Noisy neighbours.

I am amazed at how loud people speak outside. Sitting in the garden I can hear conversations from gardens a good 150 mtrs away. Children aren't spoken with, they are shouted at. The childminder next door shouts at the children from inside the house when they are at the bottom of the garden 80 feet away. It seems to be the modern way to communicate - just shout. My sympathy to you, take on board the suggestions given here, keep a record if what and when. Seek support from other neighbours and yes, you can record any noise that intrudes into your property.

I have noisy neighbours too, but they know they are, and apologise for it. When they go on holiday they always tell me and add ‘so you’ll get a couple of weeks’ peace’’ Not much I can say!

It would be awful to have to move after all those years. I was wondering if you could get heavy duty sound proofing glazing on the windows to block sound. One of my daughters did this because of noisy neighbours and it really worked. You can’t hear a thing from outside now. Plus it keeps the heat in in Winter and the heat out in Summer. You would need really good stuff though, probably not cheap but still cheaper than having to move.

Really sympathise. From the start you should keep a noise diary because if you put up with it for six months and then go to the council you will simply be asked to return to base and keep a noise diary - so start it now. If you have a smartphone then you can also make recordings of what you hear through the walls and frankly if there is loud screaming and children in the house there's a potential safeguarding issue. As for the garden, keep recording as well as videos of hot tub evenings late at night from your upstairs windows if that's possible. You might not be able to see them but you ill hear water swishing and glasses clinking. We have a near neighbour with a hot tub and it's noisy in the summer especially as they have five growing children and will often have adult friends around. But we have an agreement in our part of the road that if there's to be a noisy party in a garden, we do our neighbours the courtesy of telling them in advance and promising a deadline. Once in a while it's not a problem but if your neighbours do this as a matter of course and are not informed that this is something they should inform the neighbours about, they will feel enabled and then when you come to the end of your tether they will say 'well, you've been OK with it so far ...' and make you feel there's something wrong with you rather than the fact that they're being anti-social. When there's a lot of noise in a nearby garden I just do my usual thing and put my noise-cancelling headphones on but that's not a proper answer because then I can't hear the door bell or the landline ring. It's all about being considerate and really I think you and other neighbours need to tackle it before the summer arrives. If your ne neighbour can't be bothered to call and thank you for your welcome, you may find a problem on your hands.

Albertina if everyone told potential buyers about their horrible neighbours no one would ever be able to move. You only have to reveal things that get 'official' and are in writing. You were lucky that your buyers didn't care. I feel so sad reading about these neighbours from hell spoiling life for others. Everyone has the right to 'the enjoyment of their home' and that's the LAW. We have been in such situations three times, but have been luckier in our present house. I would truly rather live in a caravan or even a tent in the middle of a field than experience it another time because I'm sure it would kill me if it ever happened again. OP you have my deepest sympathy. You could try explaining about the noise or could you get someone to mediate on your behalf? We tried this and didn't work. You may sadly have to think about moving if things don't improve. There was a couple on the news recently who were attacked by the neighbour because they complained, and the husband died. The neighbour broke in via the attic. This may because rare case, but be careful how you approach things because some people can be violent and psychotic too. Just speaking from experience. No one should live in fear of their nrighbours. If you do move, interview the potential new neighbours if you can.

We have a very similar situation, but they own the bungalow next to ours...they have been homebuilding for 3 years, every evening and every weekend, we've had to report them to planning twice, and need to do so again, as we now have a 10 ft skating ramp overlooking our garden and being used 6+ hours a day at weekends. They moved in 2 adults and 2 children, now have 4 children - and the only communication appears to be screaming. Our lovely neighbours on the other side have give up and sold up, but we have our 91 year old Father in Law, so are trapped. Good luck x

My ex-neighbours had an appallingly loud Christmas party one year. They'd mentioned it to us but not that it would go on well into the early hours, inside and outside. We decided that we'd go away during their parties in future, a good idea as the next party involved a snow making machine and a party that was largely held outside. These people have absolutely no concern or respect for others.
Our neighbours were middle class and respectable and otherwise civil.
We've now moved.

I don’t think a once-a-year party that you were warned about (with or without a snow machine) really is at all the same, cc.

It is the day-in day-out issue which is really unbearable.

I remember, many years ago , a friend was telling me about his awful noisy neighbours, he did actually tell them they were being a nuisance, but they took absolutely no notice , so he decided to play them at their own game . When he went to work in the mornings for his 8 hour shift , he would set up a particularly awful track of music on his CD player , then put it on repeat , put up the volume loud enough for them to hear it , and leave it play , on repeat, all day long until he got home . After a few days of doing this , the noisy neighbours complained to him that it was disturbing them and could he knock it off , but he already had his reply , he said,” while you keep making all the noise that you are doing and disturbing me then I’m going to put my cd on every day until you stop “ . Needless to say , that solved the problem .

The advice to keep a record of days, times and length of noise "nuisance ", is correct. However, anyone whom owns their own home is lawfully entitled to the "reasonable enjoyment" of their own homes.
Noise nuisance does have to be "more than a one off", and not be considered "part of normal family life" .
Keep a written record of events, and perhaps any recordings of the noise.
You could contact the Citizens Advice, or a law firm whom may have free half hour slots, not all do.
Although, personally I would politely tell your neighbours that the shouting is causing you distress, and that some of the things they are saying should be kept private, and you would be embarrassed for them if anyone else could hear these "private" remarks.
As another person has mentioned, your neighbours may not know you can hear them.

You are correct, to be classed as noise nuisance, the event has to occur more than once, not be classed as normal family life and not impinge on an owners lawful right to "enjoyment" of their own private property... However, this depends if the residents own or rent the home. If the residents rent the complaint should be aimed to the land owner.

