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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask neighbours to turn down radio in their garden at evenings weekends

48 replies

brt100 · 21/05/2014 10:40

My neighbours have a radio on in their garden as they are doing building work after work and at weekends.

Radio really bothers me as even with all windows closed I can hear it.

I understand music makes the work easier, but the sound is a nuisance and 90% of the time it is just the bloke alone and he could wear headphones. Btw this is a normal sterio and quite bassy and its heart radio who keep playing the same songs.

OP posts:
GooseyLoosey · 21/05/2014 10:45

Depends whether it's unually loud or you are unusually sensitive. Neighbour is entitled to enjoy his garden as he wishes but should showa reasonable amount of consideration for those around him. This does not extend to making no noise at all and wearing headphones but does mean that your coffee cups should not shake with the bass.

Original poster
brt100 · 21/05/2014 10:53

But I can't enjoy my garden / home if he is playing reasonably loud music for a couple of hours each night.

OP posts:
Lanabelle · 21/05/2014 11:10

If its off at 11pm then its entirely legal

Vintagejazz · 21/05/2014 11:13

Just because something's legal doesn't make it considerate though. People who insist on playing loud music in their gardens on sunny days, and inflicting it on the neighbours, are a bloody nuisance.

Original poster
brt100 · 21/05/2014 11:16

Its not loud loud, but it's louder than builders usually play on their small radios

OP posts:
isabellavine · 21/05/2014 11:17

Oh gosh, I really HATE this behaviour. I know it's not illegal, but not everyone has the same taste in music or programming, and inflicting your own choice on everyone around you is deeply inconsiderate. It doesn't take much to wear headphones (and I speak as someone who spends a lot of time in the garden). Leave other people to enjoy their space in peace and quiet!

I would say something, but gently and carefully - it is, after all, a favour you're asking.

Original poster
brt100 · 21/05/2014 11:17

BTW builders don't bother me, as they usually work standard hours and don't sound pollute in the evenings where I want to sit in my garden.

OP posts:
DocDaneeka · 21/05/2014 11:19

No harm in asking.

I got asked to turn my music down. I was working in the kitchen and lost track of time and volume.

Neighbour stuck his head in an asked, I was mortified. The poor chap was so apologetic too, even though I was being antisocial and totally deserved to be told.

Ioethe · 21/05/2014 11:20

You're not being unreasonable to ask, they may genuinely not realise it's a problem for you and you might be able to come up with a compromise. BUt if they say no, I don't think theres a lot you can do about it. Offer to buy him some decent headphones maybe?

murphys · 21/05/2014 11:25

How late is the music on for? And weekends, is it all day or late into the night.

Maybe he doesn't realize its on that loud, maybe so that he can hear it over the sound of his drill or whatever he is using.

How well do you get on with him. Pop your head over and just ask him to turn it down a bit.

Chocotrekkie · 21/05/2014 11:27

If he is wearing headphones he won't be able to here the phone/someone at the door etc.

I would ask nicely if he could keep the volume down a bit - he probably doesn't realise it's bothering you.

I have the radio on in the garden as my nosy neighbours sit at the fence and listen to our every word.

Not that we are discussing top secret information but when you see them a week later and they ask how your presentation at work went I get a bit Hmm

Edenviolet · 21/05/2014 11:31

In our tenancy agreement it states very clearly and more than once that anything noisy-building works, music, cutting grass can only be done between 9am-9pm.

yoshipoppet · 21/05/2014 11:34

I have a neighbour who does this. What's more, he leaves the radio going when he goes in for a cuppa, or off down the road for supplies. So we all get to listen to his choice of radio station, all day, even when he is not at home.

VivaLeBeaver · 21/05/2014 11:35

OP, I'm with you but have never dared ask my neighbours. They have the radio on every sunny day out in the garden. Its not shaking my deck chair but its as loud as if I was next to the radio in my kitchen. So I get non stop radio 1 inane chatter and music.

My idea of a sunny day is sitting there reading a book. I can't read a book as I can't tune out the music and talking. So I end up going inside. For ten fucking years I haven't been able to sit in the garden unless they've gone out.

Fairylea · 21/05/2014 11:41

Set your own radio up to play classical or jazz or something equally annoying. He'll probably start wearing headphones. ...

Original poster
brt100 · 21/05/2014 11:43

Viva 10 years and it sounds like your as pissed off as me?!

My main worry is they will get annoyed with me and play it louder. Latest its been on is 10pm, guess they are a 7 / 10 in annoyance.

OP posts:
Original poster
brt100 · 21/05/2014 11:44

Fairy I had LBC on a very low level the other night to try and stop him, then his came on and I couldn't listen to talk radio.

OP posts:
VivaLeBeaver · 21/05/2014 11:57

I just wish everyone else would be as considerate as me. I wouldn't play a radio in the garden unless it was an occasional party and then I might have some music. Though I never actually have.

I've seen similar threads on MN before where people have said you have to expect it and if you're that other end buy a detached house with o neighbours. Wish I bloody could!

VivaLeBeaver · 21/05/2014 11:59

Oh and one of my chickens grew up to be a cockerel. Neighbours were straight round asking if I was keepi g it as it was waking them at 3am. I killed it that evening as I hated the idea of being a nuisance to someone else.

But I'm too polite/worried to ask them about their bloody music.

Original poster
brt100 · 21/05/2014 12:02

Via I have a detached house, although it's the noisest place I've ever lived as it has a suspended floor and is a bungalow and only detached by 20-50 cm on each side as neighbours have extended. As its detached neighbours seam to be much louder. 6 the month here and thinking of selling to live in a shed in a field lol

OP posts:
Original poster
brt100 · 21/05/2014 12:03

Viva what stops you from asking them? Are you on good terms?

OP posts:
LiberalLibertine · 21/05/2014 12:03

:(

VivaLeBeaver · 21/05/2014 12:18

We're on speaking terms. We're not matey but have never fallen out.

What stops me asking them? Dunno. I think its such a British thing isn't it to put up with all sorts rather than feel like an imposition on someone else. I keep telling myself they have a right to listen to the radio if they want to and that I need to tune it out. But I can't! And I hate it!

I worry if I ask them they'd do it but they'd be saying to each other. That bloody weirdo Viva is stressed out by a bit of background music and now we can't listen to the radio as she's a miserable bitch who doesn't like our music.

Grin

I did go steaming round years ago when their teen lads set up a rock band complete with amps in the garden just as guests arrived for dinner. I asked them to turn it down and they packed up and went elsewhere.

All of MN told me I'd been very unreasonable and should have been happy with a full on rock band 10ft from my back door with 15 lads playing guitars, keyboards, etc. oh and that if I didnt like it I should go and live in the country.

FidelineandFumblin · 21/05/2014 12:25

If its off at 11pm then its entirely legal

Not if the noise constitutes a statutory nuisance.

isabellavine · 21/05/2014 14:15

I totally don't buy the 'need to hear door/phone' excuse. If you don't listen to music at all, then you will be able to hear both nice and clearly.

It's just a question of basic sociability. You wouldn't hang your washing all over next door's garden, or throw your rubbish over their plot, so why pollute them with your noise? Some people like to hear the birds and the sounds of nature. Some people like quiet. Some people don't like Radio 1/2/3/4. Keep the air clear and then everyone can listen to exactly what they like on headphones.

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