Neighbour making noise to stop us using garden - what level is unacceptable?

Abbafan1972

silvercar said:

Really having a conversation is the way to go.

I thought that we had never done anything to upset our neighbours until they put a note through our door asking if we could switch off our solar lights one evening as it was a clear night and their daughter wanted to watch the stars. Had never even thought that we had done anything that could upset them, particularly as they also have solar lights.
A polite reply that they should tell us whenever they want them switched off and good relations re established. Apparently they thought that them switching their own lights off and internet buzz about viewing the sky on clear nights should have been enough to trigger us to do likewise. Had to explain that we don’t follow night sky news and were completely unaware.

Can't people speak to each other anymore?  I really am flabbergasted by some of the threads on this forum, regarding the lengths that some people will go to annoy their neighbours.  (I am not having a go at anyone here at all).  With people staying at home more over the last 15 months or so, people are being made to feel like prisoners when they can't even go in their back gardens, with people pressing buttons to see how far they can go before people cave in!

Supersonos - This is awful.  Regardless of the fact that the previous occupant of your house never used the garden, you have as much right to be in your own garden as they do.  You are not invading their space at all.  They are obviously looking for a reaction.  I hope there are neighbours the other side who can hear it as well, are just as annoyed and potentially complain. Noise cancelling headphones are a good idea like someone else suggested. Making noise yourself sounds a good idea but retaliation from you might make them do it all the more. Although some nice noisy DIY equipment might do the trick!

WeAreGhosts - Pretty much the same as above!

Jonathan_Powell

I'm just shocked people can be so petty. How much effort do you have to put in in turning on your music every time you HEAR someone in their garden? The fact that you are not listening to it in the first place shows is just even more pathetic. 

Jeepers_Creepers

A shockingly large number of people are petty, inconsiderate and have a weird sense of entitlement.

They have something in their heads that needs feeding, that they want, and convince themselves it's reasonable regardless of how it impacts on other folk.

It's worse even than that - they feed on how it impacts on other folk; it has to put others at a disadvantage compared to them - it's what it's all about. It's the whole point. It is bullying at its most basic.

How else to explain Boris and Brexit? Correct - there is no other way.

On that note, put-upon folk, if you must play music in retaliation, make it Ode to Joy; it'll drive them NUTS.

Not all local police services are as bad, and ditto for councils; some fully appreciate the distress caused and are proactive. It would take a real brass neck to keep on doing this if told to 'cease and desist' by the local Bobby.

So, please don't retaliate, as this will simply muddy the waters and give your neighbs a 'win'; they will then KNOW what they are doing is piddling you off, and also they'll KNOW that you will have to explain your behaviour too.

Keep building evidence, try and make it conclusive; eg, set up phone to record, sit quietly in garden, make a small noise to indicate your presence, and then hope the neighbs will turn their music on. That sort of stuff.

If all this fails, then 'OtJ' it is.

Rosa_Damascena

Jonathan_Powell said:

I'm just shocked people can be so petty. How much effort do you have to put in in turning on your music every time you HEAR someone in their garden? The fact that you are not listening to it in the first place shows is just even more pathetic. 

But it also speaks of limited horizons. Anyone who valued life on earth wouldn't wish to squander it so.

Gavin83

I actually think keeping a diary, reporting it to the police/council etc is utterly pointless. People are entitled to enjoy music in their gardens and proving they’re doing it just to annoy you will be near impossible. They’re unlikely to admit it either.

If you genuinely believe they’re doing it to annoy you I doubt talking to them will help either. Once again they’re unlikely to admit it and they’ll know they’re getting to you.

In your position next time you see them I’d say hello and mention how much you’re enjoying listening to their music while sitting in the garden. Add something about how you really love that genre/band. If they believe you’re enjoying it they’ll hardly carry on if they are doing it to annoy you. Of course this might backfire if they aren’t doing it to annoy you!

Abbafan1972

Gavin83 said:

I actually think keeping a diary, reporting it to the police/council etc is utterly pointless. People are entitled to enjoy music in their gardens and proving they’re doing it just to annoy you will be near impossible. They’re unlikely to admit it either.

If you genuinely believe they’re doing it to annoy you I doubt talking to them will help either. Once again they’re unlikely to admit it and they’ll know they’re getting to you.

In your position next time you see them I’d say hello and mention how much you’re enjoying listening to their music while sitting in the garden. Add something about how you really love that genre/band. If they believe you’re enjoying it they’ll hardly carry on if they are doing it to annoy you. Of course this might backfire if they aren’t doing it to annoy you!

Yes, I agree with the above comment.  It's better to keep quiet in the garden and do what you would normally do.  They could easily turn the tables on you and you would be the person being investigated. 

I am not too sure about "Ode to Joy".  I like the 1812 Overture (with Cannons) or Pavarotti Nessun Dorma. 

twopenny

You could try looking over the fence and with a big smile, singing along. That's got to be equally annoying while aparantly happily joining in. Or invite friends over for a sing song. At least it would be fun.

I was actually looking for a piece of Tchaikovsky just now when this popped up. I'd like a recording for when I'm having a bad day.  Not suggesting you play it outside but I find it helps when annoyed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63kANv-d37A

Dave said "I think this was quite a few years ago, before they stated using Glass's work for documentaries etc."

So that's why I switch so many off. I wondered why the repetitive one note monstorsity of interfering music was. There's always some idiot that thinks their idea is better than all previous ones.

Abbafan1972

That's really good, thanks twopenny. 

Davesnave

If things get really fraught, you might find something to suit in here.....

https://mynoise.net/

Supersonos

Jonathan_Powell said:

I'm just shocked people can be so petty. How much effort do you have to put in in turning on your music every time you HEAR someone in their garden? The fact that you are not listening to it in the first place shows is just even more pathetic. 

Totally.  And the fact they don't normally have music on means they're ruining their own enjoyment of their garden at the same time.  It's baffling.