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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To find our neighbours outdoor speakers really intrusive?

27 replies

FlamingGalar · 07/02/2015 12:52

Our neighbours has extensive work done on their house a few years ago and in the process installed an outdoor speaker system.

During the summer the system was being used every week - usually on a Sunday but often the Saturday as well - when the family were spending time outside. They have a long garden so the music is on pretty loudly for the sound to carry to the end of the lawn.

Its a lovely day where we are today and they have just turned their music on while the husband gets on with jobs in the garden and it's actually giving me the rage!

We do not share a similar taste in music (which is beside the point anyway) and its really blasting into our kitchen/ living area as the speaker is set up on the wall just outside our back door.

I don't feel I can say anything as it's their space and they can do what they want in it. Also it's not as if they use it late in to the evening and keeping us up all night. I'm just so sick of listening to his crappy, morose, droney music powering into the back of our house. Hearing it today has reminded me of what we have to put up with every weekend in the summer and it just drives me crazy.

They are a lovely couple and really good neighbours in every other way so really not worth getting into a row about this, but bloody hell my heart sinks when I hear the speakers come on.

Rant over - feel better already Smile

OP posts:
MrsPeterQuill · 07/02/2015 13:06

They're being really fucking selfish actually. That would give me the rage. I feel your pain, our neighbours are noisy inconsiderate twats too.

Have you thought about going round and asking them nicely to turn it down?

SantanaLopez · 07/02/2015 13:06

That's really, really selfish of them. Not cool!

Pico2 · 07/02/2015 13:07

YANBU. That is a bizarre idea. Who thinks that outdoor speakers in a residential area are ok? What is wrong with headphones?

AgentProvocateur · 07/02/2015 13:08

I've never heard of outdoor speakers. That's a whole new level of inconsiderateness!

Nanny0gg · 07/02/2015 13:08

I don't feel I can say anything as it's their space and they can do what they want in it

Not necessarily true, as what they are doing is leaving their 'space'.

Go and have a polite word, they may have no idea.

StillStayingClassySanDiego · 07/02/2015 13:10

Yes I would be very pissed off especially if the music is really shite.

If they're good neighbours in every other way I'd be hesitant to say anything but why should you have to tolerate this every weekend?

IsadoraQuagmire · 07/02/2015 13:13

That's awful! People should only do this if they live in a detached house with lots of land around it, not people who live within earshot of neighbors.

1hamwich4 · 07/02/2015 13:15

I had some who did this. They had quite good taste in music but it was more the fact that they just assumed the entire neighbourhood would be happy to listen to it that was really irritating. The train driver on night shifts on the other side of them was not impressed.

I dealt with it by placing my radio as close to their music as possible and cranking up the volume just enough that the conflicting beats ruined the entire listening experience.

It took about 15 mins for them to get the hint and turn it down, whereupon I turned mine off and everyone was happy.

Childish, but they were selfish fuckers who wouldn't have listened to an appeal to reason.

Lunaballoon · 07/02/2015 13:21

Unfortunately some people simply don't give a toss about anyone else. I would do exactly as 1hamwich4.

AimlesslyPurposeful · 07/02/2015 13:29

AgentProvocateur - "I've never heard of outdoor speakers. That's a whole new level of inconsiderateness!" Couldn't agree more!

If they are normally considerate neighbours perhaps they just haven't realised how much their music impacts on your life or that you can hear it in the house.

As you do get on well with them I don't see why you feel you can't say something? Surely, if you were regularly doing something that was bothering them you'd want them to tell you rather than quietly steam about it?

You could explain that the position of the speakers means their music can be heard clearly in your house and ask if they could be moved further down the garden or to the other side of the house.

TooMuchRain · 07/02/2015 13:29

That would be my idea of hell, I don't get why people think it's ok to invade your space like that.

expatinscotland · 07/02/2015 13:33

Who on Earth thinks this is considerate? Have a word with them.

SisterMoonshine · 07/02/2015 13:36

It pisses me off just to hear music blaring out of cars.
I can't believe you have to out up with this.

Original poster
FlamingGalar · 07/02/2015 13:38

Thanks for the replies.

