To get police advice about my neighbours?

[WhatsWineGotToDoWithIt]

Lived in my mid terrace house for a year now. One side is an elderly couple who make no noise but the other side is family which consists of Mum and dad in their 50s and son who I estimate to be around 20. They have always been noisy, they appear to be the “go to” house for friends and family for bbqs and parties etc. Always have lots of screaming kids in the garden etc,

I don’t mind day time noise as we all have noise/families/kids etc. The thing is my bedroom is directly next the son’s bedroom and the walls aren’t that thick. He has always been a bit noisy but lately it’s been awful. One night a few weeks ago I was kept awake until around 2am with him and a mate talking/laughing loudly in his room. His voice is so deep and loud. I complained to the Mum the next day who didn’t seem that bothered but said she would have a world.

It quietened down for a few days then on the Saturday night I was woken at 1am by them shouting and being noisy etc. I wrote a note and put it in their door saying they had woken me and to keep it down after 11pm please etc. They know full well I can hear them and since I have complained it’s like the lad doesn’t care and invites his mates round to talk loudly in his room.

It’s causing me such anxiety and stress. I’m not a confrontational person and they are chavs not the nicest of people so it’s s no win situation.

This evening I was spying looking out dd’s window and could see 6 lads in the road who all went into the house next door. I have gone to bed but can hear them all in there talking loudly etc.

I am now thinking after I complained twice and been ignored i might call 101 and get police advice. They smoke weed in his room too because I can smell it and have seen one of the lads holding a massive bong as I’ve up to my front door before. His bedroom windows are left open all day I assume to air out the smell of weed.

I don’t want to go down the council route as it could prove tricky when I eventually get the chance to sell up and move. I think their house is either council rented or council bought I’m sure.

What would you do?

[CompletelyUnknown]

I recommend the council route if you believe them to be council tenants. Most councils have antisocial task forces. Log it with them. It’s not causing any problem for you at all. The police would advise you that talking loudly does not break the law. If they were playing music loudly at all hours then that would be a different matter. As for the smoking cannabis there’s nothing wrong with a nice little crimestoppers tip to the police. Sorry if this isn’t the help you were looking for. Are you in Scotland or England? Different laws for antisocial behaviour. If you’re scotland then this is what you’d be advised.

[WhatsWineGotToDoWithIt]

England.

It’s loud talking, laughing, swearing kind of noise. Kind of like “YEAH AND FUCKING SAID THEM.. “ type of talking. It’s bloody horrible to hear when you’re trying to sleep.

[WorraLiberty]

I'm not entirely sure the police will be interested in people talking loudly inside their houses I'm afraid, and they certainly wouldn't be interested in people smoking cannabis inside their own house.

It does sound annoying but I don't think there's much you can do really.

Having said that, you could contact your local Safer Neighbourhood Police for advice, but I'd see if they have an email address as it can take ages to get through on 101.

[WhatsWineGotToDoWithIt]

Is there not a cut off point for excessive noise in the evening around 11pm? Surely shouting, swearing and making a racket late at night when you have neighbours directly the other side of the wall is cause for complaint?

[CompletelyUnknown]

I feel your pain I really do. I’ve experienced this myself. I recommend the council then if the parents are not taking your complaint on board. Or it could be a housing associations. Either way your not harming yourself speaking with them. The thing is it might not actually seem loud to them but they’re not the one trying to sleep. You need to try and be positive about what you could do to help yourself instead of focusing on how they’re doing nothing!

Could you move rooms? I know it sounds drastic and it’s your house but it’s unfortunate that you share a wall with them.
Could you listen to music as you drift off to sleep?
Have a fan on?
Earplugs?

I have tried these things. Unfortunately conversational swearing is not against the law in your own house. An absolute blazing swearing screaming match is. Also playing loud music after 11, banging and smashing things. Again I’m basing this on Scots law. I don’t know English law but I assume it’s similar.

Hope this helps.

[WhatsWineGotToDoWithIt]

If it was a one off I’d I wouldn’t mind as much or if it happened every so often but it’s becoming every night. It’s so loud I can hear them when sat in my lounge downstairs when they are in the bedroom upstairs.

[WhatsWineGotToDoWithIt]

Unfortunately I can’t move rooms because you can hear it in my dd’d room next door too and the other side of the house is the stairs if that makes sense. I’ve been sleeping in my conservatory the last few nights but the sofa in there is so bloody uncomfortable and it’s cold in there now. I have thought about ear plugs but worry I wouldn’t hear my alarm.

[WhatsWineGotToDoWithIt]

I suppose I feel more cross at the fact the lad knows it’s effecting me and is doing it deliberately because I complained. If it were my son I would be telling him to shut up and not annoy my neighbours. There’s a difference between household noise and then just having all your mates round to have a loud jolly in your room

[CompletelyUnknown]

Not that it helps but my watch vibrates as an alarm so when I use ear plugs I don’t need to worry. Although the only noise I have now is DH snoring!!!

