Neighbour problems

[Yaayuh!]

Hi all, just wanting some input here as I'm stuck.

We live in a semi-detached house, with a questionable party wall (it's quite thin) and noisy inconsiderate neighbours who have their hi-if against said party wall.

They play music for hours, so loud sometimes there isn't a room in OUR house where we can't hear it.
It can be as late as 11pm or during the day like today between 2pm and 5pm, which was actually their kids (no older than 12 I'd say) left alone runnin riot.
It's disturbing our sleep and I'm getting really stressed about it now and wish I could move.

I have been round there 4 times and asked them politely to turn it down as there isn't a room in our house where we couldn't hear it and that the party wall just makes it worse etc etc and Ive always been polite about it.
One time he didn't even answer the door, he just walked past it and turned it down. Other times he's apologised and turned it down/off.
The last time (today) I just got verbal abuse hurled at me. I walked away before it escalated.

I was advised to try and sort it out man-to-man before contacting the authorities. This has failed and I fear I will be the victim of assault next time.
I emailed the council and got a reply regarding who what and when. I have a log of all the issues we've had, with dates and everything and I have an email drafted for our council for official reporting.

My problem is that I don't know what action the council will take and if it will make matters worse. Also, once logged with the council, If It does get worse and I try and move, I'll have to answer 'yes' to that question "have you had problems with your neighbours?" when selling.... Or risk saying no.

What do you guys think I should do?


EDIT: Resolution reply #71

I MOVED!

 

[Maccapacca]

Go through the proper process.

If he gets shirty and threatening ring the police.

He'll eventually turn it down and never speak to you again.

Or play music at 6am preferably the Mr Blobby song over and over and over. Neighbours love that.

 

[Yaayuh!]

Go through the proper process.

If he gets shirty and threatening ring the police.

He'll eventually turn it down and never speak to you again.

Or play music at 6am preferably the Mr Blobby song over and over and over. Neighbours love that.

Yep, this is what I'm thinking. I tried my best trying to talk to him about it, so next step is council.

My fear is that because he that type of person (neighbours all say "he's a nice bloke, just don't **** him off") he might go ape and turn violent toward us or our property.
Thinking of installing a camera out the front and one out the back before hitting send. Just in case.

 

[Mr.Stu]

Rossi, I feel for you, this is on of those things that is really tricky to scope when buying a house.

The neighbours can be out when you view, even multiple times, and when knocking on the door you could catch them during a calm afternoon.

How long have they been in the property for?

Personally speaking, if it was me, I'd never feel happy. I know you just bought this place recently, so can you do a quick bit of decorating and turn a profit?

 

[Yaayuh!]

Rossi, I feel for you, this is on of those things that is really tricky to scope when buying a house.

The neighbours can be out when you view, even multiple times, and when knocking on the door you could catch them during a calm afternoon.

How long have they been in the property for?

Personally speaking, if it was me, I'd never feel happy. I know you just bought this place recently, so can you do a quick bit of decorating and turn a profit?

We've had it since end of July last year.
Funnily enough we viewed during the day...

Tempting, as much as I'd hate to, not sure how I could put up with it. The waste of time and money will be a right kicker.

 

[Adam]

I had this at my old place, the guy next door was a lonely idiot who played jungle music until 3am in the morning. I know how frustrating it is and how it can have an effect on your day to day life. They will argue it's not loud, but once you know it's their you cannot switch off from it. In the end I moved, I now live in a detached house to hopefully minimise something like that happening again.

Note that if you do contact the council you have an obligation to disclose the issues when you sell the property. They will advise you to keep a diary and will send someone around to monitor the noise. It could even go to mediation.

There are no winners from this unless you or they move away.

 

[Maccapacca]

It's not a problem if you have to disclose the information.

I had a problem with my neighbour playing music

He stopped / moved away / died / went deaf.

The declaration is for more important stuff like boundary disputes and breaches of covenants

 

[ins0mn1ac]

We had similar a while back, the guy next to us started to get really aggressive trying to pick a fight, hurling abuse while my son was next to me. Next time it happened I rang the police and said if you don't come out now I'll be phoning back to report an assault, they were there in 5minutes and the officer was absolutely amazing because the dude next door moved out a month later result!

 

[Spook187]

A lot of the problems come from the way they build houses now, who in their right mind decides that a piece of plaster board is sufficient to blocking out noise should be strung up.

