What to say to noisy neighbours.?

Question

If you lived next door to people who were very nice people, the kind of neighbours anyone would want, but who were extremely noisy how would you go about telling them? It's a daft thing really, but when they close cupboards and drawers in their kitchen it sounds like they're hitting the wall with a large hammer. Sometimes it's such a thump it opens cupboard doors in our kitchen and knocks the tea caddy over. That can't be acceptable can it? Nine years they've lived there and I'm at the end of my tether but really don't know what to say. In particular, the noise ruins every Christmas and New Year, it's just horrific sometimes. It's dreadful when they have family get-togethers. It's only ever really quiet when the husband and wife go away on holiday, which is fantastic for us! They'll be mortified to know how loud they are but I don't know how to start the conversation.

There's nothing slight about this noise, it's louder than any DIY I've ever heard in my life. My previous neighbours made noise every day until at least 2.30am and I was close to committing murder (I gave up my that home to get away from them and am now with my elderly mum as her carer. I'm 37 and shouldn't have to live with my mum because I couldn't get any peace from selfish neighbours!). I even got a very large baseball bat intended to be used for the purpose, I was that pee'd off, and yes they did know how much upset they were causing. But my goodness they're suffering for it now.
I have mentioned to my current neighbours that a lot of noise comes through from their kitchen but I'm probably not being forceful enough because they aren't getting the message. Visiters to my home are gobsmacked by the amount of noise that comes through the wall so it's not me just being fussy. Dammit, it can be heard by people standing outside our front door.

Answer 1

Be polite and tell them straight out about it. They are probably unaware of the noise level since you have never mentioned it. Invite them over for tea and discuss it in a polite tone without fixing any blame on them, after all, they really can't be blamed for a activity that bothers you if they are unaware that it exists. Perhaps, have one of them go back next door and open and shut a few cupboards and drawers so the other can hear the level of noise themselves.

Answer 2

If I were you I would spark up a conversation with the neighbour and bring the talk around to 'How you love living in the house but you wish the places were a little more soundproofed'. Explain thats the only gripe you have and add 'Do you know we can even hear you closing your cupboards and drawers - do you hear us?'. If they are decent folk tey'll deny hearing you but will be a bit more concious of the noise they make and might try to pipe down. If that doesnt work then the only way is to tell them outright. I have fantastic neighbours of 15 years but we are not afraid to just tell each other if we have a problem with each other - thats what makes them good - they tell us instead of running to the authorities. Good luck.

Answer 3

Move house. You might end up living next to someone who is REALLY noisy; very loud music all night (3am during the week).
Then you will wish you lived next to neighbours who only shut doors loudly.

Come on, get a grip.
Noisy door and drawer closing is not much hardship is it? Sometimes knocks over the tea caddy and sometimes opens your doors? Wow.

If you are stressed about it, go on holiday for a week.
Go somewhere really noisy, and you will be gratefull that your only problem is a very slight noise.

Answer 4

9 years?! dont you think you should have said something long before now? your neighbours will think theres nothing wrong so to tell them now will confuse them, anyway all you can is be polite, have a quite friendly word with them and I'm sure they'll be cool with it and make the effort to be more quiet. You do have to expect some noise though, you'll have complete quiet unless you live in a detached house in the middle of nowhere.

Answer 5

You could make a general flyer along the lines of "BE CONSIDERATE TO YOUR NEIGHBOURS, KEEP THE NOISE DOWN!!" And then post it to the neighbours about five each side of you. Then next time you are talking to the noisy neighbours say, did you get one of these flyers? As though you don't know who sent it, and then try and get it into the conversation from there....worth a try...

Answer 6

Hmm...9yrs you say, so you have been putting up with this for 9yrs and now you want to think about saying something Yeaaa no sweetie it's just going to start a big mess between you and your noisy neighbors, it will probably get worse, but if you say their nice you might have a chance at having piece and quit.....not sorry buddy you took toooooooo loooooong. You need to start taking action as soon as something happens not 9yrs later.

Answer 7

Buy toy machine gun to enhance the effect knock on their dorr and shout "Shaddup your driving me mad with your permanent racket' then fire of a whole reel of caps. They just might get the point. If they don't get it or retaliate sell up and move fast. If possible make sure your buyer is a punk rock band!

Answer 8

Cut a small hole in the connecting wall and have insulation blown in.

Answer 9

make a recording and play it to them, ask them what they think it is and then tell them you've been trying to think of a way to ask them to make less noise without upsetting them because you value their friendship etc etc. should do the trick.

Answer 10

Try to tell them politely to pipe down.If feelings get hurt, so be it, you are entitled to peace and quiet. If they refuse, call the police, after the first warning.