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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

About the neighbour's kids?!

32 replies

Killerqueen2244 · 25/08/2017 22:43

We live on a relatively new estate where all the houses are on top of each other. We have a small garden that backs onto the neighbour's drive and to the side has a shared access drive for 3 houses (including the neighbour's).

While we were away the neighbours invested in a basketball hoop and now the kids are playing in the shared drive a few times a day every day. They normally finish about 7.30pm although on a few occasions it has been up to 8.30pm. The noise is starting to get really irritating, we have to raise our voices when we're in our garden and because all our houses are quite close together the noise echoes.

I got really pissed off today and told them to stop (as their parents weren't around) but they didn't. There are kids of all different ages on the road and all generate 'normal' noise from playing/shouting/trampolines but the basketball feels on a different level- I think they're being inconsiderate to not just us but the other neighbour's opposite the drive and the poor lady whose house faces the drive!

So....AIBU? If you think so can you give me some coping strategies that will stop me passive aggressively throwing a basketball over the fence at their window!!!! Wink. But if you agree what do you think I should do?

OP posts:
FunSizedNinja · 25/08/2017 22:53

Are you in a stewardship scheme? I am in a new build estate and in this scheme. Although to the point it feels you cant bloody cough outside and it wouldnt be allowed! We cant have trampolines etc in gardens or work vans on driveways. So certainly wouldnt be allowed ball games on that area. Maybe have a look? It is the loudness on general or the time? Is it waking your little one up? Maybe a polite chat to them and explain that you encourage them to have fun and be outdoors. Could they be quieter after 8pm for example?

Original poster
Killerqueen2244 · 25/08/2017 23:03

Unfortunately not, although I've heard of those schemes and some of the rules are crazy strict...even for me!!! Wink it is the noise that's irritating, when they used to play football in their own drive and using the garage door as a goal it was a noise we could put up with but this is just constant!!

The parents aren't easy to get on with so not sure how to go about it, they obviously don't think they're being inconsiderate!!!

OP posts:
geekone · 25/08/2017 23:08

YABU they are kids in their back garden enjoying the summer. The noise would not be considered antisocial. Its not their fault houses are built too close together. It's better that than they are sitting at computer consoles all day.

Original poster
Killerqueen2244 · 25/08/2017 23:10

It's not their garden though, it's a driveway that they don't own.

OP posts:
Letstryagainshallwe · 25/08/2017 23:17

Yabu.. You told kids to stop playing?! No the wonder they ignored you and good on them!

Tiptoethr0ughthetulips · 25/08/2017 23:21

The nights will be dark soon and they'll be back at school... YABU.

Sayyouwill · 25/08/2017 23:21

So who owns the drive way?
If the owners of that drive way invested in the hoop then you are totally BU. If we all lived like that then no. 23 couldn't have a BBQ incase it upset no. 27 and the baby in no. 32 is BVU

They are kids having fun. Lighten up.

Original poster
Killerqueen2244 · 25/08/2017 23:24

Yeah I told them to stop playing after an hour of bang, bang, bang, bang....!! Would it be different if they were adults playing?

OP posts:
RollingGreenMarble · 25/08/2017 23:25

YABU. They are stopping at a reasonable hour. Your coping strategies... take a chill pill

safariboot · 25/08/2017 23:26

YANBU to get pissed off, it's bloody annoying (our neighbours' children are screamy brats), but I don't think you can do anything about it. Noise of children playing is considered reasonable and very unlikely to be deemed a statutory nuisance, and I think 'night' for the purposes of noise complaints is 11pm to 7am. If the children's parents are part-owners of the drive then there's probably little grounds to say what they can and can't do on it.

blue25 · 25/08/2017 23:29

A big reason I wouldn't consider a new build estate. YANBU but it seems children can make as much noise as they want according to some people.

Sayyouwill · 25/08/2017 23:29

@Killerqueen2244 so your AIBU post is really a way to rally support for you being mean to a bunch of children?

Why ask if you 'know' the answer?

marzipancustard · 25/08/2017 23:31

Yabu and should have considered this before choosing to move there

PovertyPain · 25/08/2017 23:34

What would happen if your car 'broke down' and you had to leave it on the drive? After all, as you say, it's a shared drive. I don't see the difference between you doing that and them claiming it as a 'pitch'.

Original poster
Killerqueen2244 · 25/08/2017 23:34

No they don't own the shared access driveway.

OP posts:
PurpleMinionMummy · 25/08/2017 23:40

No work vans in driveways???! Does it bring the tone of the neighbourhood down too much? Confused

sparkleandsunshine · 25/08/2017 23:42

If the driveway is nothing to do with them at all then YANBU at all!!! What right have they got to put a hoop up? Go take that shit down!!
If they have any rights over the drive then it may be more difficult but you sound reasonable enough about the football etc. So if it's bothering you that much then you have every right to try and sort it. You have to live there too!!!

SnickersWasAHorse · 25/08/2017 23:43

I am extremely noise phobic after having lived with a noisy and violent neighbour. However I think I could live with this.
As other have said in a month or two they will be in in the evening.

Letstryagainshallwe · 25/08/2017 23:44

I don't get your comment about would it be different if it was adults playing?! I frequently hear adults talking/loud shouting in the street. I don't tell them to be quiet Confused

Original poster
Killerqueen2244 · 25/08/2017 23:46

Povertypain the thought crossed my mind!! Wink

They're not playing a game they're just bouncing it constantly, shooting a hoop then bouncing it again. I wouldn't even call it energetic activity!!!!

We moved here cause it was the only house on the market at the time. Hmm Next to a driveway to 3 houses we knew there would be regular car noise and that's never been an issue, neither was their football playing!!

OP posts:
Original poster
Killerqueen2244 · 25/08/2017 23:56

Cause I'm not sure I would be told to lighten up if it was adults making constant noise. I have a drum kit in my attic, if I decided to bring it down and start learning to play even with the windows shut you can still hear it hence why it's still in the attic! It's an inconsiderate instrument to play whereas if I picked up the flute and started to learn to play I wouldn't be bothering anyone.

I feel basketball as an activity is inconsiderate whereas football/trampoline/playing on grass is just normal kids playing?

OP posts:
llangennith · 26/08/2017 00:01

My DD bought her DS 15 a basketball hoop but couldn't bear the constant bang bang bang of the ball on the ground so now there are time rules.
YANBU!

MumIsRunningAMarathon · 26/08/2017 00:24

Is it attached to anything or a free standing hoop?

Our neighbours had one in the shared car park and were made to remove it

The noise from a basketball was something else!

Original poster
Killerqueen2244 · 26/08/2017 00:32

it's a freestanding one, they don't park on their drive they park on the shared access drive outside their house so the hoop is right next to my garden rather than near their house IYSWIM.

OP posts:
PovertyPain · 26/08/2017 00:35

Be an awful shame if it was pinched in the early hours, wouldn't it? 😇