Neighbours humming hot tub

Shibby51585 · 31 March 2022 at 4:55PM

Neighbours have had a new hot tub installed. It's a permanent fixture on decking and they took down the fence to get it in, which we will be without for 3 weeks. I'm guessing they haven't insulated it, as soon as it has been turned on my house hums, every single room. I've always had a noise that came and went being close to industrial but this is evil and none stop 24/7.

I approached them and I was screamed at and told it wasn't the hot tub. She stormed into my house saying there was no noise. She turned it off for 5 minutes at my insistence and the noise stopped. I offered to pay for insulation or matting and she said she refuses for at least 6 months. As I've previously had noise issues in my house before she is using that as an excuse when this noise started 24/7 since the hot tub was plugged in.

I was stood on their deck and could feel the deck vibrating. I can't sleep, on a night I can hear it over the TV. I've broken down in tears multiple times. I was thinking of selling the house but this now means declaring it as an issue.

Anything I can do. Would the council even help, is there any point if I decide to move?

hannahcolobus · 31 March 2022 at 5:00PM

You only need to declare it if you involve other authorities, council, police, solicitors etc I think? At this stage you could sell it without mentioning it, whether you would want to do that to a buyer is another issue though.

If you’re going to stay then it’s worth pursuing it, realistically they’re not going to be allowed to run it when it’s impacting your life so much. But if you aren’t going to stay then I really wouldn’t pursue it as a dispute will make selling difficult.

Either way- it sounds very stressful and I can understand why you’re upset!

Shibby51585 · 31 March 2022 at 5:08PM

My only issue is that on the form it says that do you have any neighbour disputes. Surely even though I didn't complain to an authority that counts as a dispute as I approached them and asked them to turn the hot tub off. I also worry someone else will walk in and hear the noise and not want to buy, although I do have sensitive ears so it may not bother others as much as me.

user1977 · 31 March 2022 at 5:14PM

hannahcolobus said:

You only need to declare it if you involve other authorities, council, police, solicitors etc I think?

No, that isn't what the standard questions say. They ask about any dispute, or even something likely to cause a dispute. So I think the OP is already beyond that point.

Misslayed · 31 March 2022 at 5:16PM

With the imminent rise in electricity prices, you may find that the problem solves itself. Hot tubs are extremely expensive to run.

Slinky · 31 March 2022 at 5:18PM

How well off are they? Realistically are they able to afford the electric to have the blasted thing on 24/7 when the bills start turning up? I wouldnt want to be a hot tub salesperson at this current time,

andy444 · 31 March 2022 at 5:19PM

My understanding is that you only have to declare a noise issue if authorities become involved. If you had a single noise issue with a neighbour literally several years before and they immediately stopped the noise you surely them wouldn't have to mention it?

user1977 · 31 March 2022 at 5:25PM

andy444 said:

My understanding is that you only have to declare a noise issue if authorities become involved. If you had a single noise issue with a neighbour literally several years before and they immediately stopped the noise you surely them wouldn't have to mention it?

Obviously if a historic issue isn't an issue that your buyers will have, it's irrelevant anyway because they won't be making a claim - but if it's ongoing then yes you need to declare it. Like I said above, the question isn't qualified by any reference to whether the authorities have become involved.

Shibby51585 · 31 March 2022 at 5:32PM

The hard thing is, it's an issue for me. I've had a word with them and they told me it wasn't the hot tub but we didn't leave on bad terms. Retrospectively I'm unsure if it would be an issue for a prospective buyer as I do have sensitive hearing. Money is obviously not an issue they have paid over 5k for it, over 1k for the fence and run it. I'm worried now about selling my house.

propertyhunter · 31 March 2022 at 5:32PM

If it's on 24/7, it's likely any prospective buyers will hear it when they come to view and question the EA about it. This issue needs to be resolved sooner rather than later. In the interim, invest in some noise cancelling headphones? Or is it the vibration that's the issue rather than the noise?

comeandgo · 31 March 2022 at 5:36PM

Have you asked any guests you have if they notice it? It may not be as bad as you think. You may be looking out for it and getting worked up when you can hear it.