Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask for revenge ideas on the sodding students next door

268 replies

HomeIsWhereTheGinisNow · 25/09/2016 15:03

At the end of my tether. Group of students have just moved into the terraced house next door, and had a 21st birthday last night. It was ludicrous, music pounding until 3am when the police finally shut them down. Desperate requests for the music to be turned down (not off...) at 8pm and midnight were met with serious attitudes and an expectation that as it was a birthday party we should just deal with it ("it's not Sen midnight...!"). The London council in charge of the borough has helpfully closed down their noise officer service, and as we're London we're bottom of the list for the police. So basically we're stuck. Begging them to turn it down so our two year old could get some sleep didn't work as they literally told me that they couldn't imagine what it'd be like to be a parent, it must be hard etc.

So here's the rub. Their landlord is gong to have a word but I'm not sure what he can do. The authorities won't help. So I suspect we're in for an academic year of misery, what would you do?

OP posts:
RiverTam · 25/09/2016 17:47

I'm afraid you burnt your boats asking them to turn it down so early.

And I'd be very very surprised if anyone took your complaint seriously when you say it's happened once.

I agree it's pretty awful to be next too when it's happening, but it is one time. If you have anywhere else you can go I would say that at the very least you expect a heads up, and if not then midnight is the cut off or police/uni will be called.

user1471517900 · 25/09/2016 17:51

Don't do what ivykaty suggests. It'll just turn it into a war. A simple chat at a normal time about how it kept your child awake should be fine. It's one party.

AbyssinianBanana · 25/09/2016 17:53

Right, so if I work shifts and my next door neighbour has music on so loud it DROWNS OUT the sound from MY OWN TELEVISION IN THE ROOM I'M STANDIND IN?! Isn't that on the bloody level of an airplane engine in terms of noise level?! 8 am or 8pm, that is NOT on in a residential area.

And, it's not a one off.

It could be the first of a weekly party. We have no idea.

Spice22 · 25/09/2016 17:57

Abyss Yh, we have no idea so she needs to slow her roll until she knows. Like a PP said , their likely to be final year students who will be busy most of the year.

Headofthehive55 · 25/09/2016 17:59

Quite frankly most of you sound poor neighbours. Just because someone lives differently to you doesn't mean they are wrong and you right.

I don't think 8pm for a special occasion is too late. Neither is midnight. One day your two year old will grow up and annoy people.

Perhaps the two year old annoys them by crying at 6am.

The person who thought sticking tape over a doorbell - totally unfriendly and antisocial.

Oldprof · 25/09/2016 18:00

Hi
Do you know what university your neighbours attend? and what course they're doing? (I believe you have a fair few such institutions in London) Otherwise going to complain to 'The Uni' may be a problem. And they may not all be at the same place. In any case, nobody from the Uni is going to turn out at 2 a.m. to read the riot act.

I advise you start again with a friendly approach to say you don't want to be a misery but... (here insert refs to children etc etc). Brutish creatures though they are, students are people and they are going to be your neighbours. You wouldn't attack a middle-aged couple with dirty water, taped-down doorbells etc. So why do it to students?

Headofthehive55 · 25/09/2016 18:01

Can I remind you that some students will not only be on their way to work at 6am, some will also be working nights, so might not have got home!

Elephantsaremygods · 25/09/2016 18:02

When I was a student we lived next door to a single mother with young kids and we never played loud music. Clubs and pubs exist for that sort of thing.

I am biased because I loathe and detest loud noise but I can't believe the attitude some of you have - it doesn't matter what time it was or whether it was someone's 21st - playing music so loud your neighbour can barely hear their own TV is completely anti social.

Students are adults. Not children.

Elephantsaremygods · 25/09/2016 18:03

You wouldn't attack a middle-aged couple with dirty water, taped-down doorbells etc

I would if they were noisy fuckers.

Ditsyprint40 · 25/09/2016 18:03

We live next to students too. Thankfully they're OK. The odd noisy night but nothing horrendous. They've had a couple this week as its freshers. Really frustrating but don't think you can moan too much until it's after midnight on the weekend. I'd be tempted to play loud music at 6am.

hoddtastic · 25/09/2016 18:05

it is the first weekend back for most students, and was a 21st.

You lost any semblence of reason/ having an actual point at 8pm to be honest.

NotYoda · 25/09/2016 18:07

I agree with many others, including Merrylegs and Soupdragon

This has obviously upset you, as it would me, but it has happened once. Keep your powder dry.

