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A problem with drumming noise from a joined neighbour
gazzak_2
Posts: 473 Forumite
Hi All, I'd really appreciate some honest advice here, as we have an escalating problem. Enjoy the read 
We moved here about 8 months ago. Mortgage on a semi detached house, quiet road, quite nice really. We have 3 kids of 9, 6 and 2. It soon became apparent that the neighbours boy, (about 22-ish), had a drum kit, (joined neighbours). Didn't cause an issue as it was played not that often and at reasonable times for no more than 30-40 minutes.
The other neighbours in the street are very friendly, but the "joining" neighbours with the drum kit are not particularly sociable. We bumped into the lady neighbour by accident a few months back and made a point of saying hello even though it was obvious she would rather be anywhere else in the world. She mentioned about the drum kit and we said we don't have a problem with it. She said her boy has been playing the drums since he was 13, and after some complaints was informed, (presume by the local council), that he could play only 1 hour per day with the room windows closed.
About 2 weeks ago the drumming time increased dramatically. It's also begun to happen every day, usually in the evening when the son gets in from work. It's been an hour minimum now, with a 2 hour session twice last week lasting until well after the kids should have gone to bed, (half term meant we could keep them up a bit longer). Today it began at 1.30pm and as I type this is still going on 4 1/2 hours later. In the garden it's as loud as if all the windows were open, and in the house it's just a constant bang bang bang, the deep type that you just can't shake no matter how much music we have on. It really does resonate in our house, he might as well be in the front room.
It's starting to get to me now, not just the fact that it's in my head even when he's not drumming, but the fact that someone could be so unreasonable to force their own "hobby" down everyone around them's throats without a 2nd thought of anyone but themselves. The garden is out of use at drumming times as you can hear nothing but.
The first thing you're going to tell me is go talk to them. On Thursday my wife knocked on the door in the day when she knew the neighbours were home. They didn't answer. They never answer to anyone, a few weeks back there was a lorry who couldn't get past one of their cars and they wouldn't answer the door to him to move it. If I go knock now I might not be able to keep my temper, hence this cry for advice while I try and stay cool.
The other thing to take into consideration is that we have since found out that the previous neighbours had a huge problem with them that led to much unpleasantness over many years, not disclosed when we purchased the house, (in fact they gave the impression that they were friends with next door). Falling out with them could possibly escalate the problem, or add new problems, but when we eventually want to extend the house it'll obviously lead to big problems from them if we fall out now.
So the big question is what should I do now? Should I knock and ask the boy to be reasonable even though I think it'll lead to worse noise. Should I go to the local council, (who will say talk to the neighbour first). I actually rang the council on Friday and they said they wouldn't ever give out any information about past noise abatements due to data protection, so I've no idea if the 1 hour thing is true.
Any advice is greatfully received as this is driving me and the family insane quickly, (and still going bang bang bang even now)!
We moved here about 8 months ago. Mortgage on a semi detached house, quiet road, quite nice really. We have 3 kids of 9, 6 and 2. It soon became apparent that the neighbours boy, (about 22-ish), had a drum kit, (joined neighbours). Didn't cause an issue as it was played not that often and at reasonable times for no more than 30-40 minutes.
The other neighbours in the street are very friendly, but the "joining" neighbours with the drum kit are not particularly sociable. We bumped into the lady neighbour by accident a few months back and made a point of saying hello even though it was obvious she would rather be anywhere else in the world. She mentioned about the drum kit and we said we don't have a problem with it. She said her boy has been playing the drums since he was 13, and after some complaints was informed, (presume by the local council), that he could play only 1 hour per day with the room windows closed.
About 2 weeks ago the drumming time increased dramatically. It's also begun to happen every day, usually in the evening when the son gets in from work. It's been an hour minimum now, with a 2 hour session twice last week lasting until well after the kids should have gone to bed, (half term meant we could keep them up a bit longer). Today it began at 1.30pm and as I type this is still going on 4 1/2 hours later. In the garden it's as loud as if all the windows were open, and in the house it's just a constant bang bang bang, the deep type that you just can't shake no matter how much music we have on. It really does resonate in our house, he might as well be in the front room.
It's starting to get to me now, not just the fact that it's in my head even when he's not drumming, but the fact that someone could be so unreasonable to force their own "hobby" down everyone around them's throats without a 2nd thought of anyone but themselves. The garden is out of use at drumming times as you can hear nothing but.
The first thing you're going to tell me is go talk to them. On Thursday my wife knocked on the door in the day when she knew the neighbours were home. They didn't answer. They never answer to anyone, a few weeks back there was a lorry who couldn't get past one of their cars and they wouldn't answer the door to him to move it. If I go knock now I might not be able to keep my temper, hence this cry for advice while I try and stay cool.
The other thing to take into consideration is that we have since found out that the previous neighbours had a huge problem with them that led to much unpleasantness over many years, not disclosed when we purchased the house, (in fact they gave the impression that they were friends with next door). Falling out with them could possibly escalate the problem, or add new problems, but when we eventually want to extend the house it'll obviously lead to big problems from them if we fall out now.