 

[DXP55]

At 8.00 on Sunday morning put a 4ft length of RSJ on floor against adjoining wall - get a SDS hammer drill (4kg at least) with masonary bit in it and try to drill a hole in RSJ - wear ear plugs and ear protectors as it is very loud and will wake neighbour hood - keep doing it until music stops or a fight breaks out.

Dave

 

[a1ex2001]

Your doing everything right follow the councils instructions and push them to deal with it. There can be a solution where you don't have to move out!

 

[alx]

A lot of the problems come from the way they build houses now, who in their right mind decides that a piece of plaster board is sufficient to blocking out noise should be strung up.

I think modern builds are actually quite good, the town house I live in was built in 2006 and I have no issues with hearing any noise from either neighbour. I think modern regulations mean insulation is required between the walls which helps a lot. I'll admit the internal walls are useless for stopping sound though.

It's builds where there's only a single brick layer where problems occur.

 

[Yaayuh!]

I think modern builds are actually quite good, the town house I live in was built in 2006 and I have no issues with hearing any noise from either neighbour. I think modern regulations mean insulation is required between the walls which helps a lot. I'll admit the internal walls are useless for stopping sound though.

It's builds where there's only a single brick layer where problems occur.

+1

Our original party wall (not extension part of the house) looks to be single skins breeze block on-end... Not even joking. It's a 70s house.

We moved here from a new build flat (built 2008) it was a middle flat and we NEVER heard the neighbours, incredible really. New regs are good where sound isolation is concerned.

 

[DannyDrama]

+1

Our original party wall (not extension part of the house) looks to be single skins breeze block on-end... Not even joking. It's a 70s house.

We moved here from a new build flat (built 2008) it was a middle flat and we NEVER heard the neighbours, incredible really. New regs are good where sound isolation is concerned.

Tell that to my neighbours, mine is a 2007 build and I can hear every step the guy above me takes. Can't wait till I get out of here.

 

[Adam]

It's not a problem if you have to disclose the information.

I had a problem with my neighbour playing music

He stopped / moved away / died / went deaf.

The declaration is for more important stuff like boundary disputes and breaches of covenants

I'd still think carefully as anything that needs to be declared will raise questions and could make your sale that bit harder. Would you be thrilled at the prospect of buying a house with a history of noisy neighbours?

I think modern builds are actually quite good, the town house I live in was built in 2006 and I have no issues with hearing any noise from either neighbour. I think modern regulations mean insulation is required between the walls which helps a lot. I'll admit the internal walls are useless for stopping sound though.

It's builds where there's only a single brick layer where problems occur.

Depends on the quality of the builder in my experience. I nearly bought a new townhouse in 2012, someone was looking around the other house (they were semi detatched) and I could pretty much hear what they were saying through the walls, they were crashing up and down the stairs etc. Didn't give me much confidence that things would greatly improve once carpet was down.

 

[Haze]

get a louder sound system and drown them out

 

[Usher]

You should not have to tolerate this, the council should sort it out & & give them warnings because it comes under the heading of anti social behaviour.
If they do not heed the warnings then legal steps can be taken where the offending equipment can actually be confiscated, if they threaten you in any way then of course the police will become involved if notified by the council as normally they will steer clear of neighbours disputes

 

[Yaayuh!]

get a louder sound system and drown them out

A part of me would love to retaliate. Especially as my hobby is music production/engineering. I have access to some big speakers (including subs) and heavy amplifiers.

However, as soon as i retaliate, he wins and it will go against my argument against him. Therefore, it's not an option.

I have been looking at houses around at the moment, there isn't anything about at the moment in our price range and size we're after. We'd have to downsize.

 

[LeeUK]

I think modern builds are actually quite good, the town house I live in was built in 2006 and I have no issues with hearing any noise from either neighbour. I think modern regulations mean insulation is required between the walls which helps a lot. I'll admit the internal walls are useless for stopping sound though.

It's builds where there's only a single brick layer where problems occur.

Depends how modern. I lived in a 10 year old Taylor Wimpey property (8 years at the time) for a couple of months. I could hear everything next door. Them coming in, hanging keys up, farting, etc.

 

[JoeF1]

Live in an apartment block only 3 flights, 2 flats a flight. We are on the top floor and i swear it sounds like they have the music on so loud from 7pm to early hours. I complained too, although getting to the door it's because their speakers are on the wall. So to them its not as loud. I feel your pain. Luckily i can move as its rented