BoneyBackJefferson · 25/09/2016 18:09

If they insist on being a arseholes.

Find out when their exams are, and have parties for the two nights before.

EasternDailyStress · 25/09/2016 18:13

Why is the OP unreasonable to complain at 8pm? If the music is so loud that it's a nuisance then it's ok. I complained to neighbours a few weeks ago when their music was too loud at 4pm. They were having a BBQ and so were we, but we couldn't hear our own (very quiet background) music for their horrible blaring house-type crap. It was ruining our afternoon so I don't think it was unreasonable.

People should be more respectful of each other, not just expect that they can do whatever they want, when they want. It's this feeling of entitlement that so many people seem to have these days that causes issues like this.

ToastDemon · 25/09/2016 18:15

So all of you saying OP wss unreasonable with the 8pm thing would be happy to have music played so loudly you could barely hear your TV?
My new neighbour a few years ago tried that once. I immediately knocked and told her that it was far too loud. She took ages to come to the door, as apparently the music was so loud she didn't hear the knocking initially.
This was at approximately 8pm on a Saturday evening. I didn't need to be up the next day. However I felt entitled to the quiet enjoyment of my home.
It's not a human right to play deafening music and fuck everyone else.

HerFaceIsAMapOfTheWorld · 25/09/2016 18:17

Police dont do anything about this but you have my sympathy I have been living with nasty noisy neighbour for a year now.

TheHubblesWindscreenWipers · 25/09/2016 18:21

There is no time of day it's ok to play music so loud it disturbs your neighbours. It's not ok at lunchtime, or 8pm, or 2am. If you live in close proximity to others you are considerate. Your noise should impinge on them any more than it has to.
Everyday living noise like kids playing, laundry, mowing the lawn etc is unavoidable and acceptable. You can tune it out and you know it won't last long. Thudding music and loud parties are not acceptable any time of day
Music outside is not ok at any time of day. Let people enjoy their gardens.

Seriously, if you are making so much noise it's pissing your neighbours off you need to stop. It's not ok :/

Complain to their landlord and the uni. I was a student for eight years and never, ever did this kind of shit. If you want to have loud music go to a fucking club or something

Headofthehive55 · 25/09/2016 18:23

IT has only happened the once! Also noise is very subjective. I can't hear my tv over quiet chatting, so I don't think it's an objective measure.

cardibach · 25/09/2016 18:26

I'm a bit suspicious that OP didn't bring out the salient detail of the music drowning out her to until several posters had said she WBU.
I'm depressed by this student hate. They are young people taking on a load of debt and will contribute (on the whole) to the economy later. They are young and may make mistakes. One 21st birthday party should not be sparking thoughts of 'revenge' - consideration should go both ways.
Talk to them. You know, as though they were human Confused

originalmavis · 25/09/2016 18:27

I guess a one off isn't too awful. They will have to study sometime I suppose.

8pm is very early although noise pollution isn't just time of day but how loud/long/irritating the sound is.

I hope they keep it down. We once lived in a block opposite uni dorms. Oh the noise! Drunken parties, screaming rows that went on for hours, loud music all night, banging doors, alcoholics screeching home at all hours... all raised merry hell with the council.

Those poor students. There were some really awful people in our block (we were the good ones). It's bad when you get complaints from students.

Lolimax · 25/09/2016 18:29

I'm a bit Hmm about this. I don't live anywhere near students but in a residential street. Most of the time it's quiet. Very occasionally one of the houses has a party. The music and noise can can heard but in fairness it always all goes quiet by midnight. Why should it make any difference if they were students?
I know it's annoying if you have small children but people are entitled to have parties. If those parties were every weekend I would definitely feel differently.
But 8pm??

TheHubblesWindscreenWipers · 25/09/2016 18:30

She has talked to them...

Op ho talk to them again and let them know the impact this has on your family. Then of they do it again, gloves off and complain to the landlord

Headofthehive55 · 25/09/2016 18:32

cardibach the student hate is so depressing I agree. But I bet they will be keen on the ex student who might have to save their life one day.

TheHubblesWindscreenWipers · 25/09/2016 18:33

but people are entitled to have parties

Of course. But not so loud the whole street can hear it. Your entitlement stops where it hits the rights of others and everyone else on the street has a right to quiet enjoyment

If there are fifty houses on your street and each one has 'just one a year' then that potentially almost every week.

Elephantsaremygods · 25/09/2016 18:33

I work with students and 90% of them are a pita.

Maybe I was too as a student!