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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Neighbours are taking the biscuit

36 replies

BrandMombie · 26/04/2017 11:20

I live in a very quiet area, and we choose this house because of the peace and quiet as well as the beautiful scenery! We've lived here a year now, and I feel like I can't enjoy the house as I'd like to.
One side of my neighbours don't go to bed until late, which is fine none of my business. But I'm often woke up at 12-1am by the sound of her teenager kids running up and down the stairs several times, like they're playing?! She also parks her car in front of our garage, so we cannot gain easy access. My DH needs access every morning, she doesn't answer her door so he has to be very careful not to scratch her car. We've left several notes on her car asking her not to park so close, of which have been completely ignored.
Other side of neighbours, generally lovely but woke up this morning to a racket. We have an extension at the back of our house and they had work men climbing all over it, stomping about. It was 8am, so not too early, but it's besides the point. They did not ask permission to use our extension roof for access, and have happily put a ladder on it to gain access to the neighbours roof. I wouldn't have objected, but I think it's completely rude that the neighbours themselves, and the workmen didn't even bother to ask for access. They also have a really unsightly bird feeder than is taller than their fence, and the birds knock the food into my garden all the time. Fine, but I have a dog who eats literally everything and I'm having to go out every morning and clean up the bird food so she doesn't end up eating it! Neighbour knows too, as she's apologised, but not moved it slightly away from the fence like I suggested.
A house a couple of doors down, keep having late night parties, on a weekday! They moved in a month ago, and they have had 7 parties so far. One went on until 2am, I called the police (101) at that time, and then put my fan on making myself freezing cold in the process, to drown out the sound of the loud music and singing, eventually falling asleep. I didn't hear anything back from the police, so unsure how much longer the party actually went on for.
I'm trying to be civil, and I'd rather really not have neighbour wars, and I know there are a lot worse that happens in this world. I'm also pregnant, and very snappy at the moment. Probably due to the disturbed sleep by rude awakenings, but I'm sure hormones play a part Blush

AIBU that neighbours seem to be taking the biscuit these days? I'm lucky my DS is such a good sleeper, so isn't disturbed by the noise. If I knew in advance we were having work done, I have always informed my neighbours at least the day before. Respect for your neighbours seem to have just flown out the window. I'm not the perfect neighbour, I have a toddler that screams when he's excited now and then. But he is quiet for most of the days as we are either out, playing games or reading etc.
Actually can't wait for my newborn to arrive, so the neighbours can have some payback.

Anyone else got inconsiderate neighbours? Would love to hear your stories, I'm sure they're worse than mine!?

OP posts:
user1471545174 · 27/04/2017 10:56

YANBU, OP, inconsiderate twat neighbours are definitely on the increase.

elessar · 27/04/2017 14:38

OP you sound hard work.

First neighbour - running up and down stairs in own house - what's the problem? I wouldn't think to tiptoe up the stairs in my house at any time of night. Parking her car - well if she's on public land or her own land then you have no right to object. And it sounds like you can get past, you just have to be careful?

Second neighbour - yes out of order but not necessarily something she was aware her builders would be doing. Speak to them about it and then speak to her - no reason to assume she's being rude here. Bird feeder? I think you're being really uptight about this, how messy can some birds be with a bit of seed?

Partying neighbours - well potentially out of order but if it's not loud enough to wake your DS up and your fan could drown out any noise to the extent that you don't know what time the noise ended - then it doesn't sound like it's that loud.

BrandMombie · 27/04/2017 16:30

It's not me who complained about the 5am baths...
I can sleep through a lot, I'm a pretty deep sleeper, but the running up and down the stairs wakes me up. As does the parties. The teens running up and down the stairs are actually playing, screaming and shouting running. That is completely inconsiderate at 12-1am.
The neighbour that parks outside the garage.. it's public land. However the council have signs to say that cars cannot park outside the garages. The garages are for cars to park inside, however they were designed (50 odd years ago) before cars got bigger and only a handful of neighbours can still get their cars in. There is a car park around the corner, a short walk away, which is where we park. My DH parks his motorbike in the garage, and uses it for work every morning. He's scratched up his bike twice before trying to get the bike out without damaging NDNs car. He has to turn the bike onto its side and slide it out. I'd say it's highly unfair she is parking there still knowing full well that she isn't allowed to, and knowing it's causing an inconvenience to my DH. We also added a sign on the garage door asking people not to park there.
Her car is also small enough that she could fit it in the garage if she tried.
The bird feeder.. yes not a huge problem. Just annoying that I have to clear up the bird food each morning, as it gets knocked into my garden. It's fine if they don't mind clearing the mess up in their garden, but I don't have a bird feeder so don't expect I should have to.
Builders on the roof.. spoke to the neighbour and they were sent from the council. She didn't even know they had gained access through their garden, and said they were actually in my garden too whilst I was out. I've emailed the council about this as we weren't even aware that they were going to be carrying work out, and DH will have a look at the tiles on the weekend. We rent the house, so intend to make sure it's returned as good as we received it when we move out.
We used to live in London, but moved to a rural location in Kent.
Also to the lovely people leaving sarcastic posts, I hope you never have to deal with inconsiderate neighbours. I moved here as it is a quiet rural area, and we moved from a busy town. It's a quiet village, nothing happens, and it's mostly retired couples. It's country lanes for miles. I guess I just assumed that most people would have moved here for the peace and quiet also. I have picked my battles. I haven't gone to neighbours houses kicking off, and neither has my DH. I wasn't looking for advice on what to do, I was asking if i WBU, and if the rise of inconsiderate neighbours was on the increase. And also to hear others neighbours stories.
I accept some people may think I'm BU, but I'd hate to live next door to you if you think running and playing on the stairs at night is acceptable, just the kind of inconsiderate I was taking about.