So the big question is what should I do now? Should I knock and ask the boy to be reasonable even though I think it'll lead to worse noise. Should I go to the local council, (who will say talk to the neighbour first). I actually rang the council on Friday and they said they wouldn't ever give out any information about past noise abatements due to data protection, so I've no idea if the 1 hour thing is true.
Any advice is greatfully received as this is driving me and the family insane quickly, (and still going bang bang bang even now)!
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Comments
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every time the lad plays the drums, stand in your back yard at 2 in the morning with a chainsaw revving full blast. they'll get the idea.
seriously though, go to the citizens advice, ring the council, get legal proceedings underway, since youve had the chat and the problem has escalated, the neighbours are worth bypassing
I have a piano, electric & acoustic guitars, harmonica, bass guitar, bnajo and violin. I play them at reasonable hours and if its getting on and i want to play i may out down the electric and pick up the acoustic guitar. Never had a complaint form the neighbours and you shouldnt have to put up with it eitherMatched betting profit since 11th June 2006: £613.880 -
magictom123 wrote: »every time the lad plays the drums, stand in your back yard at 2 in the morning with a chainsaw revving full blast. they'll get the idea.
seriously though, go to the citizens advice, ring the council, get legal proceedings underway, since youve had the chat and the problem has escalated, the neighbours are worth bypassing
I have a piano, electric & acoustic guitars, harmonica, bass guitar, bnajo and violin. I play them at reasonable hours and if its getting on and i want to play i may out down the electric and pick up the acoustic guitar. Never had a complaint form the neighbours and you shouldnt have to put up with it either
It doesn't work like that.
You have to report it to your local EPO. He/she will send you some forms which you have to fill in over a period of time. You send the forms back. They adjudicate and then install monitoring equipment.
It all takes several months by which time you're looking like something out of "Night Of The Living Dead" because of the sleep deprivation.
Sort it yourself.You'll always miss 100% of the shots you don't take - Wayne Gretzky
Any advice that you receive from me is worth exactly what you paid for it. Not a penny more or a penny less.0 -
sounds like mnext door neighbours, except ours are council. complaining makes matters worse for us, they make more noise. in the end i decided to get my house sound proofed, even though its not technically mine, i will benefit enormously by having a better quality of life. average quote for three bed semi is £3000 not cheap but well worth it in order to stay saneenjoy life, we only get one chance at it:)0
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Well after reading my post my wife thinks the best first step would be to write them a note/letter explaining our issue with the drumming. I like the idea but cannot think what I'd put in such a letter.sounds like mnext door neighbours, except ours are council. complaining makes matters worse for us, they make more noise. in the end i decided to get my house sound proofed, even though its not technically mine, i will benefit enormously by having a better quality of life. average quote for three bed semi is £3000 not cheap but well worth it in order to stay sane
How on earth can you soundproof a house from joining neighbours?0 -
I feel sorry for you. We have a lad over the road who plays the drums, and it is quite a wide road so I can appreciate what you are having to put up with. As to writing them a letter, perhaps think about when it would be acceptable to you for him to play the drums (if at all) and then ask him to keep it to that period. He can be stopped. Our villiage marching band were moved out of the hut, close to houses because they are too noisy. I think they are brilliant but I don't live near to where they practice. If the note doesn't work then you will have to go to the dept of environment I think.Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination:beer:
Oscar Wilde0 -
I would normally suggest speaking to them first but as they seem very private and reluctant to speak to anyone then I wouldn't bother.
I would ring the council - they will send out the form for you to fill in - it may take a few weeks but it has already gone on anyway. If they have had complaints before - they will have been warned that if they get anymore complaints than it will get taken further. I can't see why the neighbour would make up that they have had complaints or that he is limited to an hour a day.
They may just be pushing their luck with a new neighbour.
If you are having work done on your house that doesn't need planning permission than they can't do anything about it and wouldn't let the possibility of them moaning stand in the way of your complaint now.
However, anyone who drums for 4 and half hours at ago and hasn't got the brains or consideration to think other people might not want to listen to it - is maybe to dense to respond sensibly0 -
Well I've composed a letter. Very open and honest, but making sure they know exactly why we've felt compelled to write it. We're going to try knocking again before posting it through he letterbox, but at least we've invited them to knock at anytime.
I'm glad I posted this thread, it's made me realise that this has got to be sorted out one way or another. Thanks for all the replies so far.0 -
they put sounproofing materials on the partition walls, then plaster over it before refixing the skirting boards back on.Well after reading my post my wife thinks the best first step would be to write them a note/letter explaining our issue with the drumming. I like the idea but cannot think what I'd put in such a letter.
How on earth can you soundproof a house from joining neighbours?
my guitar tutor had his house done by the same company that i am planning on using. its called total accoustic solutions, sorry dont know how to do linksenjoy life, we only get one chance at it:)0 -
Keep a diary
My sister is a EHO and did a stint in NP and would echo the advice of contacting the council0 -
Hi
Friend of mine had the sound proofing thing done too in his flat as one of his neighbours was playing really loud (Classical :eek:) music. Sorted his problems out and allowed him to take control of the situation.
Good Luck0
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