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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Downstairs neighbours hoovering at 7.30am

77 replies

user1490817986 · 01/06/2017 07:58

Neighbours downstairs who are lovely have just woken me up at 7.30am with their hoovering. I was watching a film in bed at 10.30pm one night and she started hoovering. Also put the washing machine on at midnight sometimes, and it sounds like a fucking helicopter.

I don't know if this is passive agressive behaviour, because sometimes my cat is a bastard and runs/scuttles/meows along my bedroom floor to harass me for breakfast. The floor is laminate but I can't afford to put carpet down.

He did it once this morning (he hasn't done it for a few weeks) at around 6.20am, so i'm wondering if they are being passive aggressive with the hoovering at 7.30am.

I'm always considerate of them and I won't hoover in the evenings because one of them works shifts but I'm not sure when/times etc.

AIBU to think they are being dicks to hoover at 7.30am?

OP posts:
Frankie89 · 01/06/2017 07:59

Yeah that's a dick move but your might be right that it's a revenge move too. Could you maybe put down rugs if your can't carpet? Might take the edge off.

Minniemagoo · 01/06/2017 08:04

So your 'lovely' neighbours heard noises at 6.20, which possibly woke them they then probably thought you were up so assumed since they were too it was ok to start their day.
Yes possibly a bit PA of them but sounds like you reap what you sow.
Rugs are cheaper than replacing a whole floor.

cariadlet · 01/06/2017 08:04

I wouldn't expect anyone to be hoovering that early on a Sunday morning, but can't see a problem with hoovering at 7.30 in the week unless you know your neighbour is doing shift work and would be in bed at that time.

Surely most people are up and about by then anyway.

Trills · 01/06/2017 08:05

You just said the neighbours are "lovely", so why do you jump to thinking that they are being passive-aggressive rather than that they just don't realise how loud it is?

My last flat was a house that had been divided in two - either my downstairs neighbour never once hoovered when I was in, or I just couldn't hear it. So I would assume that someone living above me would not be bothered by hoovering.

user1491401693 · 01/06/2017 08:05

7.30 on a weekday sounds fine to me. And your cat had already woken you at 6.20.

And I should imagine living under a laminate floored flat is horrid.

OhTheRoses · 01/06/2017 08:09

YABU. What on earth is the problem? Perhaps they are fitting it around work. Noise is part of flat life. I was once asked to refrain from putting stuff in the bins esrly morning or late at night. And opening and closing my front door before 7 and after 10. I was leaving and returning to my home. I really was not and am not a noisy person.

Leonardo44 · 01/06/2017 08:09

If you have no idea when they work, why would not hoovering in the evenings be considerate? I live in a flat and never hear the neighbours downstairs hoover or their washing machine. Maybe they just don't realise it's affecting you. Talk to them.

Looneytune253 · 01/06/2017 08:14

What!!! I wouldn't think twice of hoovering in the morning before I start work?!? Did so this morning. 7.30 is not ridiculously early. Most ppl are getting on with their day. Tbh it sounds like the noise is worse from you guys. Obv you can't help it but why should they not get on with their day when there's already been considerable noise from your flat?

FathomsDeepAndFallingFurther · 01/06/2017 08:14

As others have said, I think hoovering at 7.30am and 10.30pm is fine. Presumably they have to fit it in around work? It's a normal household noise, as is the washing machine. They are not playing loud music or anything.

If your cat routinely wakes you at 6.20, it's not unreasonable of them to assume that you're up at that time anyway.

expatinscotland · 01/06/2017 08:14

Not on to put washing machine on at midnight, but hoovering at 7.30am is acceptable. Bet it's hell to live under you. Get some rugs.

Cuppaoftea · 01/06/2017 08:14

Nothing wrong with hoovering at 7.30am. Doesn't sound passive aggressive to me, more like they're fitting hoovering and doing the laundry round work shifts.

Sofabitch · 01/06/2017 08:18

Wooden floors in upstairs flats are awful.

I bet you make way more noise than they do.

But 11-7pm I'd try to avoid anything super noisy but sometimes you can't avoid it. For example if my kid throws up everywhere. Im putting the washing on and hoovering thwt floor regardless of the time

caffeinestream · 01/06/2017 08:18

Are you sure there's nothing in your contract/lease about needing carpeted floors? Lots of upper floor flats don't allow laminate because of the noise issue.

Anyway, if I was woken by a cat charging around at 6am, I would assume you were awake and I could get on with my day. And cats are noisy buggers - we had two in a flat once and they sounded like a herd of elephants charging around - luckily we had offices below us so nobody to disturb at 6am or midnight!

Put some rugs down or cheap off cuts of carpet if you can't afford to do it properly.

Toysaurus · 01/06/2017 08:19

Living below laminate floor in a flat is awful. I bet you make more noise generally than a hoover at 7.30am which is not awfully early.

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 01/06/2017 08:20

YABU. What is wrong with hoovering then? It's hardly the middle of the night.

How is it passive-aggressive to hoover, for heaven's sake?! 😂

c3pu · 01/06/2017 08:21

I used to run my washing machine overnight all the time when I lived in a flat, because it was on economy 7 electric.

SaucyJack · 01/06/2017 08:22

I think it's fine too, TBH.

It's normal household noise during normal waking hours on a weekday. You just need to put up with the sounds of other people going about daily life when you live in a flat.

Howdoichangethis · 01/06/2017 08:22

Our neighbours vacuum their whole house every day at 6.30am. Doesn't bother us - DTD1 is up at 5am anyway and it must be at least 5 years since DH and I woke up after 6am. It's good to get up in the morning!

Starlighter · 01/06/2017 08:26

I think it's rude to hoover that early or late. It's basic manners.

But then, I hate unnecessary noise, and I would live in a detached house with lots of land and no neighbours if I could!

OpheliaHamlet · 01/06/2017 08:29

If it's quite out of character - perhaps they dropped something? When I used to live in flats, we were ever so careful with doing laundry/hoovering/etc. But if you break a glass or drop something like flour - you're hardly going to leave it sat on the floor for several hours.

thelonelyscriptures · 01/06/2017 08:31

YABVU

Notso · 01/06/2017 08:33

Buy some rugs. B&M have had some for £1 in the sale recently.

DH hoovered at 10 last night after he spilled sand all over the kitchen floor.

ElspethFlashman · 01/06/2017 08:33

Omg get a rug!!!

Even a few of those rubber backed front door mats that cost fuck all.

It's ridiculous to allow your cat to make noise when there's a cheap solution.

And I wouldn't say 7.30 was too early. But then I'm up early always.

innagazing · 01/06/2017 08:34

Hoovering at 7.30 is unreasonable, and there's many people that don't have to wake up at 7.30am. However you are very unreasonable for not having wall to wall carpetting wit ha good quality underlay on your floors, assuming that your lease says you should. It's standard to have in the lease in these situations, so you probably have.

GlitterGlue · 01/06/2017 08:38

During the week 7:30am isn't early. Surely most people, especially those with children, are up by then?

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