Screaming family next door - a nightmare!!

princesslizzie

Hi guys, just wanted a bit of advice as I'm generally a little perplexed with what to do.

I live in a terraced maisonette in a not particuarly nice area of London. I am a student but also I work therefore not particuarly interested in having loud parties. But there is a family next door who ARE ALWAYS screaming at eachother. The kids scream and the dad screams back. I don't know what they are saying because they scream in Arabic. The thing is I suffer with depression and therefore really appreciate long sleeps (not particuarly good I know!) but the kids are screaming about 1am and then wake me up early in the morning. It is making me absoloutely resent them. I don't want to talk to my family about it as I've already had major accommodation issues.

At the moment I have so much coursework but cannot concentrate on it with them screaming. The library is a bit of a trek with my laptop but have done it. Also I'm making a collage so I couldn't take that to the library.

My other housemates aren't here too often so I'm the one who has to listen to them all the time, plus my room backs on to the kids' room. My housemate is a PCSO and said we could contact the police for anti social behaviour but I DO NOT want to do that. I don't really have the guts to speak to the dad about it as I'm pretty sure he could make things a lot worse. Whereas should I go to the council and hope they wouldn't mention my name and would the council do anything about it?

LilMissEmmylou

tbh i know this is going to sound rude, but if u dont want to say anything and u dont want to contact the police or mention ur name to the council i think ur going to have problems really. Anyways even if the council didnt mention your name... there is only 2 sides which could have complained so i guess it wouldn't take long for the family to figure out.

Personally id call the police for any noise after 11pm to scare them into having towise up!

morganb

I would try talking to the family. Be friendly but firm. Then if this doesn't work, can you look into moving out?

princesslizzie

I will mention my name to the council. I'm not sure the police would actually do anything, since I've lived here since December I've had to phone them 3 times. 2 attempted burglaries and 1 big fight outside and they didn't do anything for 2 of the problems! We had to actually beg them to come out for the attempted break in as we felt too vulnerable as all girls in a ground floor house.

The thing is, I'm scared to say anything for my own safety plus am not sure if the guy speaks English!

But perhaps I could contact the safer neighbourhood team.

princesslizzie

morganb wrote: »

I would try talking to the family. Be friendly but firm. Then if this doesn't work, can you look into moving out?

No chance of moving out until the lease is up in mid August. I'm rubbish at confrontation but will consider it.

pariskate

How about using ear plugs? (I have noisy neighbours too and use them a lot at night). This doesn't tackle the source of the problem but it may make it easier for you to live there until you can move out in August.

princesslizzie

pariskate wrote: »

How about using ear plugs? (I have noisy neighbours too and use them a lot at night). This doesn't tackle the source of the problem but it may make it easier for you to live there until you can move out in August.

I sleep with earplugs because my other half snores and shouts in his sleep But I still hear them Also I heard it's not that good for you because the heat cannot escape via your ears. Don't know if that's true or not or a rumour!

morganb

Oh dear, didn't realise your lease was so long.

Can your landlord have a word?

ellieo

i feel for you because i have to live next door to this as well, report it and keep reporting it until the neighbours get the message and learn that they have to respect other people

princesslizzie

morganb wrote: »

Oh dear, didn't realise your lease was so long.

Can your landlord have a word?

Our landlord = don't give a !!!! about anything. He has approx 300 properties and it was his fault in the first place we got broken into. We asked for a lock on a our back gate and he refused and we can't put it on cos it will invalidate our contract. Our plumbing doesn't work, we have no spy hole on our front door(after asking!) and our drains are constantly blocked. Plus a boiler in my housemate's room which is illegal! The thing is I moved in 4 months after as their housemate left so the last point I can't do anything about.

Do I complain to environmental services at the council about the neighbours?

poe.tuesday

Maybe they don't know that they can be heard so before calling the police etc you should speak to them and explain the situation, if they do not welcome you or continue then contact the council etc but until you have spoken to them I can not see any agency dealing with the issue as you have not done anything yourself to stop it.