Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Am I unreasonable to be upset by my neighbour's outside toilet noise?

106 replies

RockinRobyn98 · 22/08/2026 16:38

I’m wondering if I’m being unreasonable about this because it’s starting to make me feel really uncomfortable in my own home it been a happening for years but last couple weeks got so much worse.

My neighbour has an outside toilet in his garden which is very close to our house as we both had passageway yards he also has a toilet upstairs in his house which I’ll mention again later.
He seems to use the outside toilet constantly throughout the day, sometimes literally every hour. The problem is that the toilet door is often left open while he’s using it, so we can hear everything.

He will be in there from as early as 6:30/7am making very loud noises, burping, farting, spitting/coughing etc anll throughout the day we once counted 27 times in a day of him making what I can only guess is belching noises? It’s like a very loud and deep “OI” we are guessing it’s a type of belch but who knows you hear him doing it all day and he seems to spend a lot of time out there with the door open to 💩 . It’s particularly bad first thing in the morning and has woke me up all this week I’ve had off work.

I’m finding the noise really unpleasant and sometimes they make me feel physically sick especially now I’m pregnant. I know he is obviously entitled to use his own toilet, but surely leaving the door open and making very loud bodily noises when it’s right next to neighbouring houses isn’t particularly considerate? I sat in the bath last night relaxing to his farts.. he does have a toilet upstairs and once in a conversation with him he mentioned how he sleeps in the living room as he can’t make it up the stairs (he’s late 60s) but I’ve often seen his upstairs lights come on so don’t believe this to be fully true.

It’s getting to the point where I dread hearing him go out there because I know what’s coming!
Would this bother you or am I being unreasonable? And is there anything I can actually do about it if it continues?

OP posts:
beaglescurleduplikebagels · 23/08/2026 15:59

7238SM · 23/08/2026 15:54

I image its something like these pics in its own, separate little shed building.

They're not always separate - FIL's is attached to the house but it just has its' own separate entrance from the garden - you can't access it from the house.

7238SM · 23/08/2026 15:54

TwoBagsOfCompost · 23/08/2026 11:34

What’s the difference between an outside toilet and a WC extension? I know I missed the point of the thread.

I image its something like these pics in its own, separate little shed building.

Am I unreasonable to be upset by my neighbour's outside toilet noise?
Am I unreasonable to be upset by my neighbour's outside toilet noise?
SewYellowLikeButter · 23/08/2026 15:52

Nincompoo · 22/08/2026 20:19

Why wouldn’t an outside toilet meet environmental health standards?

It’s not guaranteed it wouldn’t but it MIGHT not and then he’d have to get rid.

An outdoor toilet doesn’t meet standards if it leaks waste, pollutes soil or water, creates odour, attracts pests, lacks proper drainage, or isn’t built to British Standards. Environmental Health can act when any of these create a statutory nuisance or a public health hazard.

If the toilet produces smells detectable beyond the boundary, it can count as odour pollution under the UK Odour Management Guidance 2025.

Environmental Health also expects toilets to be:
• Clean
• Ventilated
• Waterproof
• Safe
• Able to be properly washed down

HSE requires toilets to have:
• Running water
• Soap
• Hand‑drying
• Adequate ventilation

Environmental Health investigates when an outdoor toilet causes:

• Smells affecting neighbours
• Leakage or runoff
• Health risks
• Pest problems
• Pollution of drains, soil or water

If confirmed, they can issue an abatement notice requiring the toilet to be fixed or removed.

beaglescurleduplikebagels · 23/08/2026 15:52

Spooll · 23/08/2026 15:50

He does have indoor plumbing too.

Lots of people have kept the outdoor loo as well. They're useful if you have children or spend a lot of time in the garden/are often doing dirty work in the garden.

It sounds like his health is failing meaning both he needs the loo more frequently and he needs to use one downstairs. Probably he doesn't realise how much you can hear, but I doubt I'd be brave enought to point it out.

