Noisy neighbours

jedmo

I bought my house in the middle of the lockdowns. My neighbours on one side are barbers so were closed initially. I didn't realise how much of a social hub barbers are. They play music from around midday to 9-10pm every day.

Do I have any rights to get them to be quieter? Their music isn't deafening but there's a constant background beat that can get quite wearing 7 days a week for the length of time it is, especially in the evening

Thanks in advance

Jill

FaceHead

Well it depends on how loud they are, but given it 'isnt deafening' you probably don't have any rights you can use to make them turn it down. 

You might have a polite conversation with them, and perhaps ask that it's turned down a notch in the evening when you're relaxing. Remember that they have a right to enjoy some music while they work, and create and inviting environment for their customers. 

You might also consider what soundproofing you can do, if that would help. 

jedmo

Thanks, I guess I hadn't really realised how late in the evening they would be open till.

I'll have a word and see if that helps 🤞🏻

Racky_Roo

Could it be that their speakers are mounted on the adjoining wall? That would be transmitting more sound than if they are free standing. Worth asking as that would be a fairly easy fix to move their location 

TELLIT01

They can only play music on commercial premises if they have paid for a licence (Performing rights?).  If they don't wind the volume down you may want to investigate whether they have the required licence.

https://www.gov.uk/licence-to-play-live-or-recorded-music

Rosa_Damascena

TELLIT01 said:

They can only play music on commercial premises if they have paid for a licence (Performing rights?).  If they don't wind the volume down you may want to investigate whether they have the required licence.

https://www.gov.uk/licence-to-play-live-or-recorded-music

Chances are its commercial radio. 

Why was this not declared during the sale? I'm betting the previous vendors are relieved to have moved on, even if it wasn't cited as the reason for moving.

Norman_Castle

Councils are more likely to act where businesses affect private residences. Definitely talk to the owner or manager. Often people at work are far less thoughtful than when they are at home. It may be simply the barbers like the heavy bass and louder volume but fail to recognise or care about the annoyance it causes for you. A friend who lives above a cafe had a similar problem, the young managers, a brother and sister wanted the music loud and were repeatedly awkward about turning it down. She spoke to their father who bankrolled the business and understood the problem and that enforcement was likely. The problem stopped.

jedmo

They only opened their barbers in march literally weeks before the first lockdown closed barbers so I doubt the previous owners really knew

They regularly shut their metal grate so they can't take customers but use it as a social hangout.

I'll have a chat with them and see if it gets better, it's just a bit daunting bobbing my head in to a barbers full of people 😳 

I'll ask about speaker placement too.

I'm not sure if the fact they use it as a social place (and are closed to customers) helps me in my fight if it goes to talking to the council?

Rosa_Damascena

jedmo said:

They only opened their barbers in march literally weeks before the first lockdown closed barbers so I doubt the previous owners really knew

They regularly shut their metal grate so they can't take customers but use it as a social hangout.

I'll have a chat with them and see if it gets better, it's just a bit daunting bobbing my head in to a barbers full of people 😳 

I'll ask about speaker placement too.

I'm not sure if the fact they use it as a social place (and are closed to customers) helps me in my fight if it goes to talking to the council?

Introduce yourself as a neighbour at opening time / when you get back from work and ask for a quiet word. No need to conduct the conversation in front of an audience.

TELLIT01

There are certain streets in the town I live in where there are far more barbers than can possibly make a living from cutting hair.  Some of them certainly are used for 'social purposes' in the broadest sense of term.  Some of the proprietors are now living in rent free accommodation following interest from the local police.

scrummy-mummy

TELLIT01 said:

There are certain streets in the town I live in where there are far more barbers than can possibly make a living from cutting hair.  Some of them certainly are used for 'social purposes' in the broadest sense of term.  Some of the proprietors are now living in rent free accommodation following interest from the local police.

I wonder if we live near each other, or that this is a common phenomenon...sympathies OP.