I need help with loud/ disrespectful neighbours
Discussion
We currently live in newish build mid-terraced 3 bed built by barratt homes. We've lived here for almost 4 years and the terrace setup is let's say X Y Z and we're in Y.
We moved in the same day as house X and house Z moved in the following month. Both of which are young couples with no kids.
We had some banging issues from house X on and off for the first 3 years, and we did address this to them. It was generally quiet until January this year. The couple in house X were offered an opportunity to work in America, so they decided to rent their house and move.
The new tenants moved in, a family of 5, barely speak any English. They were constantly slamming doors all around the house, kids stomping upstairs and banging windows. The impact noise was horrendous.
We knocked their door and politely told them to keep the noise down. To which it only stopped for one night, and the following day it was as if our talk didn't even happen. Back to their old ways.
In the meantime we've had other incidents happen where it's left my partner in tears. We had no choice but to contact the letting agents on what was happening. They tried to arrange a visit on the property but when they called the guy in house X he refused to let them carry out an inspection and was in denial about the noise and what he did to my partner. Apparently on the application they put down that they had 1 child when they have 3. You'd think that was a red flag to a letting agent.
Anyway, within the past 2 months they've seemed to have bought a sound bar or something. Everyday from morning until night all we can hear is the bass travelling into our property.
When my partner went to Spain for a few weeks whilst I was looking after the business the noise was horrendous. He knew I was on my own in the house but persisted on making my life a living hell.
I documented what I could on my phone as evidence and popped in to the letting agents to make a complaint. They got back to me a few days later saying they're on a second strike (whether it's true I don't know) but nothings changed. You'd think if you're on a final warning, and you have a family, you would get your act together. So either house X doesn't give a toss or the letting agents lied to me.
I've been to the letting agents again since, they said they would forward my concerns again. I received no correspondence so I emailed the area sales manager who I spoke to initially, had no reply either.
I got so angry with the noise last night. I knocked their door again and told them to turn the bass off, again, he was playing dumb, didn't understand what I was saying. I had to explain multiple times when I know damn well he understands as his kids speak English.
Luckily the music did stop, but from 7:00am this morning it's been loud again and they've done nothing but bang around. I know now it's all being done on purpose and they couldn't care less.
We're sick to death of it. I want to move but my partner doesn't, but even if we decide to move, how are we selling a noisy property? Yes there is soundproofing, but it's not a guaranteed fix.
Reporting this to the council is only going to affect our property as well, and it's a severely long process with no guaranteed fix either.
I'm at the end of my tether with it all. We can't relax and watch telly as they overpower it. Our daughter has to sleep with white noise/ lullabies to drown the neighbours noise, it's just a joke. I'm tired, worn out with stress and it's affecting me at work somedays.
Has anyone had any similar experiences or can offer some friendly advice? I'd really appreciate some support.
Thank you in advance.
We moved in the same day as house X and house Z moved in the following month. Both of which are young couples with no kids.
We had some banging issues from house X on and off for the first 3 years, and we did address this to them. It was generally quiet until January this year. The couple in house X were offered an opportunity to work in America, so they decided to rent their house and move.
The new tenants moved in, a family of 5, barely speak any English. They were constantly slamming doors all around the house, kids stomping upstairs and banging windows. The impact noise was horrendous.
We knocked their door and politely told them to keep the noise down. To which it only stopped for one night, and the following day it was as if our talk didn't even happen. Back to their old ways.
In the meantime we've had other incidents happen where it's left my partner in tears. We had no choice but to contact the letting agents on what was happening. They tried to arrange a visit on the property but when they called the guy in house X he refused to let them carry out an inspection and was in denial about the noise and what he did to my partner. Apparently on the application they put down that they had 1 child when they have 3. You'd think that was a red flag to a letting agent.
Anyway, within the past 2 months they've seemed to have bought a sound bar or something. Everyday from morning until night all we can hear is the bass travelling into our property.