Exactly. FIL uses his because it's easier for him than climbing the stairs every time he needs the bathroom. Plus he does a lot of gardening/outdoor work so it means he's not getting mud in the house unnecessarily.

Spooll · 23/08/2026 15:50

LaurieFairyCake · 22/08/2026 16:58

Have you time travelled?

The last time I used an outside loo was about 40 years ago 😬

I know you live in Norfolk but surely indoor plumbing has reached the provinces ? 😂

He does have indoor plumbing too.

Lots of people have kept the outdoor loo as well. They're useful if you have children or spend a lot of time in the garden/are often doing dirty work in the garden.

It sounds like his health is failing meaning both he needs the loo more frequently and he needs to use one downstairs. Probably he doesn't realise how much you can hear, but I doubt I'd be brave enought to point it out.

Secretseverywhere · 23/08/2026 15:50

It does sound awful. I would personally install the loudest water feature I could find and drown it out. tall ones with multiple drops generate the most noise.

GaaNeen · 23/08/2026 15:49

Like this pic :

beaglescurleduplikebagels · 23/08/2026 15:47

TwoBagsOfCompost · 23/08/2026 11:34

What’s the difference between an outside toilet and a WC extension? I know I missed the point of the thread.

An outside toilet only has one entrance via the garden - you can't access it from the house.

beaglescurleduplikebagels · 23/08/2026 15:47

ElsiePiddockSkipsinherSleep · 23/08/2026 14:49

I didn’t know outside lavatories were still a thing. I thought they were from the 50s and prior.

Well, now you know they are still a thing.

FIL has one. House was built in the 1930's and they do have a proper bathroom upstairs, but the outside toilet is still in use everyday.

Mycatisreal · 23/08/2026 15:42

Just shout “can you shut the door please!”

TimeToStopLurking · 23/08/2026 15:35

I'm genuinely surprised about how aghast people are about the existence of outside loos. Especially as OP has clearly said this is a second toilet. Plenty of houses still have them. My relatives have only very recently knocked through to theirs and changed access from inside the house.

No advice other than to ask him bluntly to shut the door.

My own dad seems to have an inability to close the toilet door, and it's getting worse with age. I'm guessing the guy has no idea anyone can hear him as he's home alone, or it doesn't bother him.

ElsiePiddockSkipsinherSleep · 23/08/2026 14:49

I didn’t know outside lavatories were still a thing. I thought they were from the 50s and prior.

Imisscoffee2021 · 23/08/2026 14:46

RockinRobyn98 · 22/08/2026 19:54

Oh dear get off your high horse! No one is laughing about farts because we are not children - it’s more asking how I have to listen to someone having a shit every single day and spitting,gagging and belching am I being unreasonable for not wanting to hear it especially while pregnant it’s making me feel quite sick.

I have to admit, I'm laughing alot at your descriptions 😆 especially the OIIIIIII haha.

It's vile and gross though and you shouldn't have to hear it, you do need to risk an awkward interaction I'm afraid and say shut the door we can hear every bowel movement.

GaaNeen · 23/08/2026 14:39

Evaka · 23/08/2026 11:36

Omg arse musician. Superb!

Arse musician 🤣
but OP’s guy is a belcher and a farter -
he’s a one man band !!

thepariscrimefiles · 23/08/2026 11:43

ThatWaryOchreJoker · 23/08/2026 01:28

I really feel for you but I also really feel for him, because of the indignities of old age. I would speak to him, but kindly. If he has bladder and bowel issues as well as mobility issues, that's pretty miserable for him, and he doesn't need to be humiliated, as some PP have suggested. Hopefully he can reduce the volume. He can definitely shut the door.

He's late sixties, so not that old at all. People are still working in their sixties.

Even if he does have a medical condition which causes bladder and bowel issues, he could make sure that the toilet door is closed. It sounds performative to me.

