Neighbour's Household Has Too Many Children?

Pollycat

MovingForwards said:

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.

Indeed.

I grew up in a 2 bed terraced house.

I shared a bedroom with my 4 years younger sister until I left home aged 19 to get married.

My much younger sister slept in the same room as Mum & Dad until I left home and she took over my bedroom space. She was 7 years old then.

olgadapolga

My teenage sons share a room and always have done. I offered them the chance to have separate rooms and they refused.

Growing up, I had to share a room with my two sisters who were fours years older and two years younger than me. 

elsien

My aunt brought up 5 children in a small 3 bed house, one of which was a very small boxroom, and which only had the sitting room and a kitchen, no other communal rooms.  The two boys in one room and the three girls in the other. You do what you can afford to do.

Pollycat

Robin_TBW said:

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.

Have you asked them to "shut up" (hopefully in a more polite manner)?

Have you asked them to be considerate of others in the building?

Have you asked them if their finances allow them to move to somewhere with more space?

What do the people who live in your flat (if there are any) think about the noise and the fact that there are 2 adults and 3 children living in a 2 bedroom flat?

Have you asked the other people in the building if you are blowing this out of proportion?

Perhaps it would be a good idea to get other people's perspective on what you perceive to be a big issue before you say anything and upset this family.

I've read enough threads about problem neighbours to realise that what you are complaining about may escalate to something much worse if you are not careful.

The majority of replies seem to indicate that most posters don't agree with you.

pickledonionspaceraider

I think you are over-stepping, OP

What you are describing is normal day to day living noise, it is not like they are blasting music at all hours etc etc.

Seems like a normal family going about their own business, to me

They just have a different lifestyle to you, that is all - a little tolerance is needed, for the lifestyle differences.  Three young children during lockdown - in a flat???  Sounds normal behaviour

If they are indeed overcrowded, do you not think they would LOVE to move to a larger home?  How do you know they aren't trying?  These things do not happen overnight, yknow - whether it is social housing or owned

Try and relax, they aren't doing anything wrong.  I understand sometimes we can be irritated by such things as normal day to day living noises, but they aren't doing wrong

With housing in the way it currently is - it is not uncommon for people to be overcrowded. For children to live out entire childhoods in high rises, over crowded - never know the joy of having a bedroom to themselves or a garden.  I am sure it is worse for them,than it is for you

jittersandbang

Im sure they love living in a flat (not).

MobileSaver

Caz3121 said:

 in cases where family cannot afford larger property for parents to have sofa bed in living room and kids have the bedrooms

Exactly this, my parents slept on the sofa bed in the lounge while we kids slept in the one bedroom...

Robin_TBW said:

Grumpy_chap said:

Two children can share a bedroom.  Very common. Nothing to see here.

They have three... and one is approaching teen years. Just seems a bit much.

... and to clarify, we were five kids sharing one bedroom; we didn't know any better, didn't care and didn't suffer any adverse effects as a result!

That was how we lived until I was 11 years old so I'm sure you'll understand why a working class northerner like me finds your comments more than a little bit privileged and entitled!

GeordieGeorge

Robin_TBW said:

Grumpy_chap said:

Two children can share a bedroom.  Very common.

Nothing to see here.

They have three... and one is approaching teen years. Just seems a bit much.

A bit much for what though?

It’s their home, they are living in it, it’s not clear why you think that anyone else has any input, unless you are alleging child neglect?

Savvy_Sue

When 'too many children' is three ... I despair

rach_k

They could easily have partitioned off part of a room for one of the kids, maybe the oldest, or the parents could sleep in the living room.  Even if they were all sharing, it's hardly a massive issue.  Nothing wrong with two kids sharing (mine did until recently by choice, and one is a pre-teen) so I don't see anything wrong with three sharing either.  

I think you'll find that two children can be incredibly noisy too, so even if you did manage to get the family to kick out the child they like least, you'll still hear them... plus you'd probably hear some sobbing due to getting rid of the child.  Probably best just to say nothing.