Our upstairs neighbours have 3 children and are always apologising for their noise (they have wooden floors). We have no issue with them so long as its not after midnight - and provided they do not complain about our occasional loud rock music (not after midnight, obviously), which they don't - the system works well for both families.

The problem with putting in formal complaints etc is that you have to declare the problem when you sell your house if and when you decide you've had enough and move on
We decided our noisy neighbours were bad enough to make us move, after over 30 years in our old house. Luckily we now have wonderful neighbours and have never looked back
You may love your home but nothing is worth the stress poorly behaved neighbours cause.
I know that saying a house is 'only bricks and mortar' but you will find that with a positive attitude, a new adventure will prove that home is where ever you and your loved ones, your pets or your favourite possessions are. Even moving one street away could make the world of difference

Well said Nanananana1

I think some local authorities will lend you a decibel meter, so you get the evidence of noise without the legal problem of recording what is said. Definitely keep a note of what and when. Check with your local council if they have dedicated noise abatement officer or department.

We had problem neighbours, and no family living close by, we tolerated it for quite a while ( two years) in the end we just bit the bullet and moved. We are late 60s and late 70s not exactly the stage of life to up and move. However we’ve no regrets at all, but a move under different circumstances would have been nicer. I sincerely wish you well.

I hope its not a case of domestic abuse, its ominous that you hardly see the lady only husband

Noisy neighbours. Part two ,, hello everyone , Thankyou for all your very kind helpful ideas on my new neighbours. But there has been a breakthrough I wanted to share with you which put a different slant on the original problem,
My neighbour took a parcel in for me ,I knocked , she came to the door smiling , we chatted , i asked her how she was settling in , she apologised for the dogsyapping and did we hear them much, So I said “ well yes the walls are thin. I heard a real humdinger of a row last night , who won “so she said the kids had been under a lot of stress at school with the pandemic and wearing masks in class and being put in mixed classes, Also one of her children is Autisic , which in itself is very challenging and that he can kick off at the slightest thing, So, it makes things a bit more bearable and I feel sorry for her, This weekend has been a lot quieter , I am glad I didn’t do anything drastic or go round complaining with all guns blazing.
Let’s just wait and see what happens in the future.
I appreciate all your helpful kind advice you all offered ,

So pleased to hear you had a conversation, glad there’s been a breakthrough

I feel for you, I really do. There is nothing worse. We had a selfish spoiled witch aged 18 living next door and last summer she was horrendously noisy and caused so much drama with her parents. I politely went around at ten thirty to ask her to turn music down as my daughter & partner could not sleep. She dismissed me at the door saying “ yeah yeah, well we are going out now” she moved out just before Christmas after many arguments with her parents and it was bliss. Sadly she’s back but has to probably tow the line a bit. A few years ago I had to involve environmental health due to horrendously excessive barking in my cul de sac of 14 dogs in one house. It drove us bonkers, but the owner& his partner were out at work all day. I had to keep a log for a month and write everything down, times, dates, length of howling& barking incidents daily. Don’t get me wrong I’m not against dogs - we have a dog in our own home. The owner is a very unreasonable man so a Polite knock on the door would’ve resulted in it being slammed in my face after he had laughed at me. Environmental health did not follow anything through after I handed the detailed log in to them. NOTHING was done as regards to recording unreasonable noise levels, however I think he may have had notification that a few people had complained because it did improve a tiny bit. When the woman had a child and stayed home more, the dogs were quieter but don’t expect miracles from noise abatement or environmental health, in my county it was absolutely no help.

I'm glad you've (hopefully) sorted it.

I have a couple of youngish girls living above me at the moment and they can get a bit loud with their music.

I've spoken to them about the noise on several occasions but I don't think they realised how much I can hear. They've said that they never hear me, but I'm sure they do, it's impossible to live without noise.

The last time I spoke to them was a couple of nights ago when we met outside, she asked if I could still hear their music, I replied that it was loud enough for me to sing along to! It's been quieter since.

feel so so sorry for you, years ago we had noisy neighbours on both sides but it doesnt sound as bad as what your having to put up with, so difficult to know how to deal with it because you cant even get away from the noise etc can you, with us,in the end,it was one of the reasons we moved, i wouldnt recommend anything so drastic , try having a quiet word, do let us know how you get on

Earnshaw. Hello,thanks for your thoughts , see my post above 19.54 , I had a word and hopefully all will be ok .

I feel for anyone suffering from noisy neighbours. I’ve had it in the past and it really took it’s toll. When you dread summer and the longer days and light nights because of the noise in the gardens it’s awful. I really do think there should stronger laws concerning excessive noise as it’s hell for people having to live with it.

It is awful having noisy neighbours. I find it distressing too .
However , as Notinthemanual says , they may not realise they're so noisy .
30 years ago , with 3 small kids and a 4th soon to arrive + 3 barky Terriers we moved into a lovely 4 bed semi .
It was built in 1923 and , we assumed had really thick walls because we simply never heard our elderly neighbours ( 2 retired professors )
All we ever heard was Mr C next-door practice his piano at 6 pm every evening and that was only audible in the bedroom near their pian room . Very nice .
So .. we didn't worry about noise although, thankfully we we never like OP's neighbours.
We got a huge shock though , when , many years later, our professors went to live with daughter, we retired and our kids left . Next door buyers had 4 musical kids .... suddenly there was screaming, shouting, banging, thumping and endless piano , violin, clarinet practice at all hours. What a shock !
The walls weren't thick at all . Our professors were just quiet!
They were extremely kind and patient with us for all those years and we hadn't a clue how noisy we must have been.
So , politely and nicely tell them first.
They may be sad to hear they upsetting you .
If they not sad then , maybe, like our professors, a house move is the only solution ?