OP posts:
Ihaveabloodyheadache · 27/04/2017 17:12

I feel compelled to point out that in my response about the baths, the quote was not taken from the OP but from a couple of posts down. The OP doesn't mention baths.

I told 'my' neighbour story (as OP asked) and I thought it illustrated my point that some people can be as intolerant as others can be unreasonable, which IMO is because of the same thing - the 'I'm alright Jack, not bothered about you' attitude.
OP - I think you're being unreasonable about the bird feeder, and considering your update, about the council workmen on the roof. As a council/HA tenant, you usually get allocated a slot and if it's outside, then they just get on with it, quite plausible that the workmen just turned up and got on with it. You weren't U to complain to the neighbour about it, but U to complain about the neighbour because of it. In your OP you say the neighbour was rude to not ask etc, and in your update you say neighbour didn't know, it may be her responsibility but in all honesty how could she warn you, or ask permission if she didn't know herself.
The rest, no I don't think you're being U.

wasonthelist · 27/04/2017 17:18

DIAGRAM!

BrandMombie · 27/04/2017 17:59

I didn't complain to the NDN, I made assumptions based on what I could see. They were in her garden, with a ladder. NDN double backdoors were open, and I could hear them talking (although not what they were saying), so assumed it was work they needed to have carried out. They then used our extension roof to gain access to her roof. When I spoke to her this morning I mentioned the work, I didn't complain about it because by then I'd noticed they had done the whole row of houses, including mine when I was out. If I'd complained to her then I would have of course apologised for jumping to conclusions. I said in previous post they are generally lovely. I'd never jump in and start an argument if I didn't know the facts. We rent privately, and without being too outing, the work carried out in the area is done by an 'association', which the residents make payments to, not the council. Usually we receive a phone call, or a knock at the door. Our payments are paid though our rent, that the landlord pays on our behalf, but the 'association' have our personal details. Didn't want to out myself so I said council, rather than explaining, not that it really makes a difference.
I've never been rude to any of my neighbours, but yes I'm pregnant and hormonal and I have a right to rant if I want to. I'm not causing any upset to my neighbours by ranting online, rather than doing it to their faces and causing issues with them.
I respect everyone has an option, and of course I expected a mix review by posting on AIBU, but without people knowing myself personally it's not fair to assume I'm constantly complaining. When posting the thread it was a build up of everything happening all at once, when I was feeling particularly crappy.
I was more looking for a simple rant, and others sharing their neighbour stories, rather than some of the sarcastic comments I received.
Thank you to everyone for their lovely comments, and for sharing your stories. But as this has had the opposite affect that I was looking for, I will no longer reply.

OP posts:
wasonthelist · 27/04/2017 18:01

We need a diagram - clearly illustrating the sideways mtorbike.

BaldricksTrousers · 27/04/2017 18:10

Sorry, but what harm do you think your dog will come to eating bird food? Our greyhound eats cat shit like they're sweets, and she's fit as a fiddle.

BaldricksTrousers · 27/04/2017 18:12

Also, if you don't want sarcastic replies, don't post on AIBU....you can't post on a public forum dedicated to finding out if you are being unreasonable, and then dictate the replies. Or AIBU in this??

2dogsonthesofa · 27/04/2017 18:26

Just as an aside my Labrador has an extreme sensitivity to grain and would be I'll in glorious Technicolor if he was to eat bird food

badgercat · 27/04/2017 20:21

My neighbour considers herself the most considerate neighbour - who (very politely) points out the (many) times she's observed her neighbours making noise, not that she's complaining of course as she's not one of 'those' people 🤔

Funnily enough she's the most obnoxiously loud person we've ever lived next door to !

Maybe you are disturbing them OP without realising so they've relaxed a little feeling it's acceptable if they're tolerating you that you'll also tolerate them.

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