What's the earliest you can politely ask neighbours to keep it down?

[BrooHaHa]

So, next door is having some sort of party. They have guests and are playing really loud music, shouting and making whoop noises. We're in detached properties but it's still really loud from my toddler's bedroom. If it stops her getting to sleep, would I be unreasonable to politely ask that they please lower the volume, whilst acknowledging that they are within their rights not to do so? What's the earliest time you think it'd be reasonable to make the request?

And yes, I know they shouldn't be having a party during lockdown and no they're not social distancing, but I'd rather not start an argument with the neighbours by pointing that out.

If it’s a one off, I’d leave it until more like 10pm/11pm. Any earlier and they won’t take you seriously.

I think your best bet would to be to report them anonymously and get it stopped to be honest.

If we weren't in lockdown, and it was a Saturday night or something, I wouldn't ask them to turn it down until 11 or 12. As it stands it's kind of a non work day tomorrow for a lot of people but obviously a party right now is an issue on the social distancing front.

You never know, someone else might report them for it first!

They are blatantly ignoring lockdown, so ring 101 and report them.

Hmm. What if I go outside and clap at their incredibly loud (and awful) karaoke? Literally, you can hear every word from anywhere within my house. Surely there's a point at which noise is too loud whatever time of day?

Just report them to the police, if they are breaking the law anyway I doubt they’ll do as you ask anyway. Hopefully it’s a one off!

If they’re keeping your child awake, go and speak to them now. I can’t believe people are so selfish that they think their party is more important than the wellbeing of neighbours.

You can't complain about noise at 7pm just because it's your toddlers bedtime.

Depends on your relationship with them and what kind of relationship you want with them in the future.
I personally wouldn't want to annoy my neighbours by asking them to turn down the music at 7pm. We put white noise on in the kids room and it's fine.

Your local police website might have a form to fill in to report a lockdown breach, I have done this a few days ago and the police attended fairly quickly. It will solve the issue of noise as well as stopping them breaking the lockdown rules, why should they get to have fun when almost everyone else is having a rubbish time missing family/friends

I would report to 101.

I have the same problem, my very loud neighbours (it's a big house share of young professionals so not breaking social distancing, but happens much more often because of the lockdown) right above my toddlers bedroom right now stopping him sleeping. Unfortunately I don't think I can do much about it at 8pm!

Why do people put kids to bed so early? Yes, it's too early to ask them to keep it down at 7pm.

In answer to your question, I'd use pub closing times as a guide, so around 11pm but a little later on a Friday and Saturday

Why do people put kids to bed so early?

Many kids need 11-12 hour stretch of sleep. Working backwards from an average wake up time of 7am.

Why do people put kids to bed so early?

Because children that age need 11-12 hours sleep (NHS guidelines) and putting them to bed later does not automatically mean they sleep later?

No need to be passive aggressive just report them to the police then as far as the neighbour are concerned you've had no involvement.

Report them. Don't get involved directly.

Why do people put kids to bed so early?

Because she gets up at 5 regardless of when she goes to bed, sadly. So I put her to bed at a time that prevents her getting overtired, having experimented with this many times over the months.

I feel your pain @coffeeforone

Well, that's the thing @blue25, I was raised to be mindful of neighbours with small kids- we were told no shouting after six when the neighbours had small kids in bed. TBH I'm not sure there's much of a reason for adults to shout at any time. And you can do karaoke perfectly well at less-than-screaming volume (if anything, reducing the volume tends to increase the quality of the performance).

But I guess you're all right. I'll leave it until ten.

No need to be passive aggressive just report them to the police then as far as the neighbour are concerned you've had no involvement.

Don't you need to give police your details to do that though?

If they weren't making so much noise, I wouldn't bother, but because they're breaking lockdown rules and making such a racket I wouldn't hesitate to call 101. Police are generally quieter at the moment and they're taking lockdown seriously so reckon they'd be out reasonably soon.

I'd generally say 9pm in the week, 10/11pm on weekends?

Bit shit to have to listen to karaoke from someone's garden, but if it's a one off I'd let it go.

@peppermint my kids both go to bed before 7pm!

Report them. I would 100%

I would also report, its stuff like this that will make the lockdown last longer for all of us.

And as for why people put kids to early...well for one they need 11-12 hours sleep and also come 7pm Im done in so like them asleep so I can have some time to myself (she says as she stands outside the 6 year old's room at nearly 9pm as he is too scared to sleep apparently).