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AIBU?

Cheeky bastard neighbour

29 replies

FairfaxAikman · 03/03/2017 19:40

We live in a block of six flats.
Recently the front door has been getting left open but pulled close (iyswim) - i.e. Anyone could walk off the street.
We know it's a specific neighbour as a) we are on good terms with the other three (one flat is empty) and have asked them and b) we have seen him leave as we walk up the street only to find the door "balanced open" when we get to it.
This afternoon I managed to catch him and ask him not to do it. He muttered something and I pointed out the security of the building was at risk.
He sighed and agreed.
However he's just come round to speak to DH complaining about us making too much noise and if we don't stop he will report us to the council.
Now our front door snob lock started jamming on Tuesday, meaning we have to slam it to get it to close when we go out (we are replacing it at the weekend) but apart from that we are not noisy. We are out for most of the day at work (he is minimal part time) from roughly 8am to 7pm.
On days off in the week I might have my music loud enough that I can hear it in every room, but not so that you could hear it outside, and not past 6pm. And I am more often than not away at weekends as I help my elderly grandparents out and stay at theirs.
He on the other hand has woken us multiple times by stopping around and moving furniture at between 1 and 4am and regularly has his music loud enough that we can hear it over whatever we are watching on the tv and it goes on till 10pm.

We have taken him to task a few times and he ends up bitching to neighbours that we are bullying him and he can do what he wants because he owns his property (so do we).

I'm now at a loss as to what to do. We cut him a lot of slack and are considerate to others, but my DH is really upset about the council threat and is working out ways to be even quieter than we already are but I don't want to be living the life of mute monks while he continues to do what suits him rather than everyone else!

WWYD?

OP posts:

Report

Happyandhungry · 03/03/2017 19:47

Hes just retaliated coz hes annoyed at being told off even though you were right too. Dont be quieter just carry on as normal and ignore the ignorant sod. But do keep telling him if he does things that effect the whole building as thats not on. He's probably a bit of a bully himself so didnt like being told off! YANBU

Neverknowing · 03/03/2017 19:48

We had a very similar situation. I would write a diary if all the things he's going and when and then if he does complain you can show them that! Good luck, bad neighbours are the worst!

CuppaSarah · 03/03/2017 19:55

Spent way too long trying to figure out if you were one of my neighbours, but either way yanbu. Let him report to the council, it's not as simple as call them and they'll come tell you off. You have to make diaries and log events. Basically it's effort, I doubt he'll make it.

CuppaSarah · 03/03/2017 19:56

Oh and we're not neighbours no empty flats here!

Chloe84 · 03/03/2017 19:58

Report him first. What a dick.

WoopWoop200 · 03/03/2017 20:01

Also spent too long trying to work out if you're a neighbour but no empty flats here lol

Tell him to crack on and keep a diary of his behaviour. Plus noise pollution at the council are terrible at their jobs. They would have to actually witness the noise he is complaining about to do anything. I'd let him know that as well.

RayofFuckingSunshine · 03/03/2017 20:01

Roll your eyes and ignore his ridiculous threats. He is unlikely to contact the council, and if he does, they are unlikely to do bugger all because there is nothing there if concern. He is just being a wally.

FairfaxAikman · 03/03/2017 20:04

^Snib lock

^
Though I do like the idea of a snob lock

OP posts:

Floggingmolly · 03/03/2017 20:06

Why is he trying to balance the door open?? Surely he has a key to the entrance like everybody else?

Bluntness100 · 03/03/2017 20:08

Ok, I'll play devils advocate, am I right in saying you've complained about his noise several times, and that's what you mean by taking him to task and then about the foot, and he's now complained for the first time to uou about yours? He is telling other neighbours uou bully him due to the number of times you've complained to him?

Looks like he's decided to fight fire with fire...sorry.

Bluntness100 · 03/03/2017 20:09

Door not foot!

londonrach · 03/03/2017 20:14

Had same problem. I slide something into the lock to stop it be left open. Not suggesting you do that at all!!

Craiconwithit · 03/03/2017 20:17

'Having your music loud enough that you can hear it in every room'?
That sounds pretty loud to me although I live in a house, not a flat. The only way you can be objective about the noise is to visit another neighbour and listen to hear if it can be heard outside your flat.
Don't let a petty argument escalate.

AlisonBlunderland · 03/03/2017 20:21

I agree that having your own music loud enough to hear in every room is too loud.
If you are playing your music in your kitchen so that you can hear it in your bedroom, of course you neighbours will be able to hear it too

AHedgehogCanNeverBeBuggered · 03/03/2017 20:25

Be super-careful about reporting if you're planning to sell any time in the next few years, you'd have to declare a neighbour dispute.

notgivingin789 · 03/03/2017 20:31

It looks like to me that he tolerated your loud music for a while but since you keep on complaining, he think it's his time to complain now.

WankStainWasher · 03/03/2017 20:33

They would have to actually witness the noise he is complaining about to do anything. I'd let him know that as well.
Good God don't tell him that! You'd be telling him how to irritate you further. Avoid him if possible and let the little stuff go and hopefully things will calm down. Maybe one of your other neighbours will have a go at him and he'll mend his ways.

Nanny0gg · 03/03/2017 20:38

It sounds as if your music is too loud.

However, do you have a management company that you could speak to about the security of the front door?

HemanOrSheRa · 03/03/2017 20:42

There are two very different issues here. I'd let him crack on with his complaint about your noise. However, him propping the door open is an immediate problem. Report it. I'm a Housing Officer (not general needs) and this causes all sorts of problems. Your local housing officer should jump on this as a problem.

Whether he wants to take the noise issue further is up to him. But he is causing a security problem to the whole building by propping a security and probably a fire door open.

HemanOrSheRa · 03/03/2017 20:45

Sorry. I misread and thought you were a leaseholder in a council block? Still report it though. It is an insurance cover issue if nothing else.

FairfaxAikman · 03/03/2017 20:55

"It looks like to me that he tolerated your loud music for a while but since you keep on complaining, he think it's his time to complain now."

I have a weekday off roughly once every three months. That's the only time I have music on, and sometimes not even then. All other neighbours have said they can't hear it.

OP posts:

MsJamieFraser · 03/03/2017 21:06

Well the "council" couldn't do anything, he would need to go to environmental health and even then he would need to prove that your causing a noise nuisance. However the owner of your block could, are you a leaseholder?

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FairfaxAikman · 03/03/2017 21:15

No, we are in Scotland so leasehold/freehold isn't really a thing here

OP posts:

SuperBeagle · 03/03/2017 21:15

It sounds like you're both in the wrong here, to me.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 03/03/2017 21:24

Surely whether the music is too loud depends on the layout of the flat? My stereo is in the living room so probably in the centre of the flat - the kitchen and bathroom are behind and the hall and bedroom are in front. It doesn't have to be that loud for me to hear it in every room.

Possibly the neighbours can hear it, but I can also hear moving furniture, the TV, talking, the baby crying.

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