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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Noisy child in garden and light blocking

84 replies

DayMoth · 14/05/2017 09:29

My DBro recently moved into a studio ground floor flat. His windows back onto a small garden belonging to house next door (courtyard type garden). His wall is effectively their garden wall! Their toddler plays in the garden a lot, screeching and shouting and kicking balls (as toddlers do). He complained to his landlord, who had a word. They own their house. They were apologetic but said child has a right to play. The noise hasn't diminished and he finds it hard to study and work. He's getting very stressed about it. Now they are saying they will put up a fence in their garden! This will block his view of their garden (I appreciate they want privacy) but will also block most of the light into his flat. Is this legal?

I can see both sides: they want privacy in their garden and for toddler to play, he wants light and quiet to work.

Honest opinions please?

OP posts:
BarbarianMum · 14/05/2017 09:31

Honestly, he should find another flat.

TripTrapTripTrapOverTheBridge · 14/05/2017 09:33

He should move somewhere child free!

Slightlyperturbedowlagain · 14/05/2017 09:34

He won't get anywhere with trying to stop a child from playing in their own garden in a 'normal' way, but are they suggesting they will put a fence up actually against his window?? That seems really odd.

User246810 · 14/05/2017 09:35

Has he considered some net curtains?

Goldfishjane · 14/05/2017 09:36

Trip, there's no such place, I'd have found it by now. When I'm over 55...

exLtEveDallas · 14/05/2017 09:37

If it was just privacy he could put a film on his windows that stops people looking in. You can get very plain or patterned ones.

But that won't do anything about the noise. He could invest in noise cancelling headphones, that might work?

Otherwise he's just going to have to move. The child is playing in his own garden. Your DBro chose to buy/rent a flat with that issue, so really the onus is on him to solve it.

NapQueen · 14/05/2017 09:38

He chose the flat didnt he? So it was the wrong choice for him, and maybe he should look for something else?

Goldfishjane · 14/05/2017 09:39

OP I'm quite sure they can put the fence up in their garden
Light considerations are largely ignored these days but will be even moe so if someone says they want to hide their garden from direct view - and sounds quite close? - of a flat.

NapQueen · 14/05/2017 09:39

Is the window into their yard a fire escape one?

Original poster
DayMoth · 14/05/2017 09:40

I think the fence is to be positioned about a metre from his windows. There's no other natural light/view.

He's trapped into a 1 year contract so can't move.

How would net curtains help?

OP posts:
Original poster
DayMoth · 14/05/2017 09:44

He's not worried about privacy, he has blinds. The neighbours want privacy hence the high fence they want to put up. I'm not sure about fire escapes, they're big windows that he could climb out of in a fire. He chose the flat for it's brightness and nice garden view, without realising there was a child!

OP posts:
NapQueen · 14/05/2017 09:45

The thing is, if it isnt his garden, it isnt really his view. And asking about the occupants of that garden would have been advisable.

Slarti · 14/05/2017 09:47

Another suggestion for noise cancelling headphones. Or could he study somewhere else like the library? TBH I'm surprised the landlord even had a word with them about the child playing outside, that was not a reasonable complaint.

TripTrapTripTrapOverTheBridge · 14/05/2017 09:47

He partially chose the flat for the view of his neighbours garden?! That's one of the daftest things I've heard

SoupDragon · 14/05/2017 09:48

This is not the right flat for him.

Amaried · 14/05/2017 09:50

They are making reasonable noise and it's their legal right to put up s fence in their own garden if they want to.
Im afraid there is nothing your brother cam do.

ViolentDelights · 14/05/2017 09:51

What do you think the solution is?

ShowMePotatoSalad · 14/05/2017 09:52

He complained to the landlord about the kid next door playing in their garden?!?!?!? Wtf!!!!!

If he doesn't like or can't handle something Iike this he most definitely needs to move.

Whatthefudger · 14/05/2017 09:53

Exactly. I'm shocked that anyone would call the landlord to complain about next doors noise. What does he want them to actually do. They've tried to find a solution. Of course it's legal. Ridiculous

TheBogQueen · 14/05/2017 09:55

This is a normal part of living in a flat. You have to accommodate other people's lives.

And frankly if I can get a first class degree with my three children under five playing around me he can study with a toddler playing in the garden. Or go to a library or Starbucks like every other bloody student.

CatsRidingRollercoasters · 14/05/2017 09:56

While I sympathise a bit, I think yabu.

He chose a flat in a built up area. You can't expect total peace and quiet unless you move to the middle of nowhere.

At least the toddler will only be making noise in the daytime. Would he rather the garden belonged to noisy students who were out drinking late at night? Or people with a noisy dog? It could be a lot worse.

I actually can't believe he complained and that the landlord had a word. I'm not surprised this has triggered them to want to put a fence up. I wouldn't want my garden to be overlooked by someone who massively resented my toddler.

JustMumNowNotMe · 14/05/2017 09:59

He chose the flat baded on a view of a garden that doesn't belong to him?! And he actually complained about the people who do own the garden using it?!

😂😂 Brilliant!

DeleteOrDecay · 14/05/2017 10:01

Wow I'm shocked that the landlord actually went and spoke to the neighbours about this. I bet they think he's bonkers.

If he can't move then your db needs some noise cancelling headphones if he finds the noise that bothersome. You can't stop a child from playing in their own garden.

Lj8893 · 14/05/2017 10:02

Your brother sounds quite precious.

A child has the right to play in his/her garden (within sociable hours). Your brother had no right to complain about that.

He chose the flat for the garden view? The view of someone else's garden? How bizarre!!

I'm currently studying, and have my own toddler running around. I manage quite well, he can't use someone else's toddler as an excuse for struggling with study!

mando12345 · 14/05/2017 10:02

To be honest he did bring it on himself by complaining.
But he is only renting so I couldn't get too worked up about it.
The only thing he could do is to ask very nicely if the neighbours would reconsider the fence due to his lack of light.

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