We moved to our dream house just before Christmas and in an attempt to be friendly, we popped a note through the neighbours' doors introducing ourselves and inviting them to pop round to say hello. One lady was round within half an hour of our invite, and at the time I wasn't sure how I felt about her, but kept the tone friendly and polite. Her leaving words to us were concerning though: 'you're going to hate us in the summer as my boys like to work on their cars in the evening..." we weren't sure what she meant exactly, but smiled and said we were sure it wouldn't be a problem.
How wrong were we.... It turns out her boys are in their 40s and come round most evenings after work to work on their cars which they then take out for drag car racing. Most evenings they are out there banging, drilling and sanding for a good hour, and the noise is unbearable. One of the things that attracted us to the house was the garden, but we can't be out there in the evenings as its too noisy. Tonight I braved it and went and spoke to them, and they looked at me as if I were a complete idiot and didn't understand how important it was that they get the cars ready for the race each week. No sense of how it might be affecting us, despite the fact I said we were trying to have a family meal at the time.
I feel so upset - we can't enjoy our lovely new house and garden - and have been duped by the people who sold us the house, who apparently moved to escape the noise that happens every summer. The neighbours on the other side think there is a noise abatement order against them, but I'm not sure how to find this out, and what difference this makes. I don't think they're breaking the law, as they generally stop around 8.30/9.00pm.
I just don't know what to do, and if we have any legal rights to peace and quiet during the early evening time. So I'm just wondering if anyone has any advice for me?