Strange neighbour

My father had poor eating towards the end of his life and complained about hearing music and singing. Hymns and operettas and old musicals He was of sound mind. What we discovered us that there is a condition called musical ear which is just this very thing, and absolutely nothing to worry about. The really weird thing was when I was looking after him towards the end when mum was in hospital I popped downstairs to fetch something and heard music myself , which freaked me out and I just went back to bed. Never heard it again, but it was coming from the same direction that he'd said the music came from. But he'd heard it in the day too when I was with him
I personally have heard loud knockings in the night it sounded like someone waspou ding on a wooden door,and I realised that it was actually my heart pounding so hard it woke me up, also heard knocking when there was no one there and voices too, the doc said that they were caused by my stress and anxiety, and eventually they stopped, it really helped to realise that they were not real
How you manage to deal with your neighbour though I don't know
When I was concerned that I might snore, as was going to be sharing a room with someone u downloaded an app which recorded any noises you make in the night. I only did it once, no actual snoring, occasional deep breaths and tissings and turnings, but no snoring. I wonder if you can get an app for ambient noise like that? If she contacts the council they will know but I think these recordings are time stamped so could stand as proof

If you ignore it, she might move again because of the awful noise. (grin). My smileys never seem to work :-(

I wouldn't invite her into your home, just carry on saying to her I don't have a drill, play loud music etc. Keep a note of when she complains & do try to talk to her Landlord who may be unaware of the situation. You need to be prepared in case any complaints are made against you

Thank you all for your responses, some really good advice. I am going to keep a note of any complaints, something I hadn't thought about.
Speaking with my son yesterday, she'd actually told him someone is kicking her door every night, so sadly I think it could be a mental health issue?

Yes, I was thinking it may be tinnitus too.

It doesn't sound like it but often in attached type house the sounds travel through attic beams and down chimneys etc but if there is only your house attached to her then it probably isn't that.

Years ago my aunt, living in a tied cottage, had a neighbour who would often call abuse at her when she pegged her washing out on the line. One day she came round to my aunt's side and tried to strangle her.

That's why I say leave well alone. Just smile and be polite.

Towards the end of her life my mother suffered some form of hearing disorder which made her 'hear' a combination of Sing something Simple and a 1940s singer, she could never remember who.
I think your neighbour has a similar hearing problem, but how you convince her of that, I don't know.

I’ve heard this before, very recently,so could’ve been on Gransnet!? Ask her to knock on your door WHEN the noise is happening ...listen if you can hear anything..if not ...I’m afraid it’s mental illness. If it doesn’t settle down you may have to contact her landlord and e plain situation. Good luck.

Certainly invite her in to ‘hear’ the ‘noise’. However, there does seem a mental problem here.

It’s difficult because she might start getting belligerent or frightened if you question her reality! I would not start inviting her in or encourage her in case of dementia. Maybe say I’m in bed at 11 latest so that’s strange or I haven’t got a drill or I don’t like loud music. Then contact the letting agent. Also keep a diary of any strange behaviour. Years ago we had an elderly neighbour who actually started making strange noises at night banging , then we noticed he was wearing three ties and using his pyjama top as a shirt - so we called the GP and yes that was dementia.

As in keep a record

Exactly what I thought.

My first thought too was tinnitus. My DM was convinced someone was using a machine of some kind during night like a sewing machine. Next door didn't even have one. Or perhaps neighbour is fixated on noise of any kind, perhaps mental health problem. Do you know where she has moved from?

I've had experience of a neighbour complaining about noise, music, hidden cameras, running a catering business from home - none of which ever happened. Turns out he had a mental illness. People can imagine things, or be paranoid, delusional. Mental illness is not uncommon.

Sounds a bit like my mother in law, lived in a semi detached bungalow and insisted she could hear her neighbour singing hymns and playing the organ all through the night. My father in law never heard a thing. The council put sound monitoring equipment in her bedroom & all it picked up was the sound of her sleeping. She still insisted that she could hear it. She was later diagnosed with dementia plus some other mental health conditions. She later on heard more & more things.
Difficult situation for you Dee, I think the suggestion from a previous reply that you keep a diary of her complaints is a good idea.
Good luck.

I would keep a diary of her complaints , just in case she complains to the council and speak to the letting agent . It sounds like it could be a mental health issue , but you have to think of yourself as well.

I have tinnitus in my left ear which is a high pitched hissing. I manage to ignore it. I sometimes hear a low sound like an engine ticking over and get up to see if there's a car outside. These sounds can mimic everyday noises.

Difficult for you to know how to help her- or ignore her. Is there any way you can find out whether the same thing happened in her old home? Tell her you'd like to help, but there's not a lot you can do as the noise isn't coming from your house. Sorry, not much help.

My cousin who is an extremely astute and fit elderly lady has recently moved because of the last three years ‘of hell’ she has lived through with her next door neighbours The rowing through the night, the banging, the child screaming and running around banging everything and yet when anyone has stayed the night with her they never hear anything , the neighbour on the other side never complains My cousin doesn’t have any mental health problems gets out and about and leads a happy and stable life but has dreadful nights because of all this noise going on No one has ever found out what it is the family next door can be noisy (daytime) so does that stay in her head and re run at night, does she really sleep and dream it, or is there really all this terrible stuff going on and it just doesn’t happen on nights people stay over ? She says she can take it no longer and has now moved so we will never know

We had a neighbour like this when we were students. She thought we hoovered late at night and sent 'vitreous' through the walls. She was suffering from schizophrenia.

I had a neighbour like this years ago. Looking back, I think she perhaps had mental health issues. It was very difficult at the time but, in the end, she moved away.

I hope your situation gets resolved.

Good point, both.

I'm with Gonegirl on this one. sounds harsh I realise but this is odd behaviour and I wouldn't want to get drawn in if I could avoid it.

I don't think I'd want to invite her in tbh. If she is suffering from paranoia even that probably might not convince her. I think ignore.

Agree with others who say invite her in to show that there is no music playing or drilling.

Also agree with speaking to the letting agent.

Am also thinking she has some sort of mental health condition, is it possible to find out who the letting agent is and have a word with them?