat

Robin_TBW said:

I'm not sure if this is the right place to put this or anything but I have a question I would like a bit of opinion on really.

The neighbours in question live in a two bedroom flat in the same block as me. The bedrooms are a fine size, not massive but not box rooms and they are a couple and have three kids living there as well. Probably around the ages of 7, 8 and 11 I'd say? Obviously because of this the kids generate a fair bit of noise, different ones are in and out of the block and living on-top of one another then means lots of crying fits and arguments which I can hear through a wall. It's really annoying having to listen to them so much. I've no doubt there's nothing... "bad" going on in the home, but should this be their home? Outside of the kids, the parents are absolutely fine neighbours.

Am I stepping over a line and this is none of my business? One of the kids is coming up to being a teenager and the five of them share two rooms. It's just... bad... right?

I'm not sure that even if the flat they live in had 3 bedrooms (or even 4), the noise issue would be solved (to your satisfaction).

Kids often do generate quite a bit of noise.

Is this social housing?

That is covered in this link (as is children sharing bedrooms generally)

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/in-the-home/sharing-a-bedroom/

You ask "should this be their home?"

What do you think the options are for this family?

If the noise (I suggest you disregard the family's sleeping arrangements as it really isn't your business) is excessive, why not have a friendly word with this family?

Or even talk to the other neighbours and see if they are of the same opinion.

It may be just you who are being too sensitive.

74jax

Should this be their home?
Would you rather the street? What a really bizarre thread to start. 

MovingForwards

Kids do make noise, teenagers can get stroppy, kids sharing rooms isn't unheard of in fact I see it as normal and find it bizarre when people say they have 2 kids same sex and they must have their own room or a a bigger place is needed as the 2 bed isn't big enough for the couple having their first baby.

Maybe that's all they can afford to rent or buy, it's hard getting rental deposits and month in advance together, even harder to save for a mortgage deposit and the associated fees.

Perhaps everyone is tired and grumpy due to being inside for over a year.

Living in a flat isn't for everyone, same as not everyone can afford that detached place in the middle of nowhere. Sometimes people have to grab what they can.

If you don't like it have a chat with them, say you can hear them and ask they turn it down a bit, alternatively you move. 

I don't have kid's and I appreciate where you're coming from, but you were one too. The seen and not heard thing isn't a thing now and I deliberately purchased somewhere totally unsuitable for those with little people.