Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Hell is a terraced house with a hot tub, bar and outdoor tv.

337 replies

SorbetSarnie · 20/06/2025 23:59

Or more accurately, hell is what I'm going through living next door to this abominable set up.

Family from hell moved in not that long ago. Drunken pot smoking father who attended a house party in the mid 90's and apparently never left, a wife who to be fair seems like she's lost the will to live or smile, and an assortment of teenagers who like to invite all their mates round and shout about dildos and cumming in people's eyes.

The garden has slowly morphed into something resembling a butlins, which is fairly impressive as we all only have narrow postage stamp gardens. It started with a hot tub, progressed to an outdoor bar, and has culminated this weekend in some sort of wooden shack thing made of fences with a tin roof, housing an outdoor television.

The second the sun comes out it is thumping tunes ALL day, which to be fair sometimes gets turned down a little at 11 pm. Unfortunately tonight it has now been replaced by some shitty action movie being loudly played in the garden, as the family members converse in their usual dulcet yells. Must have affected their hearing with all that drum and bass.

Yes, we have tried talking to them. The father seemed to indicate through grunts that he had understood my attempt at communication with a primitive life form, however we were then treated to angle grinding in the street regularly for a few nights, as he loudly complained about the 'stuck up bitch next door' and proclaimed that I'd be 'having that'.

No, I currently can't move. I'm working on it but realistically not going to be any time soon. I'd imagine the house would be a hard sell at the moment too, most prospective owners would run a mile.

I guess I just wanted to rant, I'm so tired. I've actually found myself on the brink of tears a few times tonight, mainly from frustration. They went away last week and it was wonderful. The entire estate was practically silent, just the usual buzz of every day life going on made me really appreciate just what loud obnoxious bastards they are.

OP posts:
Sunshineandrainbow · 21/06/2025 09:21

Good on the neighbours up with power tools etc.

I feel for you and if you look on your council asb page it might have advice, sorry if you have done this. Definitely keep a diary it will hopefully help. I hope they bugger off quickly

SweetnsourNZ · 21/06/2025 09:20

TheGreyMember · 21/06/2025 00:26

Get a radio in the garden to play Classic FM loudly on maximum volume every time they disturb you. I have a feeling they really, really won't like that. Maybe some lift music? Or even better, put some porn sounds on. No doubt the neighbours will all think it's them and complain.

Apparently Barry Manilow works in dispensing teenagers. May work for these clowns too.

Steakbreake · 21/06/2025 09:20

ScouserInExile · 21/06/2025 09:10

Why is stuff like this becoming the norm? It's just antisocial. It shouldn't be acceptable where there are close neighbours.

It's just so depressing 😞

Can you imagine the insect bites though

Steakbreake · 21/06/2025 09:18

I had neighbours who stayed up late making noise/letting their kids make noise.
The key is to wake up really early and disturb their sleep let your kid kick a ball against the fence at 6am.

Different houses have different schedules and if they can't respect yours don't respect theirs

NotVanHelsing · 21/06/2025 09:16

You can also look at zoopla etc and put your street in. Then tick show let or let agreedand it might pop out which agent handled it. They would be able to contact landlord usually ven if they don't manage it

DrBlackbird · 21/06/2025 09:15

Everintroverte · 21/06/2025 08:40

I feel for you OP. Living next door to people like this is horrendous and has a huge impact on mental health. I had an awful experience about 17 / 18 years ago when I bought my first house. At first it was lovely, after about a year the neighbour transferred it over to her daughter who moved in with her scummy boyfriend. From almost straight away we had issues, thumping music, loud fights, a poor dog that was never walked so barked all day, rubbish thrown over the fence and much more. I complained to her mum one day that the dog barked constantly and would throw itself at the fence if we went outside so my daughter was now too scared to go in the garden which prompted the boyfriend to then sit and bark in the house, outside my windows and he would also bark at me if he saw me in the street. The rubbish over the fence then also included dog poo, and they would pile stuff up on our car. The music continued and they would shout all sorts to me in their lounge so I could hear it through the walls.
Was so happy when I moved out!

