Neighbours complain about my noise at 5pm when they wake me up every morning at 5am!?

Question

I live in a mid-terraced house (owned) in a small cul-de-sac (UK)

Recently there have been new tennants move in, with a 14 month old son and 5 year old daughter.
They wake me up every morning between 5am and 6am, with their son screaming and banging on the wall to get attention for up to an hour.
The woman goes outside for a cigarette about 6am and bangs the back door really hard, making the whole house shake.
The bloke yells and the woman a lot and uses absolutely disgusting language in front of his kids. They make a LOT of noise at around 5:30 every morning.

Thing is they bang on the wall every time they hear the slightest noise from me. The woman came round after they'd been there about a week and complained because I was doing some DIY at 5PM!

I need to add that I'm not very loud at all, but living in this type of house you end up hearing some noise.

I need to speak to them at some point, but would like to know where I stand, as they don't seem like reasoning people!

Well I spoke to them. They just told me I had to bear with them because they were having trouble with their son. I've put up with it for nearly a month and its doing my head in because I've been deprived of sleep!

Answer 1

I am sorry to tell you but this is the world we live in now...Ignorance is fitted as standard in most people now...Best of luck.

Answer 2

I have the exact same problem you do. I live in townhouses and my next door neighbor has two sons aged 13 and 15 who are apparently in training for the Olympic wrestling team. There is CONSTANT banging and pounding (and screaming and yelling). The woman herself also slams the back door so hard when she shuts it that it has knocked pictures off my wall. In the five years I've lived here, I have talked to her about it at least three times, but she always dismisses me in a not so neighborly way.

So, don't bother trying to address the situation with these people --they are ignorant. What you SHOULD do though, and I know this will be hard but, try to ignore her bangs on the wall and go about your usual business. (I would actually try to make a little MORE noise than usual, to make a point). If she comes to complain to you, tell her that you will certainly be more mindful of the noise you make....when SHE stops banging the door on her cigarette breaks, and gets her children under control...and not until then.

I wish you lots of luck. I know how you feel.

Answer 3

I know that you are in an owned house, but I suggest that you obtain the rules from your local Council. Just to show your neighbours what IS and what isn't considered acceptable noise levels. I am top flat and had the same problem as you, they screamed and argued, banged doors, and the kids shouting at 6am, yet they banged up to my son repeatedly for playing music before 8 in the evening. I had spent eight years trying to be the most considerate neighbour I could be, and when they confronted me I had enough. I contacted the council and cut a long story short, they were told that we had done nothing considered unacceptable and in fact we could be a LOT louder for a LOT later before it would be unacceptable. She also told them that if they came to my door to harrass me any more, she had recommended that I call the police and that THEY would be noted as anti social neighbours.

I was so relieved, as I have never been a noisy neighbour, they are just ignorant selfish people who want everything their way. It sounds as though you have exactly the same type of neighbour. You need to get something in black and white to give them calmly to show you are doing nothing wrong. NOWHERE can DIY at 5pm be considered unacceptable, its life, lol! I made the mistake of putting up with my neighbours banging up, noise and confronting me for too long and I think they were bullying me towards the end, so don't let your neighbours get to that stage, just because you are a reasonable person. If you need to get your legal position verified, I suggest contacting Citizen's Advice, who should be able to help. I wish you the best of luck here, I haven't had one peep from my neighbours since I had them sorted out, I hope the same happens for you. :)

Answer 4

Take care with these cretins, If you own your own house and you become involved an acrimonious dispute, when or if you decide to sell you will have to complete a sellers questionare asking amonst other things have you been involved in a dispute with neighbours. It might have an adverse effect on your purchaser if you tell them of this dispute. If you don't tell them they could come back to you for damages. This is the increasingly litigious society we are forced to life in I'm afraid. If your sale prospects are damaged by your neighbours unreasonable behaviour you could sue for them damages. I can imagine any approach to the miscreant neighbour along the lines I have suggested would almost certainly produce a torrent of abuse, you have made them sound very inconsiderate individuals. It would be very easy to retaliate in a like manner but would likely only exacerbate an already difficult situation. Some local councils have a conciliation service which I am told is quite successful in resolving situations such as these. Whatever you do try to avoid giving your neighbours ammunition to use against you.

Answer 5

For a start you are not breaking any laws carrying out work at 5pm. You should tell them about the noise you have to put up with at the hours you've mentioned and ask them to do something about it. If you get a mouthful of abuse back (and from the sounds of it, you will) then I know what I'd do, as soon as their child has gone to bed, turn your stereo up loud and make as much noise as you like, providing it doesn't go passed 11pm they should get the message. Good luck with it.

Answer 6

You might want to check with your local law enforcement to see if there are laws in your area about noise. In the US, most communities have noise laws. These normally state that quiet must be maintained between the hours of 10 pm and 7 am. Children crying is normally allowed, if not regular nor prolonged.

If you have the noise laws, and the 5 am is breaking them, call the police to enforce the law and request that your name not be given. This way, there should be no retaliation against you.

Answer 7

First of all keep a diary of all the dates when you've been disturbed and then contact you neighbour's landlord to explain the situation first by phone then follow it up with a letter.Also contact you borough council regarding your alleged "noisy activity" at 5PM to find out where you stand. To the best of my recollection, you're supposed to refrain from making excessive noise between 23:00 hrs and 0600 hrs. Whatever you do, don't lose your temper with your neighbours and don't get into an argument with them.

Answer 8

What a nightmare, but you must stand up to this woman it is her who is breaking the Law not you, no loud noises between 10p.m and 6a.m.
Do they own the house? you can complain to Environment.
If they allow their child to scream for up to an hour I would get Social Work involved.

Personally speaking if it was me I'd borrow a friends BIG dog that barks at outside noises,and if she comes banging at the door let the dog answer.

Answer 9

I have the same problem, except I live in a flat with people above and below me. I dealt with it by reporting them to the local council. The council then inform these crettens that someone has reported them. The council will then send you a form to record over a period of time what they get up to, noise, dates and times etc. The thing is you have to keep getting back to the council if these people aren't punished. Good luck!

Answer 10

Well 5pm is in not against the law as far as i know , most people are up then or not even at home ! but i think you could say that 5am is, because its after midnight. If i where you i would ask how your neighbours on the other side feel about it , try and get them on your side and approach the council.

Answer 11

you need to keep a log of excessive noise, dates, times, and sounds, you have to be more than fair I've found, you've tried mediation & thats not worked, but any mediation between you also needs logging, you can only put facts down, you cannot log what you think, & only refere to the actual event, i think this is the only way forward for you, (i've been there, still there & wearing the tee-shirt, i have every sympathy for you.) If your house is rented or theirs is don't put off reporting to the Landlords, you may find helps, as it's "causing you a nusiance" & effecting "you quality of life"