Nail on the head 1hamwich - the assumption that he whole neighbourhood is happy to listen to their choice in music is beyond selfish. Topped off by the fact their music is shite.

I'm not sure how to bring this one up with them as it's an ongoing issue rather than just a request to turn it down as a one off. Because of the positioning of the speakers, even at a low volume the music is still pretty intrusive.

Sometimes the only option is to blast our own music just to drown out the hideous racket from the neighbours, but actually sometimes we just want a bit of peace at the weekend. Jeeze I sound bloody ancient!

OP posts:
WidowWadman · 07/02/2015 13:38

We had neighbours like that. Reported them to the council's noise pollution hotline until it stopped. Was too chicken to confront them myself, and have been told by the noise people that that was probably a wise decision

CrystalHaze · 07/02/2015 13:44

Report to the council. If it's disturbing you it will be disturbing others around you too.

How monumentally thoughtless of them. It would be obvious to anyone with more than 3 brain cells that outdoor music at a volume loud enough to be heard at the other end of a long garden affects everyone around them. They're either very stupid, or very selfish.

Original poster
FlamingGalar · 07/02/2015 13:45

Destruction Moving of the speakers is really the only solution I can broach with them as this bloody speaker system is his pride and joy. He's a real techie type and I think he thought we would all be super impressed at his brilliant boon. He was so proud of himself when he gave us the grand tour!

OP posts:
Original poster
FlamingGalar · 07/02/2015 13:47

Is the hotline anonymous CrystalHaze? Not that I'm a massive chicken or anything. Grin

Saying that, they are very lovely so I would have a word with them before contacting the council.

OP posts:
CrystalHaze · 07/02/2015 21:41

I don't think the council would tell them who complained - it's a few years ago now, but I looked into making s noise complaint against our awful neighbours when we were in our previous property (loud music at all hours, parties several times a week, talking to them met with a 'fuck off' response), and they said we would need to keep a noise log, and then they'd instal monitoring equipment to see how loud and how regular it was. As it happens the couple spilt up and moved out, so we didn't need to take it by further.

Spring/summer are on the way - it's going to get worse as the weather gets better Sad

CrystalHaze · 07/02/2015 21:42

Just noticed your user name - love it! Alf forever!

TwoAndTwoEqualsChaos · 07/02/2015 21:45

Council Noise Nuisance. Even if you get on okay with neighbours, it cane be a hard thing to mention.

Katinkka · 07/02/2015 22:16

Bloody hell thats worse than my windchimes hell. I couldn't be doing with that. I'd just report them to the council. I did this with a neighbours' son who used to come home every lunchtime, open the windows and blast out Guns and Roses. Totally unnecessary.

DaniIrish · 22/05/2020 21:49

Ok this is years later but I can't believe there isn't a lot online about this subject. Same exact situation here in area where we are on top of each other -guy has underground speakers built in. Every day (he is retired) for about six hours he blares and I mean blares (can't enjoy my yard at all and I hear the lyrics and bass in my house) while he tinkers in his yard. I appreciate music so much but I find this so inconsiderate. I finally broke down and had to say something (well I texted it to the wife as we text occasionally) that I'm starting a new job can they possibly adjust the speakers during the work week only so they can still enjoy but just not directed at my house as it gets loud at times (I didn't know underground). All I got back was "sorry so loud and disturbing". She then said they will have to turn down as underground. I have so many problems in this neighborhood from wood smoke coming in from others fire pits or old chimneys and people are not liking me much. Just saw these folks today who were just about the last ones I got along with and now that is severed. The squeaky wheel loses -that is why no one says anything. I was literally going out of my mind though with the noise (and I have sensory issues to noise but this was ridiculously loud for anyone) and worrying after it stopped when it was going to come on again because it would be a few more hours. I wish there were more people like you all out there who get this. I'm fine if someone is having a party or occasional thing but not every day. I just can't. So now possibly I got the noise softened but again severed a relationship. Why am I the jerk here????

StoneofDestiny · 22/05/2020 22:28

If he is as nice as you say, he will switch off the noise one you explain it's impossible for you to enjoy quiet time in your home and garden, hear your own music, TV etc or read a book!

Pinga · 22/05/2020 22:54

ZOMBIE THREAD!