neighbour noise on hols?

[VanessaBellsDressingGown]

I am in a semi rural area visiting an old relative who hasn’t enough space to put me up, so I have booked 2 weeks in a local cottage. Today is the end of my first week. It is a lovely, generally quiet place consisting of four terraced houses.

I have been mindful of my own noise and take care not to disturb anyone close by. Unfortunately the adjoining property has been a bit of a racket, which made me think they were undergoing construction on the first day here.

But it would seem I was wrong. The walls are quite thick (double brick to most of downstairs) so am surprised at how much is coming through. It sounds like everything door in the property is slammed or as if heavy bowling skittles are being rammed into the walls. Sadly this doesn’t stop at night, it can go on until 3am and resume at 6am.
Since arriving I have been woken several times through the night and the sleep loss has severely impaired my functioning - and I am a heavy sleeper! Some of the disturbance involves fairly explosive impact noise, or heavy ‘stuff’ being dragged against the party walls. It is too invasive to sleep through. I am sure no one goes to bed in there..

I am considering leaving early, telling the owner of my house in an email rather than leaving a bad review since it is not remotely their fault and the house i am staying in is lovely. It may be useful for them to know in case other guests have complained. I don’t stand any legal chance of compensation so am going to lose a good bit of money. I don’t know what else to do as this is pretty bad sleep loss each night, and I wish to go home just to catch up on some.

Can anyone relate to this? it isn’t something I’ve experienced before so a bit out of my depth. It feels dreadful to waste a week’s payment but not sure how I could mitigate or avoid the effects. A fan/white noise would NOT help one iota, the disturbance is just too invasive and loud ☹️

Speak to the neighbour and ask what is happening and whether the noise can be kept down at night?

Sounds like some kind of machinery may be used?

Unless you knock and ask you won't know if the noise can be reduced.

Why would you not knock?

I don’t feel that I have a right to do this as a guest, which may sound soft on my part, but the sounds are so bizarre as to seem almost deliberate - although I strongly doubt it is. Surely anyone pummelling cupboards and doors at 4am must know…
there are no children there, just two adults.

There is no machinery, just excessive banging, such as stuff rammed against walls, kitchen drawers being slammed and stuff being stopped extensively. It sounds like being next door to that house with the Duchess in Alice in Wonderland where someone is throwing stuff around at random. No joke!

on my first night I thought I had been dreaming as was woken 3 times by sounds that made me think someone was breaking in . I have no idea when they sleep.

I wonder if these people have been disturbed by other holiday renters in the past and this is their rather childish way of getting revenge. Lots of people would leave negative reviews which might make it hard to rent out in future.

This did enter my head but it sounds too extreme. I do think having holiday lets next to residential homes is a bit off, personally, and is exactly why I’ve been like a church mouse.

I looked up the properties here and that one was sold 2 yrs ago, they would have known prior to purchasing i presumed? Not too well up on that front though.

One reason I do not wish to call there to complain - I do believe this is the business of the owner and his neighbours only. It would feel really inappropriate as a holiday guest to knock and complain to a full term resident .

I would just contact the holiday let owner. We were in an Air BnB last week with a noise situation and I just asked the owner to deal with it as it was ruining our stay. They have the relationship with the neighbour so you need to tell them. Not everyone will be as nice as you so it is better to let them know and ask them what they are able to do about it. And it may save your second week! If not, you've lost nothing more than you were going to lose anyway.

Thanks, I am going to do this. I am sure they would appreciate it as opposed to a bad review or unpleasant guest book addition, and of course it isnt their fault.
all the online and guest book reviews are extremely flattering, it makes me feel a bit insane, but there it is.

noise kicked off again now, so loud as to feel like stuff being slammed into wall. This is every hour, randomly, over a 24 hour period. It is too random to be DIY.
if I could try to describe the latest series of sounds it could be likened to a huge mallet slapping the walls, with Renton skittles being smashed at intervals Surely they must know.

Random skittles! No idea what a Renton skittle is!

👻

I just meant, try to get them to sort it so you don't have to leave rather than just writing to them as you leave - sorry if I've misunderstood the first post. Good luck. It's really annoying when you're paying for something you can't use. We had exactly the same - amazing reviews from everyone else - but a bonkers level of noise. The owner did manage to sort it out and said it hadn't happened before so you never know! As you're so quiet maybe they think the property is empty this week?

Could it be gym equipment/exercise machinery?
Whatever it is, it sounds like it shouldn't be happening 24/7.
Speak to the owner.

It isnt equipment, more like random and sudden crashes, slamming, sounds of tearing through draws and cupboards, almost farcical it’s that loud.
I put ear to wall last night and it reminded me of someone emptying a draw of heavy wooden rolling pins and scattering them violently against the wall.
It will be quiet for 30 mins then start again. Most sounds are like heavy wooden objects or fittings being excessively slammed about. Some of these ‘explosions’ make me jump, they’re quite shocking.

my only issue is at night. I don’t care in waking hours.
for example, last night it began at 10pm, then again at midnight, 2am, 4am and finally got me out of bed at 7.30 ……it is still going on now, so whoever it is does not leave for work. It is an all day thing.

when do these people sleep?????

I am considering going home for 2 nights to get some Kip, and emailing the owner, with a view to resume. I am so desperate for sleep.
I am working from my laptop here and cant concentrate and am making mistakes

You can speak to the person you are renting from before you exit.

I would bank on it being neighbors fed up with living next door to a holiday let though. Just because you are being considerate doesn’t mean most guests aren’t awful.

We have just had a week away rural Scotland.. Emailed the booking site to complain about a barking ddog all times of day and night and no reviews of such as we def wouldn't have booked. They gave me the owner's details.. She said asked the ndn and he said no it wasn't his ddog. Sent her video evidence and she didn't even respond. Take you money give no fucks ime. Give an honest review op. It may help others.

It has honestly crossed my mind, the sounds are so inappropriate and almost theatrically loud!
I have known noisy neighbours before but nothing this strange.
perhaps other/previous guests are often merry (drinking) or with children playing, in festive spirits and didn’t mind it?

I am mostly wfh here and dont booze, so certainly need my sleep.