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AIBU?

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Would this behaviour be enough to make you move house?

82 replies

LondonLass2026 · 22/09/2026 08:46

So we live in a new build estate. It is great here, very quiet. Houses for sale are sold within weeks. (I follow the estate agent listings)

.. Quiet, apart from my little row. We are mid-terrace. The guy on one side is rarely there. But the woman on the other side of us. Oh boy.

She lives with her teenage daughter and a dog which she is proud to have "never walked".

She doesn't work, is an alcoholic and former drug abuser. (she had told us) That would be her business BUT she is REALLY loud, and abusive when she drinks, which is nightly.

She has filled her house with Sonos speakers (neighbours to her other side said they helped her install them). So most nights she is screaming Taylor Swift songs and the music is like a nightclub. Deep, booming and bassy.

I WFH and when I'm on a call and she wakes up (so this is around 2pm daily) whoever I am talking to will say "woah, what was that?" as her music goes on as soon as she wakes.

The loudness is the worst thing but there's other stuff. When she is drunk she tends to text my partner absolute shit. She slags me off (no idea why, I'm always pleasant to her) and makes fun of us.

She is also spiteful and enjoys annoying people. She has it in her head that we "hate" her so she tries to "get to" us. She has literally told us this. "you two are so easy to wind up!" when we show zero reaction.

This morning, 7am, she and her daughter started screaming. Yep, just quite literally, screamed. Followed by wild laughing. Then more screaming. Then their dog started barking. I am SO glad I was already up.

It's been 5 years of this and I don't want to report it because, rightly or wrongly, we'd need to declare it and no one would ever buy this house.

As I type, I sit here with the windows all shut because of the constant noise, making summers here fun. Yes she is one of those "sits out on the decking, music blaring" unapologetic types.

The constant noise is bad enough, but the paranoia she displays is relatively new. Thinking we hate her so she's going to "get revenge". It's a little scary.

Would this be enough to make other people move house?

OP posts:
CeramicRoses · 23/09/2026 16:21

I think the notion that you’ll report it and something will be done is very optimistic. If something IS done, it can take a very, very long time and there’s absolutely no saying things will go your way. Everything noise wise needs to be witnessed by an independent person from the council. This may or may not be tricky. The bar for what constitutes noise nuisance is very, very high. It seems to be set for huge parties with massive speakers in parks. I speak from horrible experience when I say that you think you’ll be protected when faced with massive noise nuisance and verbal abuse from a neighbour, but you’re not. The law is a disaster in this area. I’d say nothing and move. Maybe the neighbours on the other side did complain and that’s why their house is still sitting there. Do due diligence on any property you might buy- walk by at different times of day. Knock on immediate neighbours doors and say a polite hello, say you’re thinking of buying next door and do they like the neighbourhood, any problems etc… Good luck, you have my every sympathy, there should be incredibly high penalties for people who ruin other peoples’ peace, but there aren’t.

LethargeMarg · 23/09/2026 16:37

i am in a slightly similar position, alcoholic / drug addict neighbour. Nice street, nice village, just really bad luck. She has always been a bit of a wreck but is getting noisier and more annoying with every year. We don’t have music but i’ve avoided sitting in the back garden all
summer as if she hears someone she starts making stupid noises, singing, growling etc …Shes basically lonely and losing rhe plot but a nuisance as a neighbour.
I feel very trapped as shes notorious in the village, has a lot of police involvement, would not be bothered by council or environmental health and owns her house so doubt they would turf her out. I don’t see how we would sell without a huge loss and i thibk shes weird enough that we could be in trouble if we didn’t declare it …will sometimes stand outside screaming etc
it drives me mad but shes such a state i do wonder if circumstances may change - there are other things which could identify her which could change things
You have my sympathy op it’s a nightmare and very unfair but i would feel too guilty not telling a prospective buyer . (when we bought the seller didnt tell us they had a long running dispute with her, I had no idea till recently that i could have sued them for this)

Tumbler777 · 23/09/2026 16:47

Are you sure she owns it? She could be lying so you won’t contact owner. .. land registry will have details

WherestheTrombolese · 23/09/2026 17:27

Absolutely, we moved 6 months after our NDN moved in and cemented 20 gnomes to our adjoining wall!

Realworld10 · 23/09/2026 18:08

What a vile person and the poor dog. Unfortunately these type of selfish, rude and life ruining people exist, so unfair 😑 I'm surprised her daughter hasn't had social workers involved, well may likely have.

I've known neighbours like this, don't work, sleep all day, drink and take drugs into the early hours, no respect for anyone else or their own kids' structure.

You're right, if you put a formal complaint in it will show in your selling information.

peramo · 23/09/2026 18:17

She could be driving whilst drunk. Report that.
Have you spoken with the daughter, she might (you'd never know) appreciate some help/advice. She must be out of the house at the worst times of the mother's noisy hours otherwise I'd say she is going through hell also. Is the daughter of "normal behaviour"?

Awful situation. I really don't know how to support or advise you much TBH. But if nothing else works, then sell up and go.

MimiGC · 24/09/2026 16:54

ErlingHaalandsManBun · 23/09/2026 14:03

I agree with a PP.

If you sell then you may have to be sneaky/private about it.

No for sale signs, and arrange viewings when you know she is asleep or not there and hope someone offers.

If there is no for sale sign outside, its highly unlikely she will know you are trying to sell it and won't be able to scupper any viewings.

Tell no-one else you are selling, not even other neighbours. Be discreet.

Hopefully the sale will go through without her even knowing you are moving.

But yes, this would be enough to make me want to move.

It’s not just For Sale signs though. The house opposite me is for sale and the estate agent often shows prospective buyers around. He arrives in a car with the estate agent branding all over it, so you’d have to explicitly ask for that not to happen.

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