When my partner went to Spain for a few weeks whilst I was looking after the business the noise was horrendous. He knew I was on my own in the house but persisted on making my life a living hell.
I documented what I could on my phone as evidence and popped in to the letting agents to make a complaint. They got back to me a few days later saying they're on a second strike (whether it's true I don't know) but nothings changed. You'd think if you're on a final warning, and you have a family, you would get your act together. So either house X doesn't give a toss or the letting agents lied to me.
I've been to the letting agents again since, they said they would forward my concerns again. I received no correspondence so I emailed the area sales manager who I spoke to initially, had no reply either.
I got so angry with the noise last night. I knocked their door again and told them to turn the bass off, again, he was playing dumb, didn't understand what I was saying. I had to explain multiple times when I know damn well he understands as his kids speak English.
Luckily the music did stop, but from 7:00am this morning it's been loud again and they've done nothing but bang around. I know now it's all being done on purpose and they couldn't care less.
We're sick to death of it. I want to move but my partner doesn't, but even if we decide to move, how are we selling a noisy property? Yes there is soundproofing, but it's not a guaranteed fix.
Reporting this to the council is only going to affect our property as well, and it's a severely long process with no guaranteed fix either.
I'm at the end of my tether with it all. We can't relax and watch telly as they overpower it. Our daughter has to sleep with white noise/ lullabies to drown the neighbours noise, it's just a joke. I'm tired, worn out with stress and it's affecting me at work somedays.
Has anyone had any similar experiences or can offer some friendly advice? I'd really appreciate some support.
Thank you in advance.
Doofus said:
Can you also contact the owners in America?
This is a good call - the only ones with the power to evict these people are the owners. If you can get a dialogue going they might agree not to renew the tenancy. Next door to me is rented and we've never had issues in 10 years apart from one set of tenants who were noisy and also were letting bin bags pile up outside. I made one call to the owner and bless her she instantly started apologising and assured me that when the fixed part of the tenancy was up, they wouldn't be getting renewed. True to her word they were gone, replaced with fantastic tenants who we never hear.
Fingers crossed if the owners in your case may have plans to return to the house when their US work is over they might be inclined to maintain good relations.
Scrump said:
Sounds horrendous.
I would contact the local council environmental health department about the noise.
You may also wish to get a report in with the police regarding what one of them did to your partner, this may or may not be appropriate.
Report it to the council in an email giving all the details you have. Keep it factual and free of emotion. Cc the letting agent.I would contact the local council environmental health department about the noise.
You may also wish to get a report in with the police regarding what one of them did to your partner, this may or may not be appropriate.
Email the police on 101 and do the same. Cc the agent on that too.
If your not going to move, now it's been happening you'll always hear noise forever more. Even the slightest bang and you'll be left on edge. Spend big on soundproofing. You won't hear the running up and down stairs and it'll considerably remove most noises. It's horrible but I bet for under £10k they could have you living in a house nearly and quiet as a detached. Rubber matting, the lot. It's the fastest possible way to a solution tbh. Even when they get removed, no guarantee you don't get another loud family.
JDR33 said:
The new tenants moved in, a family of 5, barely speak any English.
Careful. You're not supposed to notice this you far-right megaracist. 2TK is watching.Satire of course. But I'd still be careful. If it does escalate to an official dispute, there'll be some right-on virtue signaller from the council/CAB/trainee lawyer just chomping at the bit to convince the family that they're the victims - of the nazi next door.
Jokes and politics aside, how hard can it be to stick a concrete slab in-between new-build houses? They managed it with the old council-flats. Seems like they're building in guaranteed neighbour-wars. See also: adequate parking. It's a rhetorical question. I know the answer: money/greed.
Jordie Barretts sock said:
Report it to the council in an email giving all the details you have. Keep it factual and free of emotion. Cc the letting agent.
Email the police on 101 and do the same. Cc the agent on that too.
Our worry is the council will mark our home as a noisy property which would be on file for the new buyers to see. Email the police on 101 and do the same. Cc the agent on that too.
hotchy said:
If your not going to move, now it's been happening you'll always hear noise forever more. Even the slightest bang and you'll be left on edge. Spend big on soundproofing. You won't hear the running up and down stairs and it'll considerably remove most noises. It's horrible but I bet for under £10k they could have you living in a house nearly and quiet as a detached. Rubber matting, the lot. It's the fastest possible way to a solution tbh. Even when they get removed, no guarantee you don't get another loud family.
I have considered this option, and I may have the capability to carry the work out myself but it's a big financial risk if I don't get it right. We can't really afford to pay for a professional to do it unless we re-mortgage the house.I did express to my partner the same as what you mentioned if we got rid of them. Another family or couple could come in and give us the same grief, and we will be going around in circles.
1, Sorry to say the answer is to move!
Modern houses are terrible for sound transmission & standards & workmanship not what is it used to be.
Hire a PA system turn up the bass & leave it thumping for several hours while you go shopping or for a walk.
Once you tune into noise it will grate on you until something radically changes, see option 1.
Sorry but councils have no staff & owners in a different time zone reaping the cash.
Modern houses are terrible for sound transmission & standards & workmanship not what is it used to be.
Hire a PA system turn up the bass & leave it thumping for several hours while you go shopping or for a walk.
Once you tune into noise it will grate on you until something radically changes, see option 1.
Sorry but councils have no staff & owners in a different time zone reaping the cash.
I’ve experienced this in a semi we owned in the early 90’s. However, they were not tenants but owners. We spoke to them and experienced very similar to what you’re describing. We got a solicitor involved and the solicitor wrote to the neighbour. They through the letter crumpled up into our garden and the noise got worse.
We moved in under a year having spent thousands getting a new kitchen installed and a detached garage built! I was furious as we couldn’t really afford to move.
My solution was to move into a detached house that we struggled to pay the mortgage comfortably but we got through it and it was well worth it.
I have some experience of soundproofing a wall to an adjoining old terrace house. This was actually for the neighbours benefit as I was installing a home cinema set up! If done properly it can reduce the noise significantly. However, it needs doing properly be someone who understands how sound travels and what’s needed to be done.
From my own experience I would always suggest you move as you will always be on edge and it sounds like it won’t improve in the short term.
We moved in under a year having spent thousands getting a new kitchen installed and a detached garage built! I was furious as we couldn’t really afford to move.
My solution was to move into a detached house that we struggled to pay the mortgage comfortably but we got through it and it was well worth it.
I have some experience of soundproofing a wall to an adjoining old terrace house. This was actually for the neighbours benefit as I was installing a home cinema set up! If done properly it can reduce the noise significantly. However, it needs doing properly be someone who understands how sound travels and what’s needed to be done.
From my own experience I would always suggest you move as you will always be on edge and it sounds like it won’t improve in the short term.
Simply answer is to move, soundproofing a house is almost impossible, I have tried and it does improve a lot, but if you get flanking noise you’ve got zero chance of making it anywhere near 100%. Contacting the council may work for a short time but they will soon be back to their old ways, plus it becomes official.
I would get onto environmental health, they take these issues seriously and it will not result in a “black mark” against your property.
They will ask you to keep a log and record as much as you can.
I had this about 5 years ago with dogs barking 24/7
The council issued a noise abatement order against them. They decided to move shortly after.
The letting agents should be acting on this as it’s a clear breach of tenancy, once the council do get involved the agents will be forced to act.
They will ask you to keep a log and record as much as you can.
I had this about 5 years ago with dogs barking 24/7
The council issued a noise abatement order against them. They decided to move shortly after.
The letting agents should be acting on this as it’s a clear breach of tenancy, once the council do get involved the agents will be forced to act.
Edited by Acorn1 on Saturday 7th September 12:49
MBVitoria said:
Doofus said:
Can you also contact the owners in America?
