noisy Neighbour

[sarnieken]

Apologies if this is on here twice.
Good morning everyone, Happy New Year!!!

My question is about the above but first a little background information.

We recently moved back into our flat after 4 months out due to flood damage. Not caused from the horrible weather but from the guy upstairs managing to allow water to run into our bedroom for 2 hours. The reason for this is still being disputed as we believe he lied to the insurance company about it.

Anyway, we recently moved back in on the Saturday before Christmas and every weekend since, we have been kept awake by loud music, noisy conversations in the kitchen that is above our bedroom and, last night, the noise of someone vomitting profusely.

I have rung him about it at 03:30 on one occasion and last night at 04:20 and he just says sorry and that he didn't realise we were in?!?!

I was wondering if any of you guys had similar problems with a neighbour who just doesn't seem to care.
My wife is 24 weeks pregnant and needs as much sleep as possible. I'm seriously tempted to go and chin the guy but I really don't see what that will achieve.

Thanks in advance.
Ken

[leelapops]

Oh Ken that's rubbish. I bet you have so been looking forward to having your own space back, and moreso with your wife expecting.

If firm words aren't working, perhaps a letter that you keep a copy of? Also, you could start a diary of the disturbances as of NOW, and get in touch with the Council if he doesn't get the message in the next few days. Some people are just damn disrespectful. I think I would want to lamp him too, but unfortunately it's not very conducive to a solution! :S

Environmental Health will ask you to keep a noise diary anyway, so you may as well start early! It gives you a little backup too.

I have lived with noise and disturbance at stupid hours ever since I left home, so I am pretty used to it!

Good luck, and congratulations to you both on your impending arrival! x

[Ethel]

Loud music at unreasonable times you can complain about, but not conversations (unless sustained shouting) or vomiting.

If you can hear all that the problem is the lack of adequate sound proofing in your flat rather than the neighbour.

No doubt he will have many sleepless nights once your baby arrives.

[sarnieken]

Thanks for your replies and best wishes for the wee un'.

My wife keeps saying that we will get our own back in April when she's due. I just hope I last that long.

I know we can't complain about the talking or vomitting (made me chuckle though that at least one of them was suffering). However, I have done a little research and apparently noise from parties (such as the ones he has been having) does catch as a nuisance.

I know that sounds petty but we're really getting to the end of our tether about it.

Is it too much to ask for us to be able to have a night's sleep without some selfish numpty ruining it?

[Ethel]

Look at your local council's website - there should be lots of information and advice about noise nuisance.

[theonlyone]

We had a pop band rehearsing all hours in a house not far from us , we kept a diary and all went quiet , it started again , kept another diary , the council must have had words as it has been peaceful for over a year .So try talking to the neighbour , if that fails go to the council. I lived in flats for years and got used to the noise but when I got a house realised what peace and quiet was .

[Cetti]

Excellent advice from theonlyone, Ken, as keeping a diary plus other things worked for us.

Write a letter to your Noise Abatement Officer first, outlining the problem and what you have done so far. This will put him/her in the picture.

Then itemise everything in a diary - dates, times of noise and types of noise, plus what was done (if anything). Let them take over the problem - however much you are tempted please don't resort to verbal or physical abuse as sadly you will be the loser. Hope your new babe has lungs to shatter glasses ;-)

[redcrx]

Is the flat owned or rented?
sorry if youve said already, being 26 weeks pregnant myself Im sure youll sympathise with the side effect called 'pregnancy brain'

I can certainly understand why your wife needs her sleep and peace and quiet!

[sarnieken]

Ours is rented, the one upstairs is bought. It seems that he thinks he has the right to make as much noise as he likes.

The first house I owned had a really bad neighbour but I managed to move in the end.
At the moment, we can't move as we've just signed up for a new 6 month contract and I'm not moving us while the wife is pregnant.

Have made notes of the incidents and type of noise. Will see what happens through the week and at the next weekend.
The bit that really gets me is that the reason behind the uber noise is poor soundproofing from repairs necessary due to his negligence. One would think that he wouldn't want to cause any hassle as he is well aware that we know he lied to the insurance company about what happened.

Good luck red with your pregnancy.

Thanks for everyone's advice by the way. I have used this site for a few years now and I find it invaluable.

[tiggerblue10]

Right, here goes:

I have had first hand experience of this. I live in a terrace house and nextdoor to me is the most selfish cow I have ever known. The neighbourhood was nice and quiet before she moved. Nearly every night for 2 years she played loud music till 3 / 4, sometimes 5 in the morning. I tried speaking with her but that went in one ear and out of the other. The neighbour living on the other side of her and me got in touch with the Council and were we asked to keep a diary record for 2 weeks which we did. After that we were givin the number for the Environmental out of hours service. On one occasion the Officer record decibel reading of 8. That was how bad it was. It took a while but the Council managed to proscute her under the Noise Nuisance Act.

This not only affected my work, but also my personal life as well. Severe lack of sleep can be torture. Contact your Council straight away.

Unfortunately she still lives next to me as her mother owns the property. The Council can't do anything about that. From what I have heard the mother has gone to live in Jamaica and won't be coming back so I am stuck, however the noise has died down and hopefully it will stay that way.

[redcrx]

if the flat is owned then the owner should have a lease somewhere for the flat.
Could you ask the owner of the one you are renting to have a look at a copy of his lease to see if there are any clauses in there about noise restrictions?
This is of course in addition to the step of speaking to the council and keeping a diary of events.
Good luck, and I hope all goes well with the impending arrival. Im not sure whats best, to move now or when baby is tiny!