He barked at you? Oh my god. Some people are truly insane. My beloved neighbour to our semi detached is selling and I am dreading it. These stories are adding to the worry!

Plantladylover · 21/06/2025 09:14

God, I feel for you.

Maybe once they get their electricity bill and realise just how much the hot tub costs to run they might stop it. plus the hot weather is bound to end v soon so fingers crossed

Sillybillypoopoomummy · 21/06/2025 09:13

get a universal remote and turn off their TV

Theseventhmagpie · 21/06/2025 09:13

SorbetSarnie · 21/06/2025 08:54

I will seriously consider this and may add some sort of thorny plant, I have already had the teenagers vaulting into and out of the garden to retrieve lost footballs.

Last night the neighbours ended up having a heated argument with someone else further down the street. Father of the year was promising he had no qualms about hitting an old man though thankfully it all went quiet around 2 am.

There is some hope that the rest of the neighbours are starting to rebel too. This morning there has been two sets of power tools going off from 7am and I've heard neighbours talking loudly who have been quiet for years! That is unusual, this estate is usually more of a 'say hello occasionally and then politely ignore the other exists.'

Their house is privately rented, but I'd have no idea how to find out who the landlord is as it's been a rental since we moved in 8 years ago.

And unfortunately I own this house.

It’s really easy and cheap to find out who owns it via the land registry. A search will cost a few pounds.
It’s much better news for you OP that they rent rather than own. Their behaviour will be classed as anti social behaviour under the terms of their lease which gives the landlord grounds to evict them.
once you know who owns the property write a letter to them and send by recorded delivery setting out everything you have had to put up with. Try and enlist support from your other neighbours who are also suffering.
If you get no response then I’m afraid you need to take this to a solicitor.
Very best of luck OP!

Easipeelerie · 21/06/2025 09:11

I think you need to be strategic. In the long term you possibly need to move out.
In the shorter term, you need to use appropriate means to try to control this: find out who they rent from and provide at least a 2 week dirty of behaviour. Contact the council and do the same.
There will be a way to find the landlord, you just need to find it.

ScouserInExile · 21/06/2025 09:10

OvernightBloats · 21/06/2025 09:07

Saw this in Aldi magazine for next week

ALDI UK - Week 26 Digital Leaflet - Page 20-21

So there might be many more people having outdoor TVs soon 😕

Why is stuff like this becoming the norm? It's just antisocial. It shouldn't be acceptable where there are close neighbours.

It's just so depressing 😞

Confrontayshunme · 21/06/2025 09:10

The only way to get them to stop without it affecting a house move (complaint to council) is fighting fire with fire. Any time the TV is on, you put a Bluetooth speaker outside loudly playing something that will make their film impossible to watch. If they have a football match on, you play a different football match on catch up so the cheering and commentary is off. Run a sprinkler near their fence.

NotVanHelsing · 21/06/2025 09:10

My neighbours once got fed up of another playing hitty music in the garden all day on loud and battled it with opera on full, second one with 00's disco😂
I did wonder if I could win it by joining and blasting central european brass band.

It worked. The offending neighbour got the hint

OvernightBloats · 21/06/2025 09:07

Saw this in Aldi magazine for next week

ALDI UK - Week 26 Digital Leaflet - Page 20-21

So there might be many more people having outdoor TVs soon 😕

Barneysmomma · 21/06/2025 09:07

If you're in Wales you can find the landlord or agent through Rent Smart as all rental properties have to registered by law (although I know some aren't). Or for £7 you can get a copy of the property deeds via the gov.uk website (land registry).
Good luck - I feel your pain having had many issues with our deeply unpleasant neighbour although at least they haven't a hot tub (yet!). God forbid they do.

Sasha07 · 21/06/2025 09:05

Unfortunately, I have a similar sort except it's younger kids screaming and shouting all day, the mum screaming and shouting all day, the dad shouting when he's in, music constantly as they have a roof over their hot tub now. Atleast when they have people around, they're nicer to the kids.