Evaka · 23/08/2026 11:36

AddictedToBooks · 22/08/2026 18:10

Until I read where you live, I honestly wondered if you were my elderly dad's neighbour!
My dad has to use his outdoor toilet as he can't get upstairs to the bathroom due to his mobility and his medications increase his wind - I get you, it sounds bloody disgusting and I really hate it when my dad burps but he has bad acid reflux.
Unfortunately he tends to fart loudly when he needs the toilet too - I used to think he was doing it on purpose but as I've got older and am on certain medications, I too have become a Arse Musician (although I do TRY to do it in private as it's actually really embarrassing but I know that there are times where my neighbours have heard and it's genuinely not deliberate and I do get really embarrassed about it and have tried allsorts to prevent it).

Jokes aside though, your neighbour probably has no idea how much you can hear or how it makes you feel.
Does he live alone? If so, he may well not realise just how loud and grim his noises are.
If not, could you have a quiet word with whoever he lives with or his carer if you don't want to go directly to him.

I do feel for you, as it's not nice to hear, especially when it's all of the time.

Omg arse musician. Superb!

TwoBagsOfCompost · 23/08/2026 11:34

What’s the difference between an outside toilet and a WC extension? I know I missed the point of the thread.

Mycatisreal · 23/08/2026 11:18

MimiGC · 22/08/2026 22:50

My next door neighbour’s grandson (only in his 20s) constantly does this vile, hoicking up phlegm noise, plus gobbing and spitting. It’s absolutely disgusting. He does it in the garden, going into and out of the house and when I’m in my garden, I’ve even heard him do it from inside the house. He does it in front of his whole family and no one says anything to him, which amazes me. I have a son the same age and there is no way I would EVER tolerate that behaviour.

Oh I know. We have a fella of about 30 who is constantly clearing his throat as he exits the house. It’s not a cough it’s more like “aaack aaack aaaaaaaack” like trying to cough up a fish bone. This has been going on for years. Why hasn’t he seen a doctor!

chirrupybird · 23/08/2026 09:31

Our house had an outside toilet (70s) but no inside toilet, there was just a bath and basin upstairs. Having to go on a dark winter's night was no fun and the high level cistern would freeze so you would have to climb up to put hot water in it, those were the days.

chirrupybird · 23/08/2026 09:22

Get your 9 year old to shout, 'he's in the toilet again making horrible noises'.

OriginalSkang · 23/08/2026 09:20

There are houses in the street next to me (built in the late 1950s) with outdoor toilets. Its not that crazy

Caramac045 · 23/08/2026 09:16

I think his noisiness is probably due to health conditions and medications.
I am also wondering if he has no light in the outside toilet and if so I’d be tempted to buy him a battery light.
He might not want to be trapped in the loo with the stench and echo of farts etc though.
You need to tell him - Fred you really need to shut the door when you’re in the loo. It’s really unpleasant to hear. Maybe your meds need adjusting.

UniquePinkSwan · 23/08/2026 09:13

DooDallyHallie · 23/08/2026 08:55

No posting history.
Unbelievable story
About defaecation
Saturday night

Wise up guys!

Don’t see what’s unbelievable about it. There are a lot of houses near me still with outside toilets. Ex colliery ones. I can definitely believe it

rwalker · 23/08/2026 09:12

Shutting the door isn’t going to make a great deal of difference

RockinRobyn98 · 23/08/2026 09:03

DooDallyHallie · 23/08/2026 08:55

No posting history.
Unbelievable story
About defaecation
Saturday night

Wise up guys!

I’m sorry what? I havnt posted before because this is my Friday time using mumsnet. I’ve seen it on Facebook asking for advice so thought I’d try? It’s not an unbelievable story at all because it’s happening how is my neighbour using outdoor toilet unbelievable?… but if you think people have that much time on their hands to make stuff like this up for what?:. Entertainment?.. bless you x

OP posts: