neighbours complaining about our 5 year olds noise again , what can i do ?

Question

we have a 4 yr old and a 5 yr old who are "NOT" quiet sometimes , yes we can be a bit loud when its 6 or 7 in the evening and 2 or 3 times a week at theese times our upstairs neighbours really bang on the floor sometimes its unbeleivable the way they bang loud (im sure they use a hammer) my wife tries to keep the kids quiet telling them the neighbours will bang but i say to hell with them if they think we are going to change our lifestyle to suit their needs , make more noise boys , our neighbours are a 30 something couple and often have wild parties at 2 and 3 in the morning and we hear everything , gauranteed evere friday and satarday night theres ALLOT of noise fighting , shouting , banging doors and i dont know what,,,,,, how do these kind of neighbours justify their selfs to being such hipacrits , have you had these kind of neighbours , what can i do , what should i not do , thanks for any comments :)

Answer 1

Your children are doing nothing that all children there age do,running around playing.
If it was late at night or early in the mornings you could understand the issue,but to be honest there is'nt one.
Your neighbour are being very unreasonable and most probably know or hear you telling your kids to be quiet.
They will continue to behave this way as long as you pander to them by trying to keep the kids quiet.

I myself had a similar problem with neighbours who were exactly like yours,several years ago mind you.
We had just moved into a flat with our son who was was only 2 months old,we lived above our problem neighbour.
I am very particular about behaviour and how neighbours should be treated,and always think of others as not to upset people.
We never made alot of noise or anything that would upset anybody,but we still managed to get problems with the one neighbour.

She had a child but would have different men in on a regular basis,and we would be kept awake by her argueing and throwing things around.
We never complained as her business was nothing to do with us,so we just left it .
Then she got a steady boyfriend and our troubles began,she would send him up regularly to complain about noise.
This would be our tv or are stereo was up to loud things like that,to keep the peace we would turn them off.
A bit like what you are doing with the children,trying to keep them quite just to keep the peace.
It got to the stage whatever we did up he would come asking if we could keep it down,even though there was basically no noise.
Then one day i needed to cut a piece of wood,i would say about 15 minutes work,it was about 6 p.m.
No sooner had i started up he came and my partner answered the door,the usual can you keep the noise down.
My partner explained it would only be a few minutes and shouted into me to confirm this.
But sorry this time enough was enough,i got up and went to the door myself and give him hell (verbally).
I told him about his partners behaviour in the past and how with that she can complain about us.
I told him unless i was breaking the law and it was late at night to go f*** himself.
I told him if he ever comes up again i will knock him all the way back downstairs and back through his front door.
I finished with 'now get the f*** out of my sight before i knock you the f*** out.
He left and from that day on he never came up again,and even though we never made alot of noise we were'nt worried if we did.

You may not wish to deal with your problem the way i did,but there are other ways.
When they are partying in the early hours,make a record of the day/date and time.
If you have a camcorder,put a calender and clock side by side in the room you can hear them the loudest.
When the noise is at an unreasonable level or time,record it on video and make sure you get the time and date in the frame.
Do this over a month or two,then report them to the local council as it is illegal under law.
See if they like it when you turn the tables are turned on them for once.

GOOD LUCK.

Answer 2

I gather that you live in a flat or maisonette when you refer to the neighbour upstairs bangs on the floor. If so, everyone needs to understand that there will be disturbing noises during the day so this noise from your children does not sound to be unreasonable. However, you need to keep a check of your "to hell with it" attitude as that will not help matters. If you are able to meet up with your neighbours to talk things through - great. When they have their late night parties, this may be get you back for your noise. Compromise and understanding need to prevail - the understanding is that there will be noise at times. Perhaps they need to visit you to see that the children are merely playing. If they realise how much noise travels, they may be more sympathetic.

Answer 3

It is difficult to know what to do about unreasonable neighbours except of course to tell them they are being unreasonable (That worked for me in one case) If they choose to live in flats where there are going to be children they must expect a certain amount of noise. If it is after 11 pm every night or 5 nights a week you could say that is not right but 6 or 7 in the evening seems reasonable to me. The only action you can take about noise is one for nuisance but before that the councils noise abatement officer should be involved. He is usually in the environment department and I might be worth having a word with him and explaining the situation. He may be able to help you compose a letter to your neighbours pointing out that they are being hypocritical and unreasonable.

Answer 4

Aah, neighbours... Some people are lucky to not live in a flat, but you and I do, so we have to live with them.

What I personally do depends on the neighbour's attitude and whether or not they make noise themselves. In your case, when they come knocking, I'd advise to tell them off politely but very firmly.
"I'm really sorry my kids make noise, but you know, they are kids. We are trying our best to keep them quiet, still it's only evening and there's no law against being loud at such a time, so please don't overreact." and then i'd politely close the door.

If I got your post right, it's the same neighbours who complain about your kids that make all the noise? In that case, you better tell them so. So add to the above "You can't possibly want us to respect your evenings while you don't respect our nights? Please stop complaining and get used to it."

In such cases I've found that you need to show them you're not naive enough to do whatever you're told to and that you definitely know you're not doing anything bad or illegal.

Answer 5

that is horrendous - children shouldn't be made to keep quiet because your neighbours have a hangover!
Disputes with neighbours are horrible because you can't avoid your neighbours but you should definitely not feel guilty about it.

If its coundil housing you can ask the housing association to intervene and organise a mediator so you can discuss their noise and yours in a controlled environment. If not, I would go upstairs next time they bang on the floor and have it out with them (in a polite way of course) - tell them you can't help making a bit of noise with 2 kids but that the noise from their parties is actually alot more disruptive and in fact illegal. Tell them you tolerate their parties so they should tolerate the noise your children make

I cannot believe they have the nerve to get angry about 2 little children making noise during the day when you have to put up with all that noise from them. you must be fuming!

Answer 6

We are in the same kind of situation.
Screw 'em.
Kids make noise, fact of life. What are you supposed to say? 'Kid's, your not allowed to have fun and live your short lived youth cos' of some hypocritical fuddy duddy's who have no experience of children'?
When they start banging again, go to them and tell them to quit the banging or you'll go to the council and the police and press for purposfull noise pollution aimed at you personally. I think you'll find that's against there tenancy contract and noise abatment laws. They cant exactly say anything back. No council or authority in the country would be able to do ANYTHING about children noise, there kids and dont understand. But hammering on the floor by a a couple of adults, that's different.
You just have to suck in your gut and tell them what's what.
You have kids, and kids make noise. Like i said, that's life and if they dont like it, they should move.

Answer 7

Get in touch with your council. These people have no right to disturb you and your family with their wild parties. Keep a record of the noise they make. Have you any other neighbours who can back you up on this matter. Each council has a noise nuisance department, they will warn them and prosecute if need be. As for your children, who said children have to creep about in the day time. Dont put up with it....!!!!!

Answer 8

Report them to evorimental health dept at your council , they may counter claim about your kids , but as the noise they make is early evening the council will proberly not take any notice of them as it will be seen as tit-for-tat by them. My negihbours are in there early 30's also but if we so much as fart in our own garden they complain about the noise even though 2 of there 3 kids wake up in the middle of the night crying 4 or 5 times a week we never complain about that its just kids being kids , so sod your neighbours and make as much noise as you like!!

Answer 9

I have always believed that you should treat others as you would have them treat you, not treat them like they treat you. That would make most of us nothing more than savages. Monkey see, monkey do. I live below someone with a very noisy 5 yr old. I can't believe the way the allow the child to run and jump all day knowing someone lives under them. You have to consider your neighbors, they're people to. If quiet is what they want when they're at home, quiet is what they should be able to have. I think if you don't want to consider your neighbor, then you should consider living someplace where no one else will be bothered with your noise. If I can't come home and find peace, then where do I go?

Answer 10

Well, people never can accept that they make a noise, because they are in the mids of it !!!! The person on the periphery can. I suggest you invite them to your flat or go and talk to them about your children, explaining that they will grow up and out of their "terrible 2 stage" etc. Whilst you are doing that you Can mention that sometimes their noise is excessive and your family gets disturbed. Keep it personal to you and try and start every sentence with " I feel........................" rather than pointing out the the things they do wrong. I am sure they will be more aware of both your situations. Good Luck !!!!