I unfortunately can’t advise you anymore than I have. I’d be looking into speaking with the council antisocial task force. Logging incidents with them. Worst come to worst report it to police. Collect incident numbers and report again to council. If this is affecting your life so badly then become and absolute pest to council. Make sure they can’t ignore you.

[CompletelyUnknown]

If he’s having a party, there’s music playing after 11 and you can hear it downstairs then by all means phone the police

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

After they've kept you up all night you reward them by pushing your vacuum cleaner right up to the skirting board, raise the beater bar (to protect your floor) and leave it switched on,.
The noise travels (as you;re aware)

[MummytoCSJH]

The same happened to me for about 6 months after I moved into my house and I reported it to the council who sent me a pack on mediation and suggested I write them a letter... I mentioned it to them politely the next time I saw them and although he didn't directly threaten me I felt nervous as he got a bit angry, it's just me (19) and my son in the house and three men live next door. I called 101 when one night they were shouting and woke my poorly son up swearing and arguing at about 1am. The police paid them a visit 'to check everything was okay' and I have heard much less since then.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

I'd also drill things but there's a time restriction on that.
Vacuum at 6am, you spilled something didn't you?

[WhatsWineGotToDoWithIt]

Thank you. I’m reluctant to go to the council in fear a complaint could effect a future house sale if it comes up as a dispute with neighbours. I am looking to move when possible, it’s just working out the logistics.

It’s effecting my quality of life because I dread coming home. They’ve had noisy parties, loud music, cars parked all on the verges/corners, noisy kids, swearing, fighting etc. I had s policeman knock on my door before asking if I’d heard any shouting and fighting from them as someone had called the police. I hadn’t that night but did say not tonight but it is usually them etc and the policeman gave me a knowing look. So obviously the neighbours around me know what they are like.

I can hear his bloody tv loud at the moment

[WhatsWineGotToDoWithIt]

I fear retaliation like that, although tempting, would lead to a tit for tat situation where if I started being noisy early they would be noisier at night because they are that type of people. They strike me as loving a bit of a fight tbh.

[Lostin3dspace]

OMG I swear you must live the other side of my neighbours

[Notcontent]

I really feel for your as I know how horrible it is when you have noisy neighbours like that. I am also in a terrace and can hear everything from next door in my bedroom. Mostly my neighbours are ok but I am very aware of trying to be quiet myself, and find myself always listening out for noise.

[NewDaddie]

Any noise at night time (11pm-7am) and above a certain level gets an automatic noise warning notice. Usually this is 34dBA which is about the noise level of a normal low conversation.

www.gov.uk/guidance/noise-nuisances-how-councils-deal-with-complaints#noise-at-night-warning-notices

[WhatsWineGotToDoWithIt]

It’s the listening out for noise that drives me the most crazy. If I stay at my partners flat when I don’t have my dd, I don’t take any notice of his neighbours noise - and neighbours do make noise occasionally. But when I am here I am listening out for it constantly and it’s making me stir crazy and anxious. I just want to move but it’s not quite possible yet and my dp isn’t quite there yet on being ready to live together.

[LastNightMyWifeHooveredMyHead]

Environmental Health deal with noise- the police will sympathesise, and refer you to EH. They won't take any action. (Advice based on neighbours from hell - we moved)

[WhatsWineGotToDoWithIt]

It’s really hard to describe how loud he is. I hear him cough clearly so loud talking/shouting/laughing and swearing is very loud considering he is next door, especially if there are several mates in there too.

[WhatsWineGotToDoWithIt]

My best advice to myself is move isn’t it! One day I might look back on this and think wow, wasn’t that all a nightmare!

Or I could win the lottery, move out and hire a noisy building firm to come in for a few months and do a lot of diy with drilling!

[Byllis]

I'm experiencing this problem. Noise is exactly the same type you describe - shouting and swearing in the night, groups of people, behaviour made worse by drug-taking - and that's prompted me as a long-time lurker to respond.

We have had great support from our council (anti-social behaviour dept, btw, not environmental as music playing is not the issue) so don't discount them. Yes, people can talk and make noise in their own home, but this level of disruption is not acceptable and we had very swift responses to complaints we've made. Our problem was not with a council tenant btw.

Please don't think you need to put up with it! We were concerned about making a report too, but if the problem is resolved (and we think ours will be) then that can be recorded when you fill out any forms when selling.

[Beeziekn33ze]

Can you get to know some of the other neighbours? If someone called the police you are not the only one who is affected by next door's lack of consideration.
A horrible situation for you.

[WhatsWineGotToDoWithIt]

That is good yours sounds like it’s being resolved! I guess I’m also a bit scared to go down official routes partly because I feel quite vulnerable here on my own with my dd. I know my elderly neighbours the other side but don’t know anyone else at all. I moved here in a rush to get away from the ex but didn’t think it all through properly and I’m a few miles away from my family and friends. I hate it here to be honest and the neighbours are making the situation worse.