This is a good call - the only ones with the power to evict these people are the owners. If you can get a dialogue going they might agree not to renew the tenancy. Next door to me is rented and we've never had issues in 10 years apart from one set of tenants who were noisy and also were letting bin bags pile up outside. I made one call to the owner and bless her she instantly started apologising and assured me that when the fixed part of the tenancy was up, they wouldn't be getting renewed. True to her word they were gone, replaced with fantastic tenants who we never hear.
Fingers crossed if the owners in your case may have plans to return to the house when their US work is over they might be inclined to maintain good relations.
1) Well written ones will, but not all tenancy agreements include noise/behaviour clauses. If they don’t, it may be hard for them to get rid even if they want to. Likely to get harder too a new legislation works it’s way through.
2) Landlords often don’t want to get involved in tenant/neighbour disputes. It’s not that they don’t want there to be harmony, but many will have experienced problems from owner occupiers trying to lord it over tenants. I’m not suggesting this is the case here, but we have certainly seen neighbours play the “I’m going to get you evicted if you don’t dance to my tune” card with tenants. Whatever you do, don’t be perceived as being this person!
3) For landlords to act, many will want/need evidence of properly measured excessive noise. They’ll probably refer you to the council in the first instance.
4) The tenant is the landlord’s customer, paying £x/mth. The LL’s views may be coloured by this, especially if the property was hard to let.
5) There is a real cost to landlords, especially if they are using an agency, to changing tenants. Some may be unwilling to bear that cost.
The key thing to approaching the LL is to be reasonable, and make it clear that you understand it’s a family house, some noise to be expected, but perhaps go down the route of being you’re concerned the property is perhaps over-tenanted (causes issues in terms of extra wear and tear, greater incidence of mould, etc) and too noisy as a result?
nuyorican said:
Careful. You're not supposed to notice this you far-right megaracist. 2TK is watching.
Satire of course. But I'd still be careful. If it does escalate to an official dispute, there'll be some right-on virtue signaller from the council/CAB/trainee lawyer just chomping at the bit to convince the family that they're the victims - of the nazi next door.
Jokes and politics aside, how hard can it be to stick a concrete slab in-between new-build houses? They managed it with the old council-flats. Seems like they're building in guaranteed neighbour-wars. See also: adequate parking. It's a rhetorical question. I know the answer: money/greed.
Agreed, this is another brick wall we face. Skin colour is irrelevant, it's the actions carried out by these people that needs to be rectified.Satire of course. But I'd still be careful. If it does escalate to an official dispute, there'll be some right-on virtue signaller from the council/CAB/trainee lawyer just chomping at the bit to convince the family that they're the victims - of the nazi next door.
Jokes and politics aside, how hard can it be to stick a concrete slab in-between new-build houses? They managed it with the old council-flats. Seems like they're building in guaranteed neighbour-wars. See also: adequate parking. It's a rhetorical question. I know the answer: money/greed.
I said to my partner from day one I didn't want a terraced property, but she was worried we'd lose the help to buy scheme if we went for another plot. Which was a semi that wasn't going to be completed for an additional 6 months.
The sales guy guaranteed us no noise would enter our property unless someone was having a party outside. He also stated at the time Rishi Sunak was abolishing HTB, which ended up continuing. Well, don't I feel a mug for taking his word.
Masiv said:
JDR33 said:
Our worry is the council will mark our home as a noisy property which would be on file for the new buyers to see.
You are supposed to declare any neighbor disputes when you are selling the property. I’ve noticed it has changed again, it now asks for more info on fire safety, EV chargers and accessibility.
If it’s at night sneak round to their meter cupboard open it up and switch the electric off. Close it back over and have some peace that way. Or just fight fire with fire.
Depends how stubborn you are as why should you move?
Moving may be n option but there’s no guarantee you won’t have neighbours who are noisy wherever you go to unless you get a detached house
Depends how stubborn you are as why should you move?
Moving may be n option but there’s no guarantee you won’t have neighbours who are noisy wherever you go to unless you get a detached house
Edited by Geffg on Saturday 7th September 13:55
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