A neighbour complained about something once, so they gave their kids a microphone to shout up and down the street on, before having karaoke on the backs. Unfortunately they own the house so I have absolutely no idea if anything can be done. On the rare occasion they go away, the road is silent except bird song. I absolutely despise them, as do the rest.Terrace houses should come with a clause against antisocial behaviour, you can't escape invasive sounds at all.

Tulipvase · 21/06/2025 09:04

It being a rental is prob better news. I would be calling all the local estate agents to see if I could find out who manages it. Or possibly ask their advice as to how you could find out.

snowmichael · 21/06/2025 09:04

shuggles · 21/06/2025 00:50

Why did the mother select her husband to begin with?

Maybe she was stoned at the same houseparty she met him?

MightyDandelionEsq · 21/06/2025 09:03

If you can find out the letting agent, you can complain through them. Usually letting agents manage the property for a landlord.

ScouserInExile · 21/06/2025 09:03

We planted trees along the boundary @SorbetSarnie Cherry, birch and cotoneaster and they've grown quite quickly!

We only found out after our neighbours from hell moved on, that the entire street had loathed them and tried to make them feel unwelcome. So yes, it's definitely worth mentioning to your other neighbours. The more support you have, the better.

Good luck!

CanOfMangoTango · 21/06/2025 09:02

Get talking to your neighbours OP. Sounds like everyone is sick of them.

Some good ideas from PP
Stinky comfrey tea
Universal remote to mess with the TV
A mosquito to repel the teens
Mozart to repel the adults
Thorny plants to block the view

You can probably implement most of those with plausible deniability.

How long have they been in the house? You may find that old to let ads are still on the Internet somewhere so it might be worth searching to see if you can find out who the letting agent/ landlord is.

Best of luck.

ToothlessRoadDawg · 21/06/2025 09:01

Going against the grain, retaliating by doing loud stuff in the morning to get back at them won’t work and you’ll feel even more like crap by indulging in behaviour that’s not natural to you. It will consume you even more. To those saying that renters are transient and don’t have investment into the area, that’s just wrong as plenty renters do and want the same nice neighborhoods as you. Often they end up moving due to circumstances beyond their control.

Locutus2000 · 21/06/2025 09:00

EvangelicalAboutButteredToast · 21/06/2025 07:06

The reason people assume antisocial neighbours might be renters or social housing is because usually when you own you don’t want to risk falling out with people, the police being called etc as you are meant to write that down on the forms when you sell and that might put people off buying. Also normally when you buy you are trying to assimilate into a community and put down some roots and again it’s nice to actually have some people around you that like you.

Not always true of course but often renters see the property as temporary so they might be less bothered on local opinion and HA tenants often think they are untouchable as it seems very very difficult to really act on antisocial behaviour. I’m assuming it’s around the laws of evicting people but if you think you are untouchable you are more inclined to do what the hell you like.

Not always true of course but often renters see the property as temporary so they might be less bothered on local opinion and HA tenants often think they are untouchable as it seems very very difficult to really act on antisocial behaviour. I’m assuming it’s around the laws of evicting people but if you think you are untouchable you are more inclined to do what the hell you like.

Sorry, but you are making some massive assumptions here and the snobbery is quite unpleasant.

The easiest people to deal with are social tenants who are in their home for life and care about it just as much as someone who 'owns'. The Housing Association has rules to follow and will intervene if informed.

They certainly don't think they are 'untouchable', how dare you.

ShillyShallySherbet · 21/06/2025 08:59

That’s promising that they’re renting so hopefully you’re not stuck with them forever. Hang in there OP as I’m sure the other neighbours will be feeling the same as you and together you can have an impact. There must be some way you can find out who the landlord is and complain. Report to the council? This sounds so awful, why are some people so inconsiderate.

Braygirlnow · 21/06/2025 08:58

50Balesofgrey · 21/06/2025 00:05

Could you get together enough money to employ a hitman?

This 🤯