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!

 

[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.

 

[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.

 

[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.

 

[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.

 

[Yaayuh!]

We're going to talk to our parents and get advice from them. Especially my GFs dad, he's helped us out a lot with this house and if it comes to moving, i will feel so bad because of the work he's done and helped us with.

 

[Yaayuh!]

Next time it happens, when he opens the door throw some petrol on him.

Tell him if he doesn't turn it down you're going to flick a match into his chest, then flick down your sunglass and ride off into the night on your harley.

Ha! If only
I don't have a Harley

Above is some good advice, but i would hold off on the council thing, could cause all sorts of problems if they take offence to it.

I know its costly and you would lose some space but have you thought about putting in a stud wall and some sound proofing between, lose a few inches of your space but might be a solution you havent thought of?

We have thought of doing this, but it will be rather expensive.
We'd have to rip out the part of the kitchen to do the wall there, the wall in our bedroom and also re-do the staircase in the hall as it's against the party wall as well... There's also little things like a radiator against the wall also that we'd have to remove and re-fit.

 

[Yaayuh!]

Ok, time to move.

Just had to go round there to politely ask him to turn the music down and he went off on one about me doing some DIY on Sunday afternoon... Told me to **** off then started to shout at me to come back as I was walking away.

Got back in the house and I can hear him going mental calling me every name under the sun, won't bother telling you what as it would just be all stars. The guy is clearly unhinged.

This went on for 10 minutes, stopped and there was a knock at my door where he invited me out into the street to "sort it out". I politely declined and stayed inside, where I had names and threats hurled at me. It ended with "if you do anything again, I will **** you up", then he walked back and carried on for another 5 minutes.

I am literally shaking. And after speaking to my parents, come to the conclusion that moving is the only option.

 

[Yaayuh!]

Are these people likely to be DSS or whatever it is these days? IIRC if you go through he correct channels and collect all the required evidence, they will be moved on/kicked out.

He owns the house and has lived there for 20 years. He's renowned apparently.

 

[Yaayuh!]

Get a louder hifi and blast it out when he's sleeping until he gets the message.

I can easily drown him out with my own Hi-Fi setups and have access to PA stuff. Not really a wise idea though

Have you called the police about this yet? If not, you should have done by now!

And say what? They can't do anything. Also, as soon as i report him then i have to declare it when we sell.

 

[Yaayuh!]

When you come to sell, don't put a for sale board up outside.

You don't want him knowing you want to sell, then kicking off on people viewing the house.

Indeed, this definitely ran through my mind so i'm not going to have a sign up.
If he does find out, he probably wants me gone anyway.

 

[Yaayuh!]

Don't forget you are obliged to declare any neighbour disputes if and when you sell.

Obviously only those that have been reported or logged.

While I feel for you and it must be a horrible situation, it's a bit rough that you'll happily let someone else walk in blind to it whether you legally need to declare it or not.

It's sad, but the system appears to be broken. Hopefully the next people will have more luck.

We had students live next door to us a couple of years ago, the landlord seemed to have shoehorned 7 or 8 of them into a three bedroom house using the living room and dining room as bedrooms.
It was hideous, parties, noise constantly and mess everywhere. They clogged up the sink in the kitchen so started using a hose in the back garden for washing up. BBQs until 4-5am on week nights, all this whilst my wife was pregnant.

I'm ashamed to say I lost my temper with them and after that they refused to even answer the door if I knocked, hiding behind the curtain, only speaking to my wife.
We complained to the council, made official complaints and kept logs of the incidents. The council sent people over with sound equipment to measure noise and they were pretty good at sorting them out.

I feel your pain but just go for the council option and keep complaining, they have to act.

I'd like to but he'd probably damage our car, my bike, the house, harm our cat etc if we do raise it officially. Then if it turns out we need to move, we will have to declare that we've logged it officially. I'd rather cut my losses and move.

Thanks for the input guys and other stories of related woe. Hopefully we can get through this swiftly and harmless.

 

[Yaayuh!]

The system isn't broke, it's the fact people aren't honest enough.

But that's your conscience to deal with not mine...

If i were "honest enough" then i will be living here until he's old and decrepit and moves, or dies. Because i sure as hell won't be able to sell the house without losing a HUGE amount of money.

I have no qualms with this. Most people do it, it's a known risk when buying a semi-detached or terrace house and i lost out.

 

[Yaayuh!]

I am moving tomorrow!

Huzzah!

 

[Yaayuh!]

Good for you put a brick through his window as you drive off

I am leaving that house knowing i one the moral battle. I've not done anything to them and will leave it that way.

Great to hear you are getting sorted, out of interest how did you do on selling the property? Did you manage to make any profit?

Being North Herts, it sold with ease. Went on the market on a Thursday and was off the market on the Monday.
We bought the place 2 years ago for £245K and sold for £300K, we spend no more than about 5K on it... The house prices have gone silly around here.

Glad to hear you're getting something sorted. It's been almost a year since the thread opened, is the **** still playing loud music?

Yep, now and then, not as bad as before but they got a dog.
He was shooting pigeons again the other day. Shot one off MY roof onto my conservatory, had a dead pigeon in the gutter...

Moving to a DETACHED house....

 

[Yaayuh!]

its bliss

good job on the price as well - you must be well chuffed

We are, but everything is relative really as where we're moving to has had a price hike about the same.

 

[Yaayuh!]

Move out...if you can do the same as what we did....do it!

Metallica is the answer..Metallica and huuge speakers

Updated OP. I move tomorrow

 

[Yaayuh!]

Phone the police on him saying he has a gun the day you